When you bring a puppy into your home for the first time, you can’t automatically know what the best daily routine is. It pays to inform yourself in advance. This will ensure that your dog has the best chance of growing up healthily.
There is no such thing as an optimal daily routine for puppies. It is much more the case that in addition to routine, unforeseen things can also happen.
Now let’s take a look at the cornerstones of a puppy’s daily routine.
Routine for