Crate training?

Question

I got a miniature dachshund he'll be 6 weeks on wednesday.. and I'm wanting to start crate training him...but he's so small..and when I put him in there he whines a lot..Should I just let him whine...or is he too young to be crate trained..

Any tips?

Answer 1

No, he is NOT too small to crate train. He needs this. Whining is normal. He just doesn't know what's good for him yet.
Crating a dog is the BEST thing a dog owner can do when the puppy is left unsupervised or cannot be watched at all times. The crate is also the ideal replacement for the natural instinct of "denning". All dogs need a "Den" or a place where they can seek refuge from the daily stresses of life.
Being that your pup is only 6 weeks old, he's barely old enough to sleep through the night. If he wakes during the night, he needs to pee.
A dog will naturally NOT pee where he sleeps...make sure your crate or kennel is small enough for you pup to ONLY fit comfortably inside or he will pee where he's not going to sleep if there's room for him to go.
I always keep my dogs crated when they cannot be COMPLETELY supervised or on a lead by my feet as puppies. Eventually your puppy will love his crate and will retreat there at night on his own when it's bedtime. They love it. If they don't have a crate, they will find another spot, such as under a table or your computer desk :o) Trust me !

Answer 2

First of all, I don't know where you live but in Pennsylvania it is illegal to sell a puppy before it is eight weeks old.

So you shouldn't even have the baby yet. It desperately needs to be with its mother and littermates. But it's too late for that now, huh?

This pup will need heat, so make sure you have a source of warmth to keep his body temp where it should be. With a tiny baby like this, I would try putting a litter box in the crate. I wouldn't even try putting the pup inside and outside to get the crate training/housebreaking going. Just teach the little one to use the litterbox to relief itself. You'll save yourself a lot of grief, as this miniature dashies are, it seems, sometimes extra difficult to housebreak.

You'll have to put up with the whining. Of course, he's whining; he desperately misses the sounds and warmth of his "widdle family." Poor little kid.

If you give in when he whines, he'll never be crate trained....

Answer 3

WOW, he should be back home w/ his mommy.. Why do you have such a young puppy .. he should be back with his mom for at least 3 more weeks. He is crying cause he is too young to be in a new home and wonders what the heck happened all of a sudden, where are his litter mates...
I would put him in the crate for very short periods, but don't let him out while he is whining. Don't leave him in there for more than a couple of hours at a time at the most.

Answer 4

Your puppy is very young, but since you have him it is NOT too soon to begin crate training. But if you take him out as soon as he starts whining, he will learn that whining will get him out.

Try to help him associate the crate with good things. Give him a treat hen you put him in, and praise him when he's quiet. Walk away if he whines.

If you're consistent and make it pleasant for him, he will soon be right at home inside his "den," and will want to go inside.

Answer 5

I have a 1 year old Chihuahua and he is crate trained. He wined and howled (sometimes he still does). It's heart breaking, but he actually only does it for a few mins after you leave. He's okay, trust me, and the early you start, the faster the results. Get him a cage that is made for his breed. Your local pet store can help you find the best one. Dogs tend to like the semi-inclosed ones (plastic sides with holes). It gives them a den-like feel. Dogs are den animals. If he cries, let him. Once he calms down, reward him with praise and let him out. If you need to leave him in the crate when you leave the house, do so for only a couple of hours and work your way up as he gets older. His crate should only be large enough to turn around in and lay down (a dog usually just sleeps until you get home). This makes him feel secure and also keeps him from using one side of the cage to relieve himself. It does take time and each dog is different. The key is to be patient and consitant with the training. Also, look into puppy classes, they can help too. I put a small chew toy in the cage with my dog to keep him busy. When we return, we let him outside and shower him with attention. If you are renting, caging when you are away is usually a mandatory thing to prevent any altercations with any employee whom may need access to your place in case of emergency. Also, keeps them from running away.

I have included SEVERAL websites that can help. Good luck.

Answer 6

Train him to gradually like being in the crate. Make him believe it is his home. Keep him in the crate for 5 min. increments several times a day with food and water. Then gradually up the amount of time in the crate. Praise him heavily before/after the crate training. He will know pretty soon that crate=good!

Answer 7

Your puppy should have been with his momma longer (with dachshunds 10-12 weeks) but since you already have him, let's deal with it w/o recriminations. Try putting him in the crate when he is tired. A treat like a peanut butter kong will keep him occupied until he dozes off. You can also let him fall asleep in your lap and then ease him in. Make sure he has a blanket or (probably more practical at this age) a towel to lie on.

Try this website, great practical tips:


http://dogcentral.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=994344

Answer 8

I don't think he is to young at all... When I crate trained mine they also whined and cried.. It drove me crazy. I did some asking and got great advice & it worked. Get a plastic pop bottle, put either pebbles, buttons, dry beans.. anything like that in it. about a handfull. When the puppy is in the crate and they start whining, shake the bottle so it makes a loud noise. It startles them and they stop. Don't yell at them when you do this you don't want them to associate you yelling at them when they are in the crate. That will make it worse. Then they think the crate is bad. I still praise mine everytime he is in it. and i give him treats. When he sees me getting ready in the morning, and I grab my purse and bag, he goes running in the crate & then he turns around and waits for his treat. This method worked great for me.

Answer 9

Start trying now! If you think he is too young you will be never training him. What icequeen said is correct. Put a dog treat or bone in first, don't shut the door. Let him get used to it. DO NOT take him out when he whines. You will regret it.

Answer 10

He's to young to be away from his mom and litter mates period. But, what's done is done, as the person you got this pup from is irresponsible and does not have the puppies' welfare in mind. This is not your fault, but puppies taken so young from their litter and mother miss out on learning valuable life lessons like bite inhibition, how to read dog body language, etc.

Now for crate training, visit the link below for some tips and other advice to be successful.