Your puppy thrives on routine. Much like a human child, when his routine gets out of whack, it can cause him to become stressed, cranky, overtired, or even much too hyper for his own good. Over and under-stimulation and sudden changes in your pup’s routine should be considered “the enemy.” Following a routine daily (or at least as often as is possible) will ensure that he gets the rest, food, and exercise he needs to grow up big, healthy, and strong.
Just as it is when you have human children, creating a routine for your puppy isn't always easy. Requirements like work, sleep, mealtime, and even spending time with family members can make it difficult to keep your daily schedule on track. This is especially true if you happen to do shift work or if you travel for business. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to create a routine for your pup; instead, work on creating a routine that works for both your pup and your lifestyle.
Need some basic guidance? We’ll lay out what you need to know right here.
Puppy Feeding Schedule
Contrary to popular belief, free feeding your puppy isn't wise. While this works for cats, pups will often overeat and it can lead to health problems. At best, your pup will quickly pack on the pounds. At worst, he could even struggle with the condition like bloat, which could be fatal. Instead, you should try to set up a feeding schedule at the same time every day. How you feed your puppy also matters. If you wake up each morning, fill his dish, and then sit with him for a few minutes, you'll also bond with him in the process. Ditto if you repeat this at night. The size of your puppy should always dictate how much and how often you offer food. Most puppies between the ages of eight weeks and 12 weeks are expected to eat between three and four times per day at a rate of approximately a ⅓-cup to ½-cup of food. If you have any doubts, ask your veterinarian to verify the amount of food or brand you should be feeding your puppy. After a while, you'll find he naturally gravitates to the food dish just before the time at which he is fed. Don't forget the water either; this is the one exception to the routine. Your pup should have free access to clean water (hint: not the toilet bowl) at all times throughout the day. Provide extra water (perhaps two bowls rather than one) if it happens to be exceptionally warm or if you'll exceed your routine by more than a 1/2 hour.Puppy Pee Breaks
There's no getting around it; puppies simply have to go to the bathroom more often than their adult counterparts. Like children, they haven't yet learned to control their bladders. Getting to that point requires training and maturation, something that can't really be rushed. It just takes patience and a little bit of time. Similarly, every puppy achieves housebroken status on their own schedule; some pick it up immediately while others challenge their owners for a month or more. This likely has more to do with training practices and/or physically matures slower than he does with behavioral issues. The best you can do for any puppy is use good potty training techniques when you begin the housebreaking process. Follow this with plenty of encouragement and positive training strategies for best results. Bring your puppy out regularly throughout the day – try every two hours during the first couple of weeks. Even if it doesn't seem like your pup needs to potty, this will get him into the habit of pottying outside. Over the next few weeks, gradually increase the time between breaks to something more reasonable (like four or five hours). If accidents occur, immediately take him outside to forge that association between toileting and the yard. If you’re using indoor pee pads or grass pads, follow the same schedule indoors. Keep the pee pads in a separate room to reinforce the idea of not peeing (or defecating) throughout the house. Certain points throughout the day are more likely to require a potty break than others. These times include:- Directly after waking.
- After eating.
- After naps.
- After drinking water.
- During or after excited play.
- Midway through the night.
- After a stressful experience.