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Puppy Daily Schedule

The below schedule outlines a sample daily schedule of what life could be like with your puppy! Puppies are a lot like newborns: their days center around eating, sleeping, and pottying! Many people are surprised by how much sleeping puppies do. Their energy comes in short bursts. 

A Note about Sleep

Sleep is totally normal and necessary for puppies! Not getting your puppy adequate rest can result in an overtired puppy ...followed by unwanted behaviors! If your puppy becomes too tired, his body will produce adrenaline (the fight or flight hormone) to cope with the demands and stresses of their day and prevents them from settling down! If adrenaline builds up over a number of days, the stress hormones take much longer to get rid of, and you end up with a frantic puppy biting anything that moves. Common symptoms of an overtired puppy include: biting, excessive thirst, zoomies (running nonstop circles), barking, panting, licking lips, forgetting manners and commands, and more. Make sure to provide your pup with adequate rest to avoid these unwanted consequences!

Potty Frequency

The general rule of thumb for potty frequency is that a puppy can hold their bowel/bladder for one hour per month. So a 2 month old puppy can hold it for 2 hours while a 4 month old can hold it for four hours. Keep this in mind as you determine where to put your pup when you leave the house. If you're going to be gone less than 2 hours, your pup can relax in his/her crate. If you're leaving your 2 month old puppy for 8 hours you'll need to set up an area for your puppy for a longer amount of time (include a potty area, play area, etc.) . 

A Day in the Life of a Puppy 

7:00 - 8:00 AM: 

  • Wake Up

  • Go Potty (first things first!)

  • Morning Exercise (run around the yard during potty break, take a short walk, etc.)

  • Breakfast (check to see if your pup needs to go potty again after breakfast!)

8:00- 10:00 AM

  • Play time with you  and a toy (the kids can definitely join in here!)

  • A short training session can happen during this time (training is most effective in short increments- usually 15 minutes or less)

  • Bonding Time- your puppy will want to follow you trhough the house as you go about your day!

  • Potty Trip

10:00 AM -12:00 PM

  • Nap Time (your puppy can sleep 15-20 hours per day when they come home initially!)

12:00- 2:00 PM

  • Wake Up

  • Potty Trip

  • Let your dog follow you around as you go about your afternoon.

  • You can add in another short training session in here if you have time.

  • An afternoon enrichment activity: kong, treat puzzle, lickimat, etc can keep your puppy busy and stimulated.

2:00- 5:00 PM

  • Afternoon Nap/Quiet Time

5:00- 6:00 PM

  • Wake up from Nap

  • Potty Time

  • Exercise/Play Time (playing fetch, frisbee, walks, etc.)

6:00- 7:00 PM

  • Dinner Time

  • Bonding Time

  • Potty Trip

7:00-9:00 PM

  • Relaxation Time/Quiet Play

  • Brush the puppy's coat to prevent tangles, have them collect their toys and put them in their toy bin.

  • Potty Trip

  • Bed Time!

The Bottom Line

This sample schedule isn't meant to overwhelm you! This is just a guide and meant to demonstrate a few basic concepts. Your puppy will adjust to your life and your routine! Just remember, when they first arrive, they will need a lot of sleep AND a lot of potty trips! As they settle in (and you get acclimated to having a puppy) you will get in to a routine that works for both of you! These pups are smart and eager to please.

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