Miniature Dachshund whining is a common phenomenon. These dogs are highly affectionate and quickly get clingy and needy toward their favorite person. Unfortunately, you can only provide as much attention, and it can be frustrating to hear your miniature Dachshund crying at night.
Miniature Dachshunds can cry at night to get your attention. They cry to communicate emotions such as separation anxiety, boredom, hunger, pain, or the need for a potty break. Solutions include providing plenty of exercise during daylight hours and a cozy sleeping spot.
In this article, I’ll discuss why miniature Dachshunds cry at night. I’ll also share proven tips to address anxiety and help your furry friend swiftly sleep through the night.
Let’s begin!
5 Reasons Your Miniature Dachshund is Crying at Night
As a responsible dog parent, it’s only natural to want to offer your miniature Dachshund the best care in the world. However, there are limits to the attention and affection you can offer, especially during nighttime routines.
It can be challenging to balance attending to your dog’s needs and ensuring you enjoy the good night’s sleep you need to have a functional day ahead.
To effectively address your pet’s night cries, you must first understand their root cause.
Here are the main reasons your miniature Dachshund cries at night:
1. Your Miniature Dachshund Has Separation Anxiety
One of the most common reasons miniature Dachshunds cry at night is that they find it hard to cope when left alone.
Separation anxiety is triggered when a dog feels upset because of being separated from its owner or someone it is attached to.
Signs of separation anxiety include disruptive or destructive behaviors like whining, barking, howling, and chewing or destroying furniture.
Also, your dog may attempt to escape and destroy anything close to exit points, like doors and windows. Unfortunately, this can also lead to self-injury.
You can tell your Dachshund cries at night because of separation anxiety if it acts like it has been ages since it last saw you.
Find Out: Why Is My Female Dog Whining So Much? (8 Reasons and What to Do)
2. Your Pet Wants Your Attention
Also, your Dachshund can switch from one melody to another at night to get your attention.
Like separation anxiety cries, attention-seeking whines signify distress and can trigger destructive behavior.
You can tell that your dog wants your attention if it calms down and makes direct eye contact when you enter the room.
Although it can be tempting to stop the cries by providing immediate attention, this will only encourage your pet to cry again the next time it needs something.
Unless your pet has a dire need, ignore it and leave the room.
Some of the top reasons miniature Dachshunds let out attention-seeking cries at night include:
- Your dog is bored and wants to play with you
- It misses you and wants to cuddle with you
- You have a new pet or person in the house, and your dog is jealous
- Your furry friend has pent-up energy and is feeling excited
- Your dog is hungry or needs a potty break
3. Your Dachshund Is Stressed or Anxious
If your dog suddenly picks up the habit of crying at night, it could be stressed or anxious.
Although the root cause of these emotions likely isn’t life-threatening, it is crucial to find the best way to make your furry friend feel more comfortable and reassured.
Often, finding and removing the stress or anxiety trigger will make your dog sleep better at night.
Stress and anxiety can present different signs and symptoms. Although your dog may not show all of them, it could display at least three of the following signs.
- Barking, growling, howling, or crying
- Hypervigilance
- Constant yawning
- Restlessness
- Drooling
- Panting
- Compulsive behavior like digging and chewing stuff
4. Your Dog Is In Pain or Has A Health Concern
Pain can make your miniature Dachshund cry for hours at night.
Sometimes, pain from undiagnosed injuries or medical issues worsens when your dog lies down. If you suspect your furry friend is sick or injured, you should consult your vet right away.
Depending on your dog’s age and lifestyle, it could be in pain because of an injury or joint problems like arthritis and hip dysplasia.
Another common cause of pain is digestive problems or a severe medical emergency like gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), commonly known as bloat.
It’s imperative to rule out health concerns before you ignore your dog for crying at night.
5. Your Miniature Dachshund Is Still a Puppy
Miniature Dachshund puppies whine a lot more than adults. This is entirely normal, especially during the first few weeks following adoption. The most probable cause of the cries is that your furry friend misses its mommy and littermates.
Puppy training should ideally begin at eight weeks. If you have just started your classes or are yet to, you should forgive your pup for having behavioral issues.
Moreover, it’s best to ignore the whining puppy because reacting to the whines will only reinforce the behavior.
Don’t feel guilty about it. Just wait until your pup calms down, and then offer a treat, praise, and petting before calmly exiting the room.
How to Stop Miniature Dachshund From Crying at Night (3 Ways Soothe Your Puppy)
If you’ve had a long day and want to enjoy a peaceful and uninterrupted night’s rest, your dog’s night whines can drive you up the wall. Fortunately, there are three proven ways to soothe your puppy and help it sleep better.
Here is what you need to do.
