Space Within a Space
The space-within-a-space method still uses a crate; however, when you plan to be gone for more than two to three hours at a time, you will place the crate in a large puppy playpen and keep the door of the crate open with a clip or tie. (You don't want the door to close accidentally and lock your dachshund inside.)
The puppy pen and crate should be in a room with a floor made of a hard, nonporous substance (such as tile or laminate wood in a kitchen). Cover the entire area with a thick layer of newspapers. The dachshund will usually pick a particular place in the play area to use as her elimination area. When the pup or adult consistently uses one area, you can gradually reduce the newspapers lining the puppy pen area until you have papers remaining in only this one spot.
If you are using the space-within-a-space housetraining plan, only leave newspapers lying on the floor if you intend them to be potty spots. Your dachshund is conditioned to use these papers to relieve himself, and it won't matter to him that the newspapers are lying by your bed instead of in his area.
When you are home, it is important that you put away the playpen setup and watch your dachshund carefully, as you would with regular crate training. Watch for all the regular signals of “needing to go,” and take her outside on a regular schedule. When your dachshund seems to really understand the system, you may want to consider giving her more freedom in your home. Either keep some papers in one area for her to continue to use during the day, or install a dog door and train her how to use it.
