A Good Daily Schedule for a Puppy: Flexible Routine

The day has FINALLY arrived - your new puppy is home with you! And once all the happy tears and unbearable excitement has subsided, the realization may kick in that this little furry bundle of joy is now your responsibility to raise. But worry not, all you need is a good puppy routine!

Like many of us, puppies thrive on a routine, and building one up around their age and needs will give them the best possible start - making new puppy life a little easier to manage.

But what’s a good starting routine for a puppy? Well of course, we dog experts have the answers. Read on for our recommended sample puppy routine, and all the expert tips and tricks you need to keep a solid puppy daily schedule - that’ll help along their training and development.

Why is routine important to puppies?

If you’ve just brought your puppy home, odds are they’re aged anywhere between 8 to 16 weeks. This period of a pup’s life is crucial as they begin to navigate the world around them - soaking up new experiences which help mold the way they think and learn.

Giving young puppies solid daily routines helps them settle into your home, can help reduce stress and anxiety, and teaches them what to expect daily (with no surprises that might throw them off).

This is a great way to kickstart their new life with you, and teach them what their new life at home will look like.

Your puppy’s daily schedule

As your puppy grows and changes, so will their daily routine! The majority of it will end up feeling like deja vu, but you’ll start to notice that you’ll make little adaptations as they grow, learn and develop.

So, what should a typical day look like for your growing pup?

Morning

Morning potty break:

Whether they’re 8 weeks old or 6 months old, showing them that they go out for a potty break first thing will get them into the habit of doing so when they’re older - helping to avoid any accidents when they can eventually hold their bladder and bowels throughout the night.

For an 8-week-old pup, you may have spent the night getting up on the hour to soothe them during crate training, or taken them out for a potty break since at this age, they can’t hold it for very long.

It’s still advised to stick to the routine of going out first thing, even with young puppies. Kicking off the habit at the earliest age possible will help make potty training easier down the line.

First meal: The most important meal of the day!

Kicking off the day with a bowl of healthy puppy food is ideal for a pup of any age.

Despite the number of times you feed them a day changing as they grow older, starting the day off with a nutritious meal will give them all the energy they need to take on the day ahead.

Meal frequency and portion size vary. Follow the complete-and-balanced puppy food label and your veterinarian's recommendation for your puppy's age, expected adult size, body condition and health. Measure each meal rather than relying on a generic gram range.

To know exactly what you should be feeding your puppy; considering their age, weight and size - check out our very own Puppy Feeding Guide!

Another potty break: All that food’s got to go somewhere! Even if they’re not showing signs of needing to eliminate, it’s always good to try. That said, younger puppies will need to go not long after eating.

Eventually, they’ll recognize that a meal is followed by a potty opportunity! And you can carry on with the next hour knowing little accidents are unlikely.

Older pups (16 weeks and up) need to use the bathroom less often, so the amount of potty breaks they need in a day will decrease as they grow.

Nap: It’s not going to take much to tucker out a young puppy, with pups needing up to 20 hours of sleep a day. So, just to conserve energy, you may want to wind things down a bit to encourage snoozing.

The amount of naps puppies need also reduces with age, so this will change as your pup grows.

Afternoon

Playtime: Then when they’re awake and well-rested, it’s time to burn all the energy off again! Playtime is a crucial part of a puppy’s day and can help with development and bonding.

Playtime can look different each time, whether you want to focus on mental stimulation, enrichment, training or just plain tug of war.

Midday meal, when scheduled: Meal frequency changes as a puppy grows. Young puppies often eat more frequent measured meals than adults, but the transition date and portion depend on the individual puppy and diet. Make changes gradually with veterinary guidance.

potty break: Puppies will often need to have a potty break not long after they’ve eaten, so you should always make it a habit to practice potty training once mealtime’s over.

Nap: With a full belly and the day half over, it’ll be time for another recharge. For puppies older than 16 weeks (who’ve had their necessary vaccinations), this could be a great time for leash training, or a quick walk around the neighborhood for some essential socialization and exposure training.

Training/playtime: This is a great time to play more with your pup and work on some basic training. This can include tricks like sit, paw, leave and stay - all of which can assist in keeping your pup’s focus during other tasks.

Nap: All that training would’ve tired out your young pup! Slowing things down and settling them for another nap will help conserve energy and prepare them for the rest of the day.

Mid-afternoon meal: Young pups are constantly burning energy through learning and playing, so they must be getting all the nutrients they need - making this a great time for their third meal of the day.

potty break: Keeping up the habit of having a potty break after meals brings another opportunity to practice potty training.

Evening

Playtime: As we know, playtime is a crucial part of a young pup’s life, so squeezing in as much one-on-one time with your pup is important!

As they get older, this time can be turned into more adventurous activities like bigger and longer walks after their necessary vaccinations, exposure training and socialization.

Evening meal, when scheduled: Use the measured amount in your puppy's individual daily feeding plan. Count training rewards within the daily intake and keep treats appropriate for the puppy's age and size.

potty break: This certainly won’t be the last potty break of the day! But it’s important to keep up the routine of encouraging your pup to urinate or defecate after eating, to avoid accidents inside the house.

Wind down time: Where earlier this would have been a time to play, this time should now be taken to wind down. Whether snuggling on the sofa, tidying toys away for the day or just sharing the love, you should be doing everything to prepare them for a good night’s sleep.

This also might include crate training where you spend time introducing them to their crate and showing your pup that it’s a relaxing space made for snoozing.

For help, tips and tricks on crate training your puppy, explore our guide ‘How to crate train a puppy’.

potty break: Just like you want your puppy to get into the habit of having a potty break once they get up, the same can be said for before bed! This will especially come in handy when they’re old enough to hold their bladder throughout the night.

Some very young puppies need one or more overnight potty trips. Use the puppy's signals, recent intake and veterinary guidance rather than assuming every puppy must go on an hourly schedule.

Bedtime: Full tummy, empty bladder and satisfied from a day of fun - it’s time for bed! Whether you use a crate, playpen or decide that your pup will sleep in your room, this is a great time to continue training to set them up for success as they grow into an adult dog.

Night time with your pup can be a whole new ball game, so make sure you’re prepared, especially with the expert advice found in our article ‘The first night with your puppy’.

For extra help, expert trainer Jon has swooped in and brought to us his top tips and tricks on nailing down your puppy's evening routine.

And that’s your puppy’s day done - ready to start it all over again the next day. Raising a puppy is certainly not all cute puppy pictures and cuddles.

It can be hard work! But with the right approach, guidance, support and a whole lotta patience, you can help your pup grow up to be the best adult dog. For expert training, veterinarian advice and general puppy support, be sure to explore our full Puppy Hub.