Puppy Schedule Maker: A Daily Routine for Potty, Meals, Naps and Training
Pick your puppy's age, your wake up time and bedtime, and get a printable daily schedule with potty breaks, meals, short training sessions and naps. It is a starting point you can adjust to your own puppy.
Your puppy's day
A general template for healthy puppies, not veterinary advice. If your puppy has accidents far more often than expected, drinks a lot more than usual or seems unwell, talk to your veterinarian.
How the schedule is built
- Potty breaks come first thing in the morning, after every meal, after play and training, and at a regular interval that grows with age: about every hour for the youngest puppies and every 3 hours from around 6 months.
- Meals are spread evenly, with the last one a few hours before bed so there is time for a final potty break.
- Training sessions are short: 2 to 5 minutes for young puppies and 5 to 10 minutes for older ones, followed by a potty break and a nap.
- Naps follow each play and training block, because tired puppies tend to bite and chew more.
What to practice in each session
- Name game and marker word: say "Yes!" and reward, then reward your puppy for looking at you when you say their name.
- Sit and down: lure with a treat, mark and reward, then fade the lure.
- Come: run a few steps away, call once, and make coming to you the best thing in the house.
- Settle on a mat: reward calm behavior on a bed or mat, a little longer each day.
- Gentle handling: touch paws, ears and collar, then give a treat.
Our guide to stopping puppy biting covers the overtired puppy problem, and dog training at home gives you a simple weekly plan once the routine is in place.
Puppy schedule questions
How often should a puppy go outside to potty?
Young puppies usually need to go out right after waking up, after eating or drinking, after play and every hour or two in between. A common rule of thumb is that a puppy can hold it for about one hour per month of age, plus one, but treat that as a maximum, not a target. Your puppy's signals matter more than any formula.
How long should puppy training sessions be?
Very short. For young puppies, 2 to 5 minutes is plenty, repeated a few times a day. As your puppy grows, sessions of 5 to 10 minutes work well. Stop while your puppy is still keen.
How much do puppies sleep?
A lot. Young puppies spend most of the day asleep, and an overtired puppy is often a bitey, wild puppy. Plan a nap in a crate or pen after each round of play and training.
How many meals should my puppy get?
Puppies usually eat several small meals a day, and the number drops as they grow. Follow your veterinarian's advice and the feeding guide on your puppy's food for the number of meals and amounts. The schedule maker just spreads the meals you choose across the day.
When can my puppy go on walks and meet other dogs?
Ask your veterinarian. They will tell you when it is safe based on your puppy's vaccinations and local risks. Until then, you can still practice training games at home and in your own yard.