During our extensive testing and research, we have concluded that the best crate for Dachshunds is AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate, 30″ for Standard Dachshund (24″ for Minature) puppies and adults and AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate, 24″ for Crate Trained Dachshunds.
Available in a single or double door option – this foldable dog crate is affordable, resilient and easy to put up. There are also mini dividers at the bottom of the crate to prevent your dog’s paws from slipping through. This is a tried and tested Dachshund dog crate that will suit most dog owners.
There are several reasons dog owners choose to buy a crate. These include creating an open den or safe space for your Dachshund to go at any time, a place for them to sleep in, short term confinement when no-one is around to supervise, on vets orders to help recover from an injury or for transporting your dog.
Where your dog sleeps is usually a personal preference and comes down to the owner. It may seem a second thought, especially when you get a puppy – but it can be an important factor in developing your dog’s behaviour.
Some owners like to have their dog on the bed with them. Though the idea of doggie cuddles in the middle of the night is great – some dogs such as Dachshunds, can get quite greedy with the amount of space they want to occupy on the bed, and will disturb your much-needed sleep.
Other owners train their dogs to sleep in a designated space that is not the human bed, be that a sofa in another room, a dog bed in a specific place or a dog crate, one in the human bedroom or elsewhere.
Crates can be a great way of giving your Dachshund their own space and it can also be useful in teaching them good sleeping, toileting, and eating habits.
This article will look at our seven best Dachshund dog crate choices, discuss what you should consider when buying one, what sizes you should consider and the best way to crate train a Dachshund puppy (and adult).
Contents
Best Dog Crates for Dachshunds – Our Top Seven
1. 🏆 AmazonBasics Double-Door Folding Metal Dog Crate
Available as a double or single door option, this wildly popular option is not only easy to put up and pack away but is spacious and affordable.
Each door has a two metal slide bolts – one at the top and another at the bottom. This can be important for a dog crate as dogs can squeeze through the door if the bolt is in the middle.
The AmazonBasics crate is a sturdy, chew-proof crate which is easy to clean. There is also a plastic tray at the bottom which can be removed if needed.
We’ve had a few of these crates in the past for a number of different dog breeds. They’ve always been reliable and have been easy to fold away and store when needed.
Traditionally we’ve used padding and pillows which we’ve swapped over every few weeks.
A good choice that your dog will love and won’t break the bank!
2. MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Crate [USA]
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Medium Dog Crate, MidWest Life Stages 30 Inch Double Door Folding Metal Dog Crate, Divider Panel,... | Buy on Amazon |
A hugely popular choice of dog crates for readers in the USA and a great choice for your Dachshund. Available as a single or double-door option, this crate also include dividers.
3. AmazonBasics Folding Soft Dog Crate, 30″
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Amazon Basics Folding Soft Dog Crate with Front and Top Opening, 30-Inch, Medium, Beige | Buy on Amazon |
The first of our soft crate recommendations. Recommended for Dachshunds who are already crate trained, this lightweight and breathable crate is great for indoors or as a travel crate.
4. Ellie-Bo Dog Puppy Cage Medium 30 inch [UK]
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ellie-Bo Dog Crate Dog Cage from Small to Large, Foldable Puppy Dog Crates, Cage Furniture with... | Buy on Amazon |
5. Pet Vida Pet Cage [UK]
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
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 | Pet Vida Pet Cage Metal Folding Dog Puppy Animal Crate Vet Car Training Carrier With Tray, 30 Inch | Buy on Amazon |
6. New World Folding Metal Dog Crate [USA and Canada]
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | MidWest Homes for Pets Newly Enhanced Single & Double Door New World Dog Crate, Includes Leak-Proof... | Buy on Amazon |
7. The Pet Store Premium Dog Crate
| Preview | Product | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | The Pet Store Premium Dog Crate with Lockable, Removable Nylon Wheels, Medium | Buy on Amazon |
Choosing the Right Crate for Your Dachshund
At a minimum, your dog should be able to stand, lie down and move around in the crate. This is crucial as a crate which is too small is both unpleasant and will probably lead to your Dachshund rejecting it as a nice place to sleep.
You also need to consider the size available in your home. Crates can take up quite a bit of space for those living in a smaller apartment. Also, think about the location of the crate – be it in your living room, kitchen or bedroom.
The material of your crate should be a factor – particularly for younger Dachshunds. You don’t want a material that they can chew through or a crate that can be squeezed out of in the middle of the night.
