Have you just got a new Dachshund puppy? Are you wondering how long it will take for them to settle in and start sleeping through the night? Here’s everything you need to know about the first few days and weeks with your new Dachshund puppy.
How Long Does It Take For A New Dachshund Puppy To Settle In? It takes around 7 days to 4 weeks for a new Dachshund puppy to settle into their new home. In some cases, it can take even longer. The new puppy will need time to adjust because they’ve been taken away from their pack and everything else they know.
Read on to find out how to help your new Dachshund puppy settle in to their new home and what to do if they cry all through the night.
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This article is based on research and personal experience as a Dachshund owner of 10+ years. I’m not a Vet, qualified dog trainer or dog behaviourist.
How Long Does It Take For A Dachshund Puppy To Adjust To A New Home?
So, you bought the dog crate, the cosy blankets, the heartbeat sheep, the puppy heat pad, added an old t-shirt that smells of you and also something belonging to your new puppy’s mom.
But, for three days solid, your new Dachshund puppy has cried all through the night – and you’ve had zero sleep!
So, what are you doing wrong? Why is this happening? How long will it take for them to settle in? And, most importantly, when will they start sleeping through the night?
This is kind of like Instagram vs reality! What people expect to happen from day one, rarely does. Owning a new puppy is hard work and can be extremely tiring at first.
They’re in a new home with new smells, full of new experiences and unfamiliar sounds. You may have a partner, children, or other dogs or cats that live with you too.
So your new puppy may be unsettled or cry and whimper during the night and show signs of separation anxiety during the day too.
They may deprive you of sleep and demand constant attention, causing you to feel exhausted within as little as 48 hours.
Unfortunately, this type of scenario is normal!
It’s unrealistic to expect your new puppy to make that huge transition to a new home and be absolutely fine within a couple of hours, or even days. It generally doesn’t work like that!
Dachshunds are pack animals by nature. And when you bring a new puppy into your life, you take them away from their mom and littermates and everything else they know.
This sudden change in environment can feel very overwhelming and scary for a young puppy. So they’re bound to be fearful and wary of you and what’s going on around them.
Leaving their mom and siblings behind will feel very alien until they’ve bonded with their new pack (that’s you by the way!) and figured out their new routine.
That’s why it can take anywhere from 7 days to 4 weeks or more for your new Dachshund puppy to properly settle in and adjust to their new surroundings.
You have to remember they’re just babies that were only born 8, 10, 12 weeks ago, and they’re in a new place with new people and they feel scared and alone.
So, not only do they need the physical things – like the toys, treats, blankets and bedding you bought to make them feel at home – but they also need lots of love and emotional support too.
In reality, it takes time for a new puppy to settle in and accept the new normal, so you need to be patient and fully prepared for some sleepless nights!
How To Help A Dachshund Puppy Settle In To Their New Home
Even though it takes time for a new Dachshund puppy to settle in to their new home, there are some things you can do to speed up the process.
This is how to help your new Dachshund puppy settle in to their new home:
Take a few weeks off work
Dachshunds are pack animals by nature that like having people or other dogs or cats around them.
So, for the first couple of weeks, it’s good to have someone around for most of the day to help your new Dachshund puppy settle in to their new home.
If they’re suddenly left alone for long periods of time during the day, they’re bound to become more anxious and unsettled.
Your new Dachshund puppy has just been taken away from their pack and they need to bond with their new pack before they can feel safe and secure.
So, if you can, take a few weeks off work to forge that new bond and give your Dachshund the reassurance they need.
Just be sure to keep your daily routine fairly normal so it’s not such a change if and when you do go back to work.
Create a safe space for your Dachshund puppy
Lots of noise and new people can feel very overwhelming for a Dachshund puppy at first.
So create a safe space in your home for them to retreat to if things get a bit too much.
This needs to be a quiet area that’s not too cold or hot and that has been puppy-proofed for safety!
