Hi All, please help me! My miniature dachshund puppy is 9 weeks old and I've had her for 2 days. Because I live in a flat with neighbours directly above me, I had no option but to allow her to sleep in my bedroom. I did try her in a crate for 2 hours in the kitchen and she screamed the building down! Last night she was quiet as a mouse in my room.

The trouble is, because of the kitchen incident, she now hates the kitchen and won't spend any time in there. I've tried playing, leaving her food in there etc. The kitchen comes off the lounge and she's fine in the lounge so I bought a baby gate so I could put her in the kitchen but she could still see me. I know it hasn't been long but she continually cries unless she's in the room with me.

Help!?

She wants to be with you, she doesnt hate the kitchen. Feed her in the same spot in the kitchen and stay there while she eats, keep her water in there - spend time in the kitchen and she will happily stay with you. She just needs to get used to it. If you want her to sleep in the kitchen later, gradually move her crate.

Thanks for answering my question Fillis. The weird thing is, if I leave her in the lounge and leave to go upstairs, she's fine but when left in the kitchen she goes beserk. Is it perhaps because I spend 90% of my time in the lounge and she just feels safer there? Someone recommended going out each day, perhaps for 30 mins. leaving her in the kitchen and then coming back so she knows I will come back. Do you think this will help and how long would it take?

Its a good idea for later on, but first get her happy in there - which will mean you being in there with her.

Thanks. I spent lots of time with her in there yesterday so I'll see how it goes today!

hi ryan, i have 5 mini dachsies & when each of them was a puppy they screamed the house down all night !!! if you persevere, i promise ,they do eventually settle ,usually in a week or so , i know your neighbours wont approve ,but if YOU want to be master in your own home , you will have to be strict !! dachsie girls can be quite stubbon ,more so than boys , so dont give in to her , keep it up !!! also , these can be yappy little dogs ,yapping on at any noise, sound proofing perhaps
lol
caron

oH DEAR, i WAS WORRIED THAT SHE MAY BE YAPPY! Thanks for your advice. She sleeps upstairs with me at the moment and is quiet as a mouse and sleeps for about 8 hours without even going to the toilet - perfect! It's just during the day that she screams if I go out. She seems to be getting better though...thankfully!

hi ryan, glad shes settling down . upstairs with you though ??? confession !! my first little girl, TYKO, did the same & ended up  in the bedroom with me & then as she got bigger , id wake up to find her in the bed with me !! when no 2 ,MINDY, came along , the 2 of them were in the bed !! so when no 3 ,HUNNIE joined the family, my OH put his foot down!! he caged off the area in the hallway under the stairs , put in blankets , toys etc & we had a week of sleepless nights until they got the message & slept soundly !! since BOBBY & PEGGY moved in , we have had no problems , apart from when its raining outside they started to go to the loo upstairs! so we now have a child safety gate to stop that carry on !!! but all is well now , they are caged at night & if we go out & all is peaceful !!!
regards caron

Well, because I live in a flat, I had no option but to take her up with me because of the neighbours. She's been up with me for 2 weeks now and the good news is that my neighbours are all going away this week....so....I'm going to put her in the kitchen, put my ear plugs in and let her get on with it! I hope it doesn't take as long as a week though - I was hoping for just 3/4 days! Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens! Wish me luck....?! She is adoreable though, I can't imagine life without her. Can't wait for her to be able to go for walks (31st Aug onwards). It's so frustrating but necessary until she's had all her jabs!

MISSTYKO/Caron - Can you tell me how old your bitches were when they had their first season? I'm getting Molly spayed but I know she has to go through her first season beforehand. Any info on seasons/spaying would be a great help!

hi ryan, they came into first season at about 8 months. all 4 of mine bleed quite heavily , and are quite happy to wear newborn size pampers !!! i havnt had any of my 4 spayed, but a few of my friends who have ,say they can gain weight, & you have to be careful as this can put strain on their backs, hope she settles in a few days
lol
caron

Thanks....are you serious about the nappies?! How often do they bleed and for how long?

The average season lasts for about 21 days, and they can bleed for the whole time, although in the second half it tends to be less profuse.

I've only read this quickly (sorry :) ) so please forgive me if I've missed anything.

I used to live in a ground floor garden flat with dogs and my male dog developed an aversion to being under the upstairs kitchen (which was above my bedroom where I put the dogs for some of the day if i was out).

It took me a while to work out what it was, but  basically he was genuinely frightened of the noises above which were more pronounced due to their being lino above and not carpet, and also noises from the sink, pan banging/dropping etc. You may find this esp. if you live in a converted house.

I'd just say please be aware the dog may be genuinely afraid and with something like this you can't really prevent it or cure it. My dog was much happier if I was with him but still very upset by the above noises if he was left in the bvedroom; needless to say he just wasn't left there any more and soon after - well, 2 years after! - we moved to a detatched house ;)

Lindsayi
x

Thanks lYNDSAY - LUCKILY THERE IS NOTHING ABOVE THE KITCHEN, OTHER THAN SOMEONES BEDROOM WHO IS NEVER THERE - PHEW!

yes ryan, totally serious ! they parade around in them , showing off to the others who arnt wearing one !!! they are so funny !! you can buy special doggy pads for when they are in season, but i havnt tried them. !!

That is so funny - must investigate those doggy pads when the time comes!!! x