1. Provide a Cozy Sleeping Spot
The easiest way to expedite the process of your miniature Dachshund sleeping through the night is first to ensure it has a cozy sleeping spot.
Invest in a comfortable dog bed or crate and set it up in a warm but quiet location.
2. Have Lots of Playtime in the Lead-Up to Bedtime
Before dinner, engage your miniature Dachshund in at least 30 minutes of play.
Spending time together will help alleviate stress and reassure your pet of your love.
Furthermore, a tired dog is unlikely to care about whining at night.
3. Place an Old T-Shirt of Yours in the Crate
It is common for miniature Dachshund puppies to cry through the night after separating from their family.
You can reassure your pup of its safety and comfort by moving its crate to your bedroom, where it can smell you nearby.
If this can’t work, consider lending your t-shirt and placing it in the crate. A whiff of your sent will keep your pet much calmer and hopefully afford you a night of uninterrupted sleep.
3 Ways to Stop Dachshund Anxiety
Over 50% of all dogs in America suffer from anxiety or stress.
That accounts for over 50 million dogs suffering from varying issues, including separation anxiety or the fear of thunder, fireworks, and other sources of loud noises.
If you suspect your miniature Dachshund cries at night because it’s anxious, here are three effective tips to help curb the concern.
Also Read: Everything You Need To Know About Colby Pit Bull
1. Establish a Foundation of Trust
Does your miniature Dachshund seems overly fearful, and do you suspect this is the cause of the night cries? One of the surest ways to make it calm down is to reassure it of your love.
Spending quality time with your furry friend may be all the therapy it needs.
To establish a foundation of trust, get into a predictable play, bonding, and grooming routine.
Find time to play frisbee with your dog daily or stroll around the neighborhood.
Moreover, pet your furry friend during grooming sessions and cuddle up after dinner.
Miniature Dachshunds love their owners and thrive when they form close bonds with them. Once your pet trusts you, bonding moments will trigger the release of oxytocin, an anti-stress hormone that can help alleviate anxiety.
2. Avoid Anxiety Triggers
It’s always best to remove any known anxiety triggers from your home. If this is impossible, consider crate training your furry friend.
Generally, crate training will not cure anxiety. However, it can help your dog calm down by enabling it to keep its distance from anxiety triggers.
Dogs are denning creatures, and a crate serves as a den where your anxious furry friend can retire to when it feels tired, stressed, or anxious. It’s a safe space where it can settle down whenever it feels overwhelmed and wants to get away from it all.
Here are some tips to remember when crate training an anxious dog.
- Be patient and prioritize the health and happiness of your pet
- Make the crate cozy and provide a sleeping spot, water, and some toys
- If your pet is afraid of loud noises, introduce white noises or calming music in the crate
- Start slow, then gradually increase the time spent in the crate
- Keep your doggo in the crate for no more than four hours
3. Desensitize Your Dachshund From Anxiety Triggers
Desensitization is the gradual process of getting your miniature Dachshund used to stimuli that trigger anxiety.
For instance, if your dog is scared of other dogs, start by letting it see one from 25 feet (7.62 meters) away.
Offer a treat if it can see the dog but doesn’t bark. Gradually reduce the distance between the two and give your Dachshund a treat each time it remains calm.
If your furry friend shows signs of anxiety, retreat and repeat the process after a while. It’s essential to be patient because the desensitization process can take weeks or months.
When Will My Miniature Dachshund Sleep Through the Night?
Your miniature Dachshund will sleep through the night by the time it gets to around 16 weeks. However, since each pup is an individual, some take longer to adjust to a regular sleeping schedule. Provide exercise during the day and a cozy sleeping spot at night to help your dog get there sooner.
Let’s dive into the details regarding the estimated timeline for when puppies start to sleep through the night.
Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting time, although it is not devoid of challenges.
The main reason puppies cry at night comes down to natural instinct. They miss their mom and littermates and want them to come and find them.
Here are a few tips that will help reassure your pup that you’re its new family:
- Provide adequate attention and affection during the day
- Offer plenty of mental and physical stimulation
- Lend your pup an item with your scent to cuddle with at night
- Use puppy pads and let your doggo know where to potty at night
Final Thoughts
Miniature Dachshund crying at night is a common problem in many families. If you own this breed, you can probably relate to the sleepless nights caused by endless cries and howls.
Although hearing your miniature Dachshund crying at night is heartbreaking, you can curb the behavior in the following ways:
- Give your pet the right food and level of exercise during the day
- Enroll your pup in training to make it easier to address behavioral issues
- Ensure you provide a comfortable sleeping area
- Ignore those whimpers unless your dog is sick or in pain
- If nothing works, consult your vet or a licensed animal behaviorist