Overall – you want to create a comfortable, safe and friendly environment your Dachshund will love and be happy to sleep in.
Types of Dachshund Dog Crates
Wire Crates and Kennels
Wire dog crates are the most common types of crates and often made of metal. Whether a smaller breed like a French Bulldog or something huge like a Great Dane, they can offer huge advantages in giving your dog a safe environment to laze and sleep.
They’re simple to clean and easy to put up. They’re often foldable, so can be collapsed down should you need to store them away.
Depending on the size of your home, the crates usually have a choice of a single or double door setup. Double doors are usually at the front and side of the crate. The single door can be on either.
Strength is the key factor with wire crates. Some are even considered heavy-duty, those these are more for large dogs than a medium to a small dog.
They are very difficult to escape from, cannot be chewed through and the doors have two metal bolts at the top and bottom.
They are also easy to clean, which can be a huge advantage if your puppy is still in their training phase.
Soft or Fabric Crates
These crates are made from fabrics, they’re very light and amazingly comfortable. They can be used either as a crate for the home or for travelling (we’ve taken a few of these on holiday with us in the past).
Though these may seem like an obvious choice, they’re usually better for dogs who are already well trained to sleep in a crate.
The fronts of these are often made of mesh and can be zipped closed – which, should your pup want to escape – would be less of a challenge than they would find with a wire crate.
Portable Dog Crates
These are usually smaller and used for transporting dogs from place to place. They’re often plastic but some are more box style made from aluminium.
These shouldn’t be used for general sleeping and, being plastic crates, they are usually not collapsable.
What Size Crate for my Dachshund?
Whether you have a puppy or an adult, a Miniature Dachshund or a Standard sized breed – picking the right sized crate is important.
For a standard adult Dachshund, a 30″ crate is often more than sufficient. It gives them enough room to sleep comfortably and move around without requiring a huge amount of floor space.
For smaller Dachshund’s, Miniature Dachshunds and Puppies (providing you’re not looking for an adult cage they will eventually grow into) a size of 24″ will be perfect.
If you want to make double-sure, you can measure your dog for a kennel or crate size. All you need for this is a tape measure.
- Measure your Dachshund while standing up from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail – this will give you the length
- While your dog is sitting up, measure them from the floor to the top of their head. This will be the height.
- It’s recommended you add a few inches to both the height and width – this will give you an approximate size for picking your crate.
You can check the manufacturer’s guidelines for sizes available – but what you’ll probably find is that your dog measures somewhere in between crate and kennel sizes. This is due to most cages using a standard size. In that case, it’s better to go for the larger of the two.
As we’ve already mentioned – most Dachshund’s will be more than happy with a 30″ crate for a dog their size and weight – however, feel free to research more.
Dachshund Crate Training Tips
Most forms of behavioural training are beneficial to dogs as it reinforces training in other areas. But what about crate training, what benefits will your Dachshund receive? Encouraging your dog through training to use their crate in a safe, comfortable and friendly way can benefit them in the following ways:
- Puppies feel safe in their crate environment when asleep
- You create a safe space for your Dachshund which they identify as their own, especially when the rest of the house if off bounds
- It climatises them to using crates, which is sometimes a requirement when transporting them e.g. to the vet
- For puppies, it can be used as a great training tool for eating times as well as toilet training
- Crates can be extended to your car for safer driving
- You, as the human, get a better nights sleep when your dog is happily tucked away asleep in their crate.
Before you begin your Dachshund crate training, consider what you are trying to achieve. A friendly but firm way of asking your dog to go to their crate. “Crate” or “Go to bed” are good cues and should result in them happily walking in and laying down.
Training is best done when your Dachie is still a puppy, however, in some situations (such as fostering) you may need to do this for an adult.
The common myth is that you can’t teach an old dog a new trick. While it’s true that adults can take longer to train when compared to a puppy – it’s all about patience, fun, and practice.
Practice makes perfect after all! Each dog is different and some dogs just naturally take to crates with a minimal amount of training.
Others can take quite a long time to see the crate as their home, so be sure to go at your dog’s pace, not your own. Your goal should be to have a dog who feels happy and/or relaxed when in their crate.
But before you get to that stage – you must first demonstrate that their crate is a safe, friendly place which they are comfortable in – not a form of punishment.
To do this – you should encourage crate usage. Forcing them to use the crate may be seen as a negative and, particularly to a puppy, may result in unwanted behaviours or complete distaste for everything connected to the crate.
