Bringing a new puppy home is one of the most exciting times in your life, and it can also seem very hectic. And if you are not fully prepared for the occasion, you might find yourself feeling suddenly very overwhelmed. There’s so much to think about from mealtimes, cuddles, play, potty training, vaccination schedules and veterinarian checks, to socialization and obedience training.
So that your puppy doesn’t take over your life completely and can settle into your family life and routines, it’s a great idea to ensure that your puppy learns a schedule and fits into family life. This will help you all stay happy and healthy. Your whole household will benefit from a good structure.
So, let’s take a look at why you should have a puppy schedule and what you should include in it.
Puppies, and also adult dogs, thrive on predictable routines that help them know what to expect and how it can help with positive reinforcement training sessions, like toilet training, sleep training, getting used to being in a crate, perhaps when you go to work. How to behave calmly and get used to a new home, new sights and sounds, etc. A puppy routine is supported by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as well. A good schedule for your puppy will reduce stress, limit nervous reactions such as accidents or chewing, and help your puppy grow up to be confident, calm, and content.
The puppy routine should help you fit the care of your puppy seamlessly into your current daily routine, and you might have to make a few adjustments. Perhaps you’ve swapped a gym visit for a dog walking session. If you put the puppy schedule in place before you welcome your puppy home, you should be prepared for the changes the routine brings and be able to settle your puppy in with confidence. And don’t forget to include the kids in the routine as well.
Here are some important aspects to include in your new puppy schedule and how you can fit it into your schedule.
A good, responsible puppy breeder will hand over details of your puppy’s current feeding schedule so you can work out how to adjust your puppy’s current schedule so that it fits in with yours, but not too drastically. Puppies require frequent, consistent meals, which your puppy breeder can advise on. Once you have decided on timings for each meal, stick to this to help keep your puppy’s tummy calm and to help with their digestion.
Very young puppies can eat 3-4 meals per day, changing to 2 meals per day at 6 months, but you can take your breeder's or veterinarian's advice on this. It seems obvious, but it’s important to ensure that fresh water is always available.
One key aspect of a puppy's schedule is potty training. You might be lucky enough that your puppy is already toilet trained, but you should continue on with training as instructed by your breeder, as they can still have little accidents while young, especially when moving to a new home.
Puppies need to go every two to four hours during the day, and you should take them straight out after a meal. Use a spot that’s the same each time, and when they use the location, reward them with a treat and/or praise. Your puppy will get used to the routine, ie, ‘after food, I go to the potty spot’.
Puppies are full of excitable energy, and you will want to make sure they are both physically and mentally enriched. However, it is key that you keep training sessions on your puppy's schedule short but regular, and you can build on this time as the puppy grows older. Puppy training sessions should be fun to keep your puppy's attention and be based on positive reinforcement techniques, such as feeding treats or giving praise.
There is a lot of information online to help you with your puppy training, and you should also have had advice on the puppy schedule your breeder was using in your puppy pack or information leaflet. Keep learning and reinforcing simple commands, such as ‘sit’, ‘stay’, and ‘here’. Training will help you build long-lasting bonds with your puppy.
And short walks (when cleared health-wise) into your daily schedule. Not only does this help burn excess energy, but it also establishes family bonding and teaches your puppy good habits.
Once your puppy is cleared with vaccinations, you can start introducing walk time into your schedule. And the whole family can get involved here. Keep walks short to begin with and incorporate socialization training into the walk time. Try to get your puppy used to lots of different sounds, sights, and places. Also, get them used to people of all ages, genders, and appearances.
Puppies need a lot of sleep, and this will help them take in all that they have learned and experienced each day. They can sleep for about 16–20 hours a day! If your puppy doesn't sleep well, they can become over-tired and irritable, which can lead to destructive behavior, so build good bedtime and nighttime routines into your puppy's schedule. ,
As your puppy grows, you can adjust the schedule gradually to fit your dog's current needs, so walks will get longer, naps will be less frequent but longer, and training can often be done in just one regular session. But for the short window that your puppy is small, up until 6 months, a puppy schedule is crucial for helping you to keep up with all the new tasks, such as potty training, nap time, feeding, walks, and training.
A good schedule will keep you all healthy and happy, help you enjoy the first few months with your puppy, and build a lasting bond.
26 November, 2025