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There are so many new experiences and things to think about when you bring home your puppy that you may forget one of the most important parts of puppy homecoming: establishing a routine. Structure will help your new canine family member feel secure and know what’s expected of him. The best way to do this is to create a schedule and stick to it. The first few weeks with your new puppy is the time to start establishing good behaviors. By the way, the puppy is not the only one who benefits from a schedule; it also makes life easier for the human members of the family. You won’t have to plan out every moment of your pup’s day, but there are a few important areas where a schedule can make the difference between a well-adjusted dog and chaos.
Unlike mature dogs that eat once or twice a day, most puppies need to eat puppy food three times a day. Make it easier to remember by planning his mealtimes around your own breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Wash out his water bowl and make sure it’s always filled with clean water, too.
Keep to a regular routine of taking your puppy outside at least every two-to-four hours and after every change of activity. This is especially important during house training and will keep accidents to a minimum.
Your puppy needs exercise and interaction with you. A word of caution: sustained, strenuous exercise (long runs, jumping) is not good for puppies, but playing, mental stimulation, and running around in the yard are good. Some experts recommend waiting until a dog is about one year old before starting with serious exercise and this can vary by breed. Different dog breeds have different energy levels and rates of growth; the growth plates in their joints close at different ages. But do schedule play and exercise time into your puppy’s day: a walk around the neighborhood, playing with toys, and time spent bonding go a long way toward expending energy. Several shorter sessions are better for a puppy than one long one.
Young puppies sleep a great deal of the time; in fact, some will sleep as much as 16-to-18 hours a day. Plan on quiet nap times for him several times during the day. Family members, especially young children, should learn not to disturb him when he’s sleeping. He needs his rest! You may need to put a crate in a quiet part of the house so he won’t be distracted by the hustle and bustle that may be going on during naptime.
When it comes to bedtime, some owners set a specific time to settle their puppy down for the night. Others just want him to sleep when they sleep. It may be easier to set a puppy bedtime and help him get used to the routine.
This is also a good opportunity to teach your puppy good play manners such as not nipping hands and feet by engaging with them to play with chew toys. You can check out our “Puppyhood Made Easy for New Owners: How to Play with Your Puppy Pt.1!” blog for some playtime tips and games. Having some scheduled playtime throughout the day also ensures that you are spending quality bonding time together!
Before you do anything with your puppy, start with a potty break first! In the beginning, your puppy will need to potty more often, be shown where to go again and again to establish the habit, and be taught how to “hold it” for longer periods of time as they grow. (The crate can be a big help with this!) Keep in mind that puppies can typically go longer overnight without as many potty breaks because they’re in a resting state.
Our days are made up of daily recurring activities whether it’s doing our hair or going to the gym! These routines help us move about our day with ease and when they’re interrupted (like not getting your coffee before work, yikes!) it can totally throw us off our game. Just like us, puppies thrive on following a schedule and can easily adapt to our lifestyle. It’s up to you to create one for them and this is how!
As a guideline, take your puppy’s age in months and divide it in half to determine how many hours they can hold there for. (Example: A 3-month-old puppy should be taken out to relieve themselves every 1.5 hours.) This is a great starting point to build into your daily puppy schedule that you can adjust as your puppy grows and can consistently hold it longer! For a more detailed potty training schedule you can customize for your own puppy, visit our blog “Puppyhood Made Easy for New Owners: Create a Puppy Potty Schedule!”
Do you have set mealtimes for your puppy? Do you have planned daily playtime or walk times with them? If the answer is no for at least one of those situations, then there’s still some work to do to establish a puppy schedule. Setting up a routine doesn’t mean planning every little moment of your pup’s day for the rest of their life, but it does mean getting some of the important things like potty breaks and feeding on a consistent basis.
What is a good puppy daily schedule?
Make sure to have a regular routine of taking your puppy outside at least every two-to-four hours. This is especially important during the house-training stage and will help avoid any accidents to a minimum. Try to incorporate play sessions during the day too, which will help with your puppy’s energy.
It can seem daunting, a whole new challenge, but there are a few things to consider before you start. Consider things such as, when you eat breakfast, when you leave for work, when you usually get home, and when you settle down for dinner. Your new daily schedule for your puppy should mirror your own routine.
However, despite that, try to bare in mind that your puppy will need to use to the toilet a little more than you will. The sooner you start to implement your puppy’s daily schedule, the better. Consistency is key whilst helping your puppy adjust to their new life with you.
Puppy Schedule – Daily
Bringing home a new puppy is exciting … and a bit stressful. There are a lot of things to consider, including where the pup will sleep, what they should eat, when to start training, and how to get them to go potty outside. But of all the essential things you must plan to do when you add a new canine companion to your family, establishing a regular schedule is one of the most important.
Just like with our human babies, dogs need a routine. They need to feel confident in knowing when things will happen, like when they will get fed, when they will go outside and get exercise, or when its just time for play and fun. Providing your dog with a consistent schedule will help them in myriad ways including potty training, skills training, and behavior development. It can seem overwhelming to consider creating an effective schedule for a new pup when you might already struggle with your own, but luckily its easy to do with this simple guide.