Bringing home a puppy is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. Between puppy zoomies, regular potty breaks, and naps, it can be hard to establish a daily routine. Whether it’s early morning walks to beat the Texas heat or that final potty break before bed, a consistent routine helps manage your puppy’s needs. In this blog, we offer tips on how to create a puppy schedule.
Crate training:
The first step in how to create a puppy schedule. Crate training is essential for a good puppy schedule. It keeps your puppy safe when you can’t directly supervise them and helps them settle into a predictable routine. When introduced properly, the crate becomes a safe space for your puppy to rest and feel secure.
Most puppies can sleep for 8 hours overnight without needing a potty break. During the day, a good rule is to crate them for no more than one hour longer than their age in months. For example, if your puppy is 4 months old, don’t crate them for more than 5 hours throughout the day.
Does your puppy whine in the crate? Check out our articles on “How to Stop Your Puppy from Whining in the Crate,” “How to Prevent Crate Soiling,” and “Crate Training Tips on Preventing Separation Anxiety.”
Take advantage of meal times:
Mealtimes are useful as training opportunities for your puppy. Incorporating kibble and treats into your puppy’s training routine can strengthen your bond and help them learn. Here are just a few ways to make the most of their mealtimes:
- Train through feeding: When out socializing, feed them whenever they notice a person, dog, or anything new. This will create a positive association with these things and help your puppy be calm and comfortable when exploring. Do this at least three times a week.
- Hand-feed them: Hand feeding helps to build a stronger bond. Include other family members in hand-feeding meals.
- Feed meals in their crate: This will help acclimatize them to the crate, establishing a positive association when they need to be in the crate.
- Add mental enrichment: Use puzzle toys or Kongs to serve meals, which keeps them mentally stimulated and prevents boredom.
For more enrichment ideas, check out our blogs, “Puzzle games to slow down your dog’s eating” and “How to prepare Kong Toys like a trainer.”
Maintain regular potty breaks:
Puppies need to go potty every one to two hours during the day. While this might seem like a lot, it is entirely normal. Puppies are still learning to control their bladders and need frequent bathroom breaks.
Take your puppy out after:
- Eating or drinking
- Playing energetically (including puppy zoomies)
- Waking up from a nap
- Spending time in their crate.
Consistency and patience go a long way during this stage; accidents will happen, but sticking to a schedule makes them fewer and farther between.
Control their access to water:
Water is essential, but giving your puppy unrestricted access can lead to preventable accidents. Your puppy will probably try to drink water every time they go outside to potty. However, to best manage their potty breaks, we recommend offering water every two hours during the day. Even if a puppy goes potty more than every two hours, it is easier to predict when they’ll need a potty break and helps establish better control as they grow.
Set the schedule:
Now that we have discussed crate training, drinking, meal times, and the importance of regularly taking your puppy out to potty, it’s time to set a schedule. This example is for a 10-week-old puppy that can be let out at noon.
6:30 am Potty and drink break, with puppy playtime until breakfast
7:30 am Breakfast, fed with a Kong
8:30 am Potty break followed by nap time in their crate.
11 am Drink, potty break, playtime
1 pm Potty break, lunch in their crate, followed by naptime
3:00 pm Potty and water break followed by handfeeding them dinner during a training exercise or a socialization outing
5pm Drink and potty break
7pm Drink and potty break
8:30 pm Last drink break and potty break
10:30 pm Final potty break of the day, then bedtime in their crate
This schedule will need to be changed based on their age, size, and potty training status. Though this potty schedule is time-consuming, we recommend following a general schedule so you and your puppy can get the most out of your day.
We’re here to help
Do you have any questions about how to create a puppy schedule? or questions on behavioral concerns, obedience and manners training? You can schedule a free consultation with our Pet Behavior Team. Our team can provide professional advice and discuss our training programs and methods with you. All of our training programs are personalized to your training goals, with one-on-one sessions at your home and local Houston neighborhood.
Our co-founder and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Echterling-Savage, provides virtual consultation training programs. In these programs she will connect with you virtually, developing a training plan with step by step guidance and support.