You could either use a dog bed or a dog crate and fill it with soft, cosy blankets so it’s a relaxing place to curl up and sleep.
You can also add some dog toys and treats so they know it’s a fun and rewarding place to be.
If you’re using a crate, drape blankets over the top and sides (leaving the front open) to turn it into a warm and cosy snuggle-den.
Don’t overwhelm your new Dachshund puppy
When you get your new Dachshund puppy, you’re bound to feel excited and will want to spend every waking moment with them.
But, its best not force too much attention on them during those first few days, as this may be too overwhelming for a new puppy once they’ve just arrived.
It’s much better to let your puppy come to you when they’re good and ready, and allow them to go at their own pace.
So don’t constantly hold them or start dressing them up in new jumpers or try teaching them every trick in the book.
And don’t invite lots of people over to meet them just yet because that’s bound to feel a bit too much.
Everything is new right now and they need a few days to find their own feet before doing anything else.
Sleep near to your new Dachshund puppy
If your new puppy sleeps too far away from you during the first few days and weeks, they may cry because they feel scared during the night.
But, if they can hear you next to them or in the same room, they’re much more likely to settle down and sleep.
So move the dog crate or dog bed next to your bed or into the hallway nearby.
That way your Dachshund puppy will be able to hear you and should feel reassured enough to sleep during the night.
If you want them to sleep downstairs, go down and sleep on the sofa for a couple of weeks until they feel more at home.
In time, you can gradually start moving their crate further away (if that’s what you want to do).
Just make sure you sleep nearby for the first few weeks to give them that emotional support during the night.
Sleep in bed with your new Dachshund puppy
Some owners choose to sleep in bed with their new puppy which generally helps them sleep more soundly from day one.
Even though this often helps everyone get a better nights sleep, there are definitely pros and cons.
Dachshunds have fragile backs and need to be stopped from jumping off the bed (which can be hard to do when it’s dark and they’re young!).
They’re also a clingy and needy breed that can be prone to suffering from separation anxiety.
Sleeping in bed with your Dachshund could exacerbate those issues and lead to problems when you do need to leave the house.
Of course, this isn’t always the case but is something to bear in mind.
In general, a dog bed or crate on the floor near to you may be a better option, but that’s obviously down to each individual owner.
Keep a night light on for your new Dachshund puppy
It’s a scary experience for any new puppy when they go to live in a new home.
So, for the first few weeks, leave a table lamp or hall light on so your puppy can see you and isn’t in pitch dark.
They’ll feel much more alone and frightened if they can’t see what’s going on around them.
A little bit of light can offer some reassurance and help them to sleep more soundly.
Make slow and gradual changes
For the first few days, you don’t want to introduce any more big changes.
Your new Dachshund puppy has been through enough upheaval while moving to a new home!
So, if you decide you want your Dachshund to eventually sleep downstairs or away from you, do things gradually over time.
The same goes for food too. If you want to change your Dachshund’s dog food to a different brand, make sure it’s done gradually and over time.
If you try to change everything on day one, you’ll end up with a very unsettled puppy that’s much more likely to cry during the night.
So stick to your breeders routine for at least 48 hours to make the transition to their new home go much smoother.
Establish the new Dachshund puppy routine
Routines play an important role in helping your new Dachshund puppy settle into their new home and feel more secure.
The best way to establish a new routine is to:
- Get up at the same time each day
- Feed your Dachshund puppy at the same times each day
- Take your Dachshund puppy out to potty at the same times each day
- Play with your Dachshund puppy at the same time each day
- Exercise your Dachshund puppy at the same time each day
- Put your Dachshund puppy to bed at the same time each day
Consistency breeds familiarity and, when your new Dachshund puppy figures out what’s happening and when, they’ll feel much more calm and relaxed.
This’ll help them settle in to their new home and accept the new normal more quickly.
Wind down before bedtime
Your Dachshund puppy will sleep a lot at first, but they’ll also have their crazy, excitable moments where they’ll zoom all round the house.
