The First Night
When you picked up your puppy you took him away from everything he has ever known — his mom, littermates, and humans. You are going to be filling all these positions for him: the love and leadership of his mom, the fun and companionship of his littermates, and the care and feeding that came from his breeder. That's a big job! So don't be surprised if your puppy misses his former home and all the comfortable familiarity that went with it.
Noises in the Night
Your puppy will cry, whine, bark, and maybe even screech a bit to express his loss and feeling of uncertainty. This cacophony usually begins as soon as the puppy is tucked up in his crate for the night and you turn off your bedroom light. It may not stop until morning, when your puppy is ready to play with you. Even though you understand why the puppy is suffering so much, it doesn't make the first night (or the several that will follow) much easier.
If one of your rules was not to allow the dachshund to sleep in bed with you, don't start this habit now! Once a dachshund knows he can do something, it's difficult to reverse this later. Also, your puppy is not yet housetrained! The pup will find a spot on your bed and go there, and you may not find out until later that night or in the morning.
Helping Your Puppy
Fortunately, there are things you can do to make this night a little less traumatic for both of you. First, your puppy is used to sleeping in a large, warm puppy pile with his littermates. On his own in a crate for the first time, he may be uncomfortably cool.
Make sure his crate is in a warm and cozy spot and has lots of shredded papers or even a thick towel for him to snuggle down into. Avoid putting an electric blanket in the crate — your puppy is sure to scratch and bite it, potentially causing a fire or giving him a serious shock.
Also, consider placing the crate near your bed so your puppy can be comforted by your presence. Some owners sleep on the floor next to the crate and pet the puppy to help him fall asleep. If sleeping on the floor doesn't appeal to you, consider one of the following approaches to relieve some of the pup's first-night-away-from-home anxiety:
Scented articles — Put a blanket or toy with the pup's mom's scent on it into the crate with the puppy. This requires planning ahead with the breeder before you pick up the puppy but he will find this scented article very comforting.
Sounds — Wrap a clock with an audible “tick” in a soft sock, and knot the end. Some people say the sound of the ticking reminds the pup of his mom's heartbeat.
Warmth — Wrap a water bottle filled with warm water in a towel, and place it in your puppy's crate where he can snuggle up to it.
If you're willing to give a holistic remedy a try, Rescue Remedy may be of some help. This substance, made from five pure flower essences, is said to help lessen a pet's anxiety and fears. To administer this holistic remedy, put a few drops in the puppy's water bowl or rub a drop on her gums.
If nothing helps, you'll have to accept the fact that you aren't going to be sleeping for a few nights. This howling/crying period doesn't last forever, though — in fact, your puppy should sleep better and better each night. Just be patient and understanding, and this stage shall pass.