So, what steps can you take to introduce your Dachshund to their crate which will (hopefully) result in a sound sleep for you and your dog for years to come?
Step 1: Praise, Praise, Praise (and lots of treats too)
You will need some tasty treats for this exercise, and pretty much the entire training process until you reach your goal. You will also need a wire crate. Fabric crates can be very useful, but they’re not the best option when first training your Dachshund.
Which treat should you use? This will depend on your dog.
A bit like humans, it’s unlikely your dog will want to work for something they’re not very excited about. Cheese and hot dogs are very popular among many dogs, try starting with that if you’re not sure what your dog likes yet.
Leaving the crate door open, sit near the crate and toss a treat in the crate. This step will likely give you an indication of whether the training is going to be easy or not.
Puppies, young dogs, and dogs who have either not seen a crate in the past, or not had a bad experience with a crate should automatically follow the treat inside.
If your dog is generally nervous or has had a negative experience with a crate, you will need to start your training outside of the crate first.
Place the treat by the door, or perhaps even slightly away from the crate, and reward them just for approaching the crate.
For nervous dogs, you’re working on counter-conditioning or simply you’re trying to make your dog feel happy about approaching a crate, rather than scared or any other negative feeling.
Once your pup is in the crate and has eaten the treats, they might come out straight away, which is perfectly fine. At this stage, just the fact that they’re going in the crate earns them a treat (the one you threw in, not an additional one), and they can exit whenever they want.
Simple rules make for a more pleasant experience and improve the learning speed.
Simple rules make for a more pleasant experience and improve the learning speed.
If your dog stays in the crate for a bit rather than goes out of it, you can then give them more treats in quick succession, making sure you do it before they attempt to leave, and you’re not coercing them in staying at this stage.
If you’re struggling, we advise you to stop the session and grab a cuppa or do something unrelated and try again later. Frustration is bad and often results in forced behaviours.
We do not advise forcing your pup in the crate and feeding them treats than in hope that it’ll just work out for the best. It’s possible that it will, but in the majority of cases it doesn’t, and it’s much nicer to have dogs who go in happily and of their own accord.
Step 2: Don’t close the Crate Door just yet
Once you’ve successfully worked through step 1, and done a lot of repetitions, you can now move yourself to a different place for the next step.
This step happens once your dog is happy to stay inside the crate after eating the treat that you tossed inside in the previous exercise.
Sit to the side of the crate now, with the doors still open, and while your pup is in the crate, add a couple of treats through the bars.
Spread them out to see if your dog decides to sit or even lie down to finish them off. The goal should be to have your pup lying down while waiting for treats, but it might take a bit of time and luring to get them from standing to lying down.
Don’t be tempted to ask them to lie down if they know that cue though, it won’t help your cause.
If your dog is happy to lie down and wait for treats, you can add a bit of time between dishing out the goodies. Do it one second at a time.
You don’t need to do a lot of work on time here, but it is useful to build a foundation for building up the time your dog will spend in the crate.
Step 3: Let’s fidget and move around
If your pup is happy to stay in the crate for a couple of seconds or even a whole minute while waiting for that delicious treat, you can start moving around and seeing what happens in those situations.
Crate door should not be closed yet. While it’s possible that your dog will be fine if you did close the door, it is also possible to create long term problems should your pup suddenly panic at the thought of being left.
Start with small movements, something like moving an arm from your body all the way to the right, then giving a treat. If you’re crouching, try extending your leg, then treat. You’re treating/rewarding your dog for doing nothing, and that is what you want!
Increase movements slowly, and do a lot of repetitions of one movement if you notice any concern on your dog about your movement so that they can relax about it.
Once you’ve done a lot of fidgeting and some movement around the crate, you can try standing up. Stand up, then crouch down and treat again if your dog stays in the crate and does nothing. Do this and the previous fidgeting step in combination multiple times.
What you’re working on here is getting your dog comfortable with being in the crate regardless of your body posture or movement.
It’s good to note here that if your dog gets out of the crate, either go back a few steps or stop the sessions and try again later (from step 1 or wherever your dog feels comfortable).
Once you’re sure your dog is fine with you standing up, try moving to the side and coming back to the previous position, then treating.
Again, be sure that your dog is comfortable and relaxed in the crate. If you see unease or desire to jump out and join you, go back and work on the fidgeting step again.
It’s important to not only work on movement but also the time you spend out of your “normal” position when you start the training.