This often happens in the evening when you’ve just sat down to relax in front of the TV!
Even though you may think it’s good to encourage this playtime to tire your new puppy out before bed – it can actually have the opposite effect!
An overtired puppy can have more difficulty sleeping and be restless throughout the night.
That’s because their adrenalin goes into overdrive and they can’t get off to sleep!
So, try to schedule some playtime earlier in the evening and then wind things down from about 8.30pm onwards.
Dachshunds love belly rubs and ear tickling to help them relax before bedtime!
Begin socialising your new Dachshund puppy
Socialisation is an important part of your new Dachshund puppy’s training because it’ll give them more confidence to be able to cope in new situations.
Anything that builds confidence will help them to settle into their new home more quickly and start sleeping through the night.
So, give it a couple of days and then start introducing them to new experiences in and around your home.
This could be things like household appliances, different floor surfaces, new noises, music, different dog toys – and so on.
Don’t invite friends and family over straight away though, you don’t want it to be too overwhelming all at once.
Just take some time to introduce your puppy to something new each day to help them learn and grow in confidence.
Click here to find out how to socialise your Dachshund puppy
Work on separation anxiety
Dachshunds are an extremely loyal breed that are prone to separation anxiety.
They may cry when away from you at night or if you’re out of sight in another room.
So, as much as you need to be there for your new puppy, you should schedule in some alone time too.
If you mollycoddle them too much in those first few weeks, they could get a bit too attached.
Separation anxiety won’t affect all Dachshunds but is definitely something to be aware of.
So build your new puppy’s confidence from day one to help them settle in and become more independent.
That way they’re much less likely to experience behavioural problems further down the line – and everyone should get a better nights sleep!
Click here to find out how to train your Dachshund to feel comfortable when alone
Don’t be too hard on yourself
Owning a new Dachshund puppy is hard work and can make you feel exhausted, stressed, anxious, guilty and frustrated.
New puppy overwhelm is a very real thing that affects many new owners both mentally and physically.
It’s actually normal to feel a rollercoaster of emotions during the first weeks or months of looking after your new puppy!
So don’t be too hard on yourself or start thinking that you’ve got everything wrong.
Everyone finds it hard at first but things will settle down in time.
If you’re struggling and need help coping with new puppy blues, click here to find out what to do.
Is It Ok To Let My Dachshund Puppy Cry At Night?
No, for the first few weeks, it’s not ok to let your new Dachshund puppy cry throughout the night. If you do, they may become distressed and lose trust in you.
In nature, a mom would always respond to their young puppy’s cries.
As their new owner, you need to take on that role and offer reassurance until your puppy has settled into their new home.
Dachshunds cry during the night when they need to potty, when they feel scared or when they want attention.
So don’t get angry or just ignore their cries because they clearly need something from you.
It’s unrealistic to think you can take a new Dachshund puppy away from their pack and they’ll settle in and sleep soundly from day one.
They’re just babies that need emotional support for a good few weeks until they feel safe and secure.
However, if you’re crate training, you need to strike the right balance between reassurance and mollycoddling.
If you get them out of the crate each time they cry, they’ll just cry for attention or to be picked up.
So, unless they’re in distress or need to potty, just dangle your arm down and stroke them gently until they fall back asleep.
Keep repeating the words “settle down” in a soft voice and then say “good boy” or “good girl” when they’re quiet.
Giving your Dachshund emotional support during those important first few weeks should help them get into a good sleeping routine.
Rest assured, even though you may feel exhausted, things will get easier over time!
So, there you have it! It generally takes around 7 days to 4 weeks or more for a new Dachshund puppy to settle into their new home and start sleeping through the night. However, you can speed up the process by sleeping near to your Dachshund for a few weeks, giving them a safe space to retreat to, not overwhelming them too much, establishing the new daily routine and building a bond, confidence and trust.
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