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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.
The items inside his crate can be comforting to him and help him settle in. Be sure any bed you add to his crate is safe and cannot be chewed up by puppies his age. The crate should be sized for him and easy to get into. Dont choose a cavernous crate for a small puppy, since this will have the opposite effect to making him feel secure and contained.
Do you have other dogs at home? Place puppys crate in their sleeping area so they get accustomed to being together. Company reassures your pup who may, up until now, have relied on his littermates for reassurance and comfort. Inversely, if your current fur babies dont seem to be warming up to their new sibling, it may be best to keep sleeping arrangements in separate spaces until they come to a truce and decide to be best friends.
Puppies are rambunctious little creatures that love to play, run and create mischief. Even though it seems that they have an endless supply of energy, all of this playing and carousing leads to their heightened need for lots of rest and makes proper sleeping arrangements a necessity. And that means sleeping by himself, not with you.
Place the crate (or the bed, if youre choosing not to crate) in a quiet corner of your home where you can keep watch over your puppy and he wont be disturbed by general noise from other family members. This gives him the best chance for getting restful sleep. The kitchen corner is a good choice in most homes, since the floor is easy to clean if spills occur. If you must position the crate on carpet, then add some waterproof pads beneath the crate first to help handle any potential messes.
Buying multiple dog beds (or even more than one crate) for your puppy and placing them throughout the house gives him a space to make up for lost naps. Remember, he may want to go into his crate for sleeping even when not prompted to. Let him do so. The nature of a puppy means having bursts of energy followed quickly by the need for a restorative nap.
Why do puppies sleep so much?
Some new dog owners mistakenly believe that their puppy sleeps too much. They purposely wake the pet during the day so that it “sleeps better at night.” Others interrupt sleep for playtime and petting. And I understand the desire to spend more time with your cute little puppy. But keep yourself in check.
Puppies sleep so much for a reason. During puppyhood, their bodies develop at a breakneck pace. It takes a lot of energy for the bones, muscles, and brain (and therefore the nervous system) to develop properly. The consequences of sleep deprivation in dogs can be stress, anxiety, aggression, and other behavioral disorders.
Just imagine, a dog develops in a year like a human develops in 18 years!
Puppy Schedule – Daily
It’s no secret that sleeping through the night with a new puppy can be almost as difficult as it is with a newborn baby.
Teena Patel, a dog trainer and the owner of the training facility University of Doglando, says puppies wake up so often because they’re lonely for their mothers.
“Puppies are stripped from the natural weaning process and deprived of the bonding that occurs with their mom and littermates. Most rescue organizations [and breeders] don’t have the capacity or resources to keep puppies a long time. They’re usually taken from their mothers at only eight weeks,” she says.
The good news is it’s easier than you think to get your new puppy sleeping through the night. With a little foresight, planning and a commitment to training, you can have your puppy sleeping through the night in just a few days.
Just as you may have rituals such as brushing your teeth or reading to your child before bed, having set routines with your puppy can help prepare him for sleep and give him something positive to associate with bedtime.
If your puppy is wired at night, it could be that he isn’t getting enough stimulation during the day.
“It helps get him aroused and tired and ready to go to bed by stimulating him mentally and physically,” she says. “He’ll be more content and it will help him crash and want to rest.”
She suggests throwing a toy, playing a game of hide-and-seek or experimenting with name recognition where family members form a circle and take turns calling your dog. When he comes to you, reward him with dog treats or his favorite toy.
Playing classical music before and during bedtime can help alleviate whining and anxiety as well as drown out other noise or unfamiliar sounds that may upset or rouse your puppy.
Dr. Carolyn Lincoln, a vet, dog trainer and owner of Play to Behave, recommends “Through a Dog’s Ear,” a musical CD, which is based on the research of the effect of tempo and octave levels on dogs.