Puppy Schedules: Setting Your Pup Up for Success
Bringing home a puppy is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming! Puppies thrive on structure, and having a schedule helps them feel secure while establishing good habits. Let’s break down what a typical puppy schedule might look like, covering naps, potty breaks, feeding, and crate time.
Nap Time: Rest is Crucial
Puppies are like toddlers—bursting with energy one moment and conking out the next. Puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep per day until they’re about 16 weeks old. As they grow, their sleep needs gradually decrease:
0-4 months: 18-20 hours of sleep per day.
4-6 months: 16-18 hours of sleep per day.
6+ months: Around 14-16 hours of sleep per day, similar to an adult dog.
A good rule of thumb is to give your puppy a nap every hour or two, especially after playtime, meals, or training sessions.
Nap Tips:
Use a crate or a quiet area for naps to help your puppy learn to settle.
Keep nap spaces distraction-free. If your puppy gets overtired, they might act hyper or mouthy—this is a cue for rest, not more play.
Ensuring your puppy gets enough sleep supports their growth and helps prevent cranky, overexcited behavior.
Potty Time: Timing is Everything
Potty training is all about consistency and supervision. Puppies typically need to go potty:
First thing in the morning.
After eating or drinking.
After waking up from a nap. After play sessions.
Every 1-2 hours, depending on age.
How Long Can Puppies Hold It?
Puppies can hold their bladder for about 1 hour per month of age, plus 1 hour, up to a maximum of 8 hours. Here's a quick guideline:
8-10 weeks old: 1-2 hours.
2-3 months old: 2-3 hours.
4 months old: 4-5 hours.
5-6 months old: 5-6 hours.
Skip the Potty
Pads While potty pads are often marketed as a training tool, they can confuse puppies by teaching them it’s okay to potty inside. Instead, focus on taking your puppy outside consistently. If you live in an apartment or have limited outdoor access, consider creating a designated potty spot outdoors or on a balcony.
Teach Your Puppy to Communicate You can train your puppy to use bells or buttons to let you know when they need to go out. Here’s how:
Hang bells by the door or place a button nearby.
Every time you take your puppy outside, lure the dog with a treat to ring the bell or press the button and say, “Potty time!”
Reward your puppy when they go outside to potty, reinforcing the connection between the sound and going outside.
Over time, your puppy will learn to ring the bell or press the button to signal they need to go.
Important Tips:
Overnight, puppies might hold it a little longer because their bodies slow down during sleep.
Puppies under 4 months shouldn’t be expected to hold it for more than 3-4 hours during the day.
Supervise your puppy indoors to prevent accidents, and always reward them immediately after they potty outside.
Consistent potty breaks help set your puppy up for success and make the training process smoother.
Feeding: Schedule, Not Free-Feeding
Puppies need 3-4 meals per day, depending on their age. Spacing meals evenly helps regulate energy and digestive health.
Sample Feeding Schedule:
7:00 AM: Breakfast
12:00 PM: Lunch
5:00 PM: Dinner
Optional: A small snack or training treat session in the evening (if your vet recommends).
Keep mealtimes consistent and avoid free-feeding, which can make potty training harder.
Crate Time: A Safe Space, Not a Jail
Crate training is a valuable tool for potty training and creating a safe haven for your puppy. The key is to use the crate in moderation and ensure your puppy is comfortable inside.
Guidelines for Crate Time:
Age in months + 1 hour: This formula helps determine how long your puppy can stay in the crate during the day (e.g., a 3-month-old puppy = 4 hours max).
Avoid crating for more than 6-8 hours overnight.
Give potty breaks before and after crating.
Crate Tips:
Make the crate cozy with a blanket and a safe chew toy.
Never use the crate as punishment—it should always be a positive space.
If your puppy whines in the crate, ensure they don’t need to potty, but don’t reward whining with attention unless necessary.
Sample Daily Schedule for a 3-Month-Old Puppy
7:00 AM: Wake up, potty, breakfast, playtime.
8:00 AM: Nap in the crate.
9:30 AM: Wake up, potty, short training session, playtime.
10:30 AM: Nap.
12:00 PM: Wake up, potty, lunch, playtime.
1:00 PM: Nap.
3:00 PM: Wake up, potty, short walk or socialization activity.
4:30 PM: Nap.
5:00 PM: Wake up, potty, dinner, playtime.
6:00 PM: Calm activities like chewing on a toy or practicing basic commands.
8:00 PM: Final potty break, settle for the night.
Freedom Training: Earning the House, One Room at a Time
Just like toddlers, puppies need supervision and boundaries to keep them safe and to prevent bad habits. Allowing your puppy free rein of the house too soon can lead to accidents, destructive chewing, and overwhelming situations. Freedom training teaches your puppy to earn access to new areas of your home by demonstrating responsible behavior.
How Freedom Training Works:
Start Small: Begin with your puppy’s crate and a single room, like the kitchen or a puppy-proofed living area.
Set the Rules: The space must stay free of damage (e.g., chewing furniture or cords) and potty accidents for one full week.
Expand Gradually: If your puppy successfully keeps their area clean and damage-free for a week, add a second room.
Consequences for Rule-Breaking: If your puppy has an accident or causes damage, they lose access to the most recently added room and return to the previous setup for another week.
Why It Works:
Prevents bad habits before they start.
Builds your puppy’s confidence and teaches boundaries.
Makes supervision easier, reducing stress for both you and your puppy.
Tips for Success:
Use baby gates to block off areas and supervise closely.
Give your puppy plenty of potty breaks and mental enrichment to reduce the chances of accidents or boredom-based chewing.
Celebrate success by rewarding good behavior with treats or extra playtime!
Freedom training helps your puppy learn how to behave in different parts of your home while keeping both your belongings and their safety intact. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Final Thoughts
Schedules set your puppy up for success and make life easier for you! Flexibility is okay, but consistency is key, especially with potty and crate training. By creating a predictable routine, you’ll help your puppy grow into a happy, well-adjusted adult dog. Got questions about your puppy’s schedule? Let me know—I’d love to help!
