A Daily Puppy Routine { Why You Need One To Stay Sane}

Are you trying to get your household not to be so chaotic after adding a new puppy or even a rescued dog to your family? In this post, I will share my daily puppy routine with you, so things don’t have to be hectic. So this way, you’ll have better days ahead.

So, Keep on reading if you want calmer, less stressful days.

*Note: This will also work on adopted dogs who haven’t had any structure in their lives. 

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Why You Need A Routine For Your Puppy

Whether or not you are a first-time puppy owner, rescue dog mom, or it’s just been a while since you last had to care for a dog.

Puppies and dogs, in general, require a lot of our attention and will go through stages just like kids do ( which is ok because what you will get back from your dog is priceless compared to their small needs, I must say…)  

And Yes: 

Sometimes we can get frustrated, but that’s because your puppy or dog doesn’t know what you want them to do.

So this is where a daily puppy routine will come in handy because with having one, your pup will learn what he or she should do, and this, my friend, will help keep you sane.

You see:

Puppies and Dogs associate things with words and our behaviors.

Puppies can learn very quickly in the first months of their puppyhood and adult dogs might need a little more convincing, but they will get it eventually. 

They need to have a routine so our dogs will know the play-by-play of what to expect next.

Dogs don’t have the ability like we do to be checking a clock. For example- to see if, “oh man, is it 5 o’clock yet? Dinner must be coming soon”. No, what they do know is if you repeatedly go over and pick up their bowl every day at the same time, your dog will relate that to “it’s time to eat”… 

You get my point.

You see, by having a daily routine for your puppy, you’re helping them stay grounded, which in return will also help their overall behavior.

Because, again, they’ll know what to expect and aren’t going to be wondering what they should do next in their day. Think of it as an internal planner. 

Suppose you do have a routine already for your dog. Have you ever noticed your dog staring at you a lot? Well, that’s because they’re waiting for the next clue from you and doing it patiently.

It means your dog learned your every day routine so now they know they don’t have to act out to get your attention if they wanted to eat, for example.

Benefits From Having A Good Puppy Routine

By repeating what they need to do at the same time every single day, you’ll be conditioning your pup. This then will turn into a habit for your dog. ( just like the habits we form, for instance, brushing our teeth every day.)

It helps your dog know how to be prepared for their day and that, in turn, will help reduce anxiety in your puppy so they can feel relaxed. 

And if your dog is relaxed, then they’ll most likely be well behaved and enjoy life.

Remember, this will also benefit you and your household. 

You’ll be able to cut back on the yelling in the house ( If you do that😉) because things won’t be so out of control when it comes to the dog. (Now if you have to yell at your kids, you’re on your own about that, lol)

At least you now have the puppy under control, which means less stress. That’s what you want. Right?

What Areas Are Important In A Daily Puppy Routine

A dog’s life is simple and doesn’t require much on our part except for our love and attention. 

It’s pretty straightforward.

You’ll want to focus on these areas of a puppy’s life to get the best result you’re looking for from having a routine for your puppy.

1. Eating
2. Sleeping
3. Bathroom Breaks
4. Playing
5. Socialization
6. Exercise

An Example Of An Everyday Puppy Schedule:

If you aren’t the kind of person who sticks to schedules, you can use this template puppy schedule as a guideline and adjust where you need to.

Here’s a daily schedule you can follow on repeat:

• Wake Up– Set a wake-up time and be sure to do this at the same time every day, even on the weekends. You can probably get away with a different time when your pup is well accustomed to their routine. Once awaken, take them outside to the bathroom. A little useful tip – Bring them to the same outdoor spot in your yard, and eventually, your puppy will learn that’s where he or she has to go potty.

• Breakfast– Set your breakfast time when finished coming in from outside.

• After Breakfast– it’s now time to go back out for another quick potty break and a short playtime, then a nap.

• Mid Morning– Head back out for another bathroom break. Next, this would be a good time for your dog to get some exercise and socialize by going on a nice long walk.

• Noon– Depending on whether you have a puppy or an adult dog, you would want to feed lunch at this time. Puppies usually eat three times a day, and after year one, it’s twice a day. So if you have an older dog, you can give them a tasty snack to satisfy them until dinner. Ok, now it’s time to take your puppy back out for another bathroom break after finishing their lunch or snack.

• Mid Day- This is the perfect time for another nap, especially if you have a puppy. Puppies require a lot of sleep, just like babies do. 

• Dinner- Just like with Breakfast, set your dinner time to be at the same time every day, and you’ll see how your dog will start reminding you “that it’s time to eat.” lol.

• After Dinner- Head back outside for a potty break. Then take them on another long walk for some more physical recreation and socialization. The amount of exercise a dog needs depends on your breed. In general, two 20-30 minute walks a day is excellent for their overall health and not to mention a perfect way to tire them out. 

• Evening- This is a time for relaxing and bonding with you or the family on the couch or just hanging out together. Dogs are at their happiest when near their owner.

• Bedtime- One last time out to the bathroom for the night unless you have a young puppy. Then you will still need to take them out to potty in the middle of the night until they are old enough to hold it in. Then time for bed. You’ll soon see by repeating your routine every night that they will go to bed like clockwork. 

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More to read:

1. 5 POWERFUL BENEFITS OF HAVING A DOG – (THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW)

2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE BRINGING A PUPPY HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME

3. NEW PUPPY SHOPPING CHECKLIST {FREE PRINTABLE+ Extra Tips}

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Take a minute to share the below image to Pinterest so others can learn about why puppies need a routine.

How To Balance A Puppy Routine With Yours

Now the tricky part will be how to balance this new puppy routine with your daily routine.

I can say that it’s all going to depend on – if you are someone who stays home and works or someone who works outside the house.

If you work from home or are a stay-at-home mom, it will be easier for you to adjust the puppy schedule with your own.

Also, if you have other family members living with you, get them involved to help you out. Just a sign everyone to a specific need of the puppy.

Oh, and if you do work from home and can use some tips on keeping your dog quiet while working at home. Be sure to read this article I wrote for some more helpful advice.

Working outside of the house can be a bit more challenging but can be done.

Many people who want dogs don’t think they could get one because of their work schedule. But, it doesn’t have to be that way with all the resources we have nowadays. 

The way you can make a daily schedule for your puppy work for you is by adding extra time in the morning before you have to leave for work. And like I said before get those family members to help out.

You can also hire a dog walker to come twice a day. The mid-morning time slot and mid-afternoon would generally work out the best.

As I said if you’re in the puppy phase.

Puppies require a lot of sleep. So they’ll do fine in between the times when you, other family members, and the dog walker aren’t there. 

You will have to see what works best for you and your puppy.

Whatever schedule you come up with, make sure to see it through for the best results.

Believe me. It will be worth it in the end.

Pro tip: With all the tech we have available to us nowadays. You can always get a pet camera to keep an eye on your puppy when you aren’t there. Here are two of my favorite ones:

Final Thoughts On Having A Puppy Routine

Some puppies or rescue dogs can take some time to catch on to a daily puppy routine.

With some patience and being consistent. You will see that your pup will learn what to expect each day.

With that, you’ll be able to focus on all the incredible benefits and joy you’ll receive from owning a dog.

Plus, let’s not forget about how you’ll also be able to get your sanity back from all the chaos, even it’s just a little bit.😉

Until next time,

Have a pawsome day!

P.S. If you have any questions let me a comment below. I would love to help you out. And be sure to share this post with your friends.