Hearing your miniature dachshund crying at night can be very distressing, as we want our beloved pets to feel safe and secure in their new home. But what are the reasons for a miniature dachshund crying at night, and how can we stop it from happening? Let’s find out!
Why Is My Miniature Dachshund Crying At Night?
As any dachshund owner will tell you, these little dogs are incredibly vocal and like to tell us how they are feeling! But while their playful barks and yaps can be highly entertaining, it is a whole different matter when they start to cry at night.
If a miniature dachshund is crying at night, it is trying to tell you that it is unhappy about something. The reasons why this is happening will vary depending on whether it is a puppy or an adult.
Dachshund puppies may also cry at night if they need the toilet – remember that puppies have very small bladders and need to go out to urinate at frequent intervals. Depending on how many meals a day your puppy eats, it may also be hungry during the night.
Adult miniature dachshunds should have progressed to the stage where they do not need food or the toilet during the night, but you might still hear them crying. This is commonly because the dog would rather sleep with or near its human owners than alone. Most dogs will quickly settle when they are alone, but some develop serious separation anxiety which can lead to various behavioral problems.
When Will My Miniature Dachshund Sleep Through The Night?
Young dachshund puppies will often cry at night for the first few days or even weeks after you bring it home. This is because they are not used to sleeping alone, and are accustomed to sleeping with their mother and litter-mates. As the owner of a new puppy, you will need to help it build up the resilience to soothe itself and sleep alone at night.
Why Does My Puppy Randomly Whine?
Dachshunds puppies are very chatty and vocal – if you watch a litter of puppies together, you will see that they constantly whine and yelp at each other. This is their way of communicating and is completely normal.
When your puppy leaves his litter-mates and joins your family, it will continue to try and communicate in the same way. A whine normally indicates that the puppy needs something or is unhappy about something. So, a whine could mean that your puppy is hungry, thirsty, lonely, uncomfortable, in pain, or needs the toilet.
The hard part of owning a new puppy is learning to detect what these whining noises mean. Puppies are very clever, and if you go running to it every time it whines it will quickly learn that whining gets your attention!
In this situation, you need to judge whether there is a genuine reason for the puppy whining, or if it just wants some attention. If your puppy has food, water, toys, and has recently been out to the toilet, it may just be whining because it wants some fuss. Take care not to indulge this cry for attention too frequently, as you’ll soon find it impossible to leave your puppy on its own at all!
Sometimes a sleeping dachshund puppy will whine, but this is not anything to worry about. Like humans, puppies have a lot of dreams when they sleep, and will make cute little whining noises!
3 Ways To Stop Dachshund Anxiety
A common cause of a miniature dachshund crying at night is anxiety, and there are several techniques you can use to help with this:
1: Counter-conditioning Training Techniques
Counter-condition is a training method that helps your dog modify its response to something that normally makes it anxious. This involves distracting the dog at the point where signs of anxiety would normally occur, using an command or reward.
Another technique commonly used is desensitization, where the dog is gradually trained to become accustomed to the source of anxiety to the point where it no longer causes any problems.
If your dog’s anxiety is very severe, it can help to get the advice of a professional dog trainer to help and support you. They will be able to assess your individual situation and provide tips on the best way to help your dog deal with its anxiety.
2: Anti-anxiety Medication
Many veterinarians now prescribe different forms of anti-anxiety medication for dogs suffering from anxiety. These can help to relieve the symptoms of anxiety and make your dog feel calmer and more relaxed.
Some anti-anxiety medications are prescription-only, but natural supplements can also be obtained without a prescription from a veterinarian. Many dog behaviorists are now advising the use of CBD oil to relieve the symptoms of anxiety in dogs.
3: Crate Training
Crate training can help dogs deal with anxiety by providing them with a place where they feel safe and secure. This is particularly useful in puppies and younger dogs, as it can provide a replacement to help them adjust to living alone for the first time.
The crate should be furnished with everything your dog needs to make it feel safe and secure. Use a comfortable blanket that smells familiar to the dog, and provide toys and chews to keep the dog entertained.
Summary
So, as we have learned, many new dog owners struggle to stop their miniature dachshund crying at night. These little dogs are loyal and love to spend time with their favorite humans, and will suffer from separation anxiety when left alone at night. It is vital to help your puppy develop the ability to self-soothe and feel safe and secure on its own, and crate training can help your puppy with this.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on reasons for a miniature dachshund crying at night! Do you find it impossible to leave your dachshund puppy alone at night if it is crying? Or perhaps you’ve got some questions about the best way to crate train your new dachshund puppy? Leave a comment below and we will get back to you!
