So that’s when I stumbled on the JOEJOY Hooded Cave Bed. So a bed with a blanket attached to it. Honestly, the idea made sense on paper: dachshunds were bred to chase badgers into underground tunnels. A hooded bed is basically a man-made badger den. Would Oscar actually use it? And would it make a difference?

Why dachshunds struggle with alone time — and how a cave bed helps

Look, dachshunds are a velcro breed — 300 years of hunting alongside humans means they don’t do solitude well. Anecdotally, separation anxiety affects a significant chunk of the breed. And here’s the thing about a dachshund: they don’t just like blankets — they burrow. They push their nose into the folds until they’re completely covered, then they fall asleep. It’s not a preference, it’s programming. A cave-like bed taps into that instinct.

First impressions of the JOEJOY Cave Bed: no chemical smell

And the JOEJOY came out of the box — I could put it on Oscar’s bed immediately. The rose-velvet fabric is soft, like a good throw blanket. The suede bottom grips the floor, so Oscar’s short legs don’t slide when he jumps on. At 23"x23" he fits perfectly curled up inside.

The first week — honest failure

Day 1 and 2 were “what is this weird tent in my spot” energy. Oscar sniffed it, walked past it, ignored it completely. I almost returned it. But on Day 3 I put a stuffed KONG inside — filled with peanut butter and Bil-Jac treats. He couldn’t resist going in after it, and stayed inside for 15 minutes after finishing the treats. By Day 5, he was going in on his own. The KONG was the turning point — it created a positive association. (If your dachshund is new to KONG toys, I covered how they hold up in my KONG Classic Small review.)

The real test: JOEJOY bed vs. open bed for dachshund anxiety

I ran a mini experiment: camera recordings while I was out for 2-3 hours, comparing the JOEJOY bed against his regular open bed.

And the difference was noticeable. Without any bed, Oscar paces by the door for 45 minutes, then finds something to chew. With the JOEJOY bed plus a stuffed KONG, he whines for about 10 minutes, goes into the bed for the KONG, spends 25 minutes focused on the snack, then curls up inside and stays asleep. I came home and found him still in there.

But I’m not going to pretend this is magic. On days when Oscar hasn’t had his morning walk and has pent-up energy, even a cave bed can’t hold him. And if there’s a thunderstorm, forget it. The bed reduces the anxiety symptoms — it doesn’t eliminate the anxiety itself.

Tips: getting your dachshund to use a cave bed

The bed works best as part of a routine: walk first, then KONG in cave, then leave. Without the KONG, Oscar took 5 days to use the bed on his own. But with it, he was using it day one. And the hooded blanket is removable — some dogs might prefer it up, some down. Oscar sleeps with his body covered and his nose poking out.

So a couple more things I noticed: the cover is machine washable, which matters more than you’d think when your dachshund drags burrows into it with muddy paws. I’ve washed ours 3 times in 3 weeks and it hasn’t shrunk or pilled. And at 23 inches round, a standard dachshund fills it completely — mini dachshunds would have room to stretch.

Bottom line on the JOEJOY Cave Bed for separation anxiety

Of course, the JOEJOY Hooded Cave Bed isn’t a replacement for proper separation anxiety training or (in severe cases) vet-prescribed medication. But as a tool in your toolbox? It’s surprisingly effective for a breed that instinctively seeks out dark, enclosed spaces for comfort. Oscar went from pacing by the door to curled up in his cave in about 3 weeks. For $26, that’s a pretty good return — especially compared to orthopedic dog beds that go for 4x as much.

We tested the JOEJOY Cave Bed for 3 weeks with our dachshund Oscar. Results will vary by dog — as always, consult your vet for severe behavioral issues.