Stepping away from the crate should also be built up in varying durations, ideally mixed up with other exercises. Do something like 1 step away, then back, treat. Repeat that once or twice to make sure your pup is still happy about this arrangement. Then do 3 steps, return and treat.
Then 1 step, return and treat. 2 steps, return and treat, 4 steps return and treat, 1 step return and treat, and so on. Randomised increments help us prevent expectation if your dog can predict the ease of training they are less likely to learn what you want them to learn.
As long as you’re mixing up the training with the previous steps, you can now attempt a very brief step out of sight, e.g. step outside the room.
At this point, you won’t even be out for a second, but you’re just introducing the idea of leaving while your dog stays in the crate (again, door open and if your dog comes out, you probably moved to this step a tad too soon).
If your dog stayed in the crate for that brief moment, go back to your position and treat.
Don’t make too much fuss though, you don’t want an excited dog, you want a relaxed dog having a nice time in their crate.
Build up the stepping out of the room with other elements of the training. It will require a good amount of repetitions but you want to be in a position where you can leave the room for a good few minutes and upon your return, your pup is still inside the crate, even with the doors wide open.
If your dog does leave the crate, then go back a few steps and repeat the training from there, it’s likely you rushed a bit somewhere, or your pup just needed to refresh their knowledge of the exercise.
Make sure you don’t react to your dog not being in the crate, if you get frustrated, grab a cup of tea and do something unrelated until you’re relaxed again to continue with the training.
Step 4: Close that door
Finally, we can talk about the elephant in the room – the crate door. But before that, we go back to the position in step 1. Toss a treat inside the crate, and once your pup goes in, close the door, but probably best not to lock it just yet.
Carry on with the other exercises and steps we’ve done so far with that door closed. If your dog moves towards the door or looks like they’re about to nudge the door, open it yourself.
Don’t react in any other way or say anything. It’s possible that your dog will just return back to the position in the crate they were in a moment ago; if that happens praise and reward with treats. If it doesn’t happen, just repeat step one with closing the door and see what happens.
The important thing is that you don’t leave the door closed when your dog is showing signs of discomfort.
Work through our previous steps all with the door closed, but not locked. Once you’ve done all the steps with the closed door, you can go back to step one, and this time you can lock the door and repeat all of the steps that way.
If you get stuck, go back a stage or two, or break your training into smaller goals. It might be too confusing or too much for your pup to take in, so they might need a slower rate of training.
On the other hand, if your pup is a fast learner, don’t be tempted to jump a couple of steps, it won’t do you much good in the long run.
Once you’re ready, you can start increasing the time your dog can be left in the crate. We recommend randomised increments again because predictability increases chances for your training to go downhill.
Finally, don’t forget to be patient. It might seem like a long training process, but if you stick to it, you can get most of it done in just a couple of days.
Increasing the time your dog can be left alone might take a bit more time, but it’s worth it for the peace of mind when you need to leave in the future, knowing your dog is happy and relaxed at home.
General Hints and Tips for Dog Crates
- Never use your crate as a permanent all-day place to put your dog. Crates are supposed to be places your dogs feel safe and can sleep in – locking them in all day is not only unfair but can make them miserable. They are not designed for long periods of time.
- Remember that dogs need toilet breaks just like humans. Unlike humans – they can’t keep it in for long – so be mindful unless you want to return to an unexpected surprise.
- Like a bedroom, make the crate comfortable if your Dachie is sleeping in their crate. Blankets, dog beds and other crate padding and mattresses are available – some designed for dogs (waterproof etc).
- Don’t leave the crate in a drafty spot but make sure that there’s good airflow and ventilation in the space. Also, avoid direct sunlight or leaving the crate too near to a radiator.
- It’s a good idea to leave a toy or something to chew in the crate. A Kong cone or favourite toy is ideal.
- If your dog crate is in the same room as you – they may want to see you at night which may result in a lot of whining. Try covering the crate with a thin sheet to give them more of a closed environment.
- Some dogs suffer from separation anxiety. You should consider this in your training schedule.
Summary
When selecting a dog crate for a Dachshund, you should consider the age and temperament of the breed. Having a good nights sleep will not only benefit the dog but also yourself.
Selecting a great crate alone is not enough – you should spend time training your dog to enjoy the environment they will be sleeping in.
If you have any other suggestions – don’t forget to comment below. Also, join the conversation on our Facebook page.
For more dog crate guides and advice – check out our Crates section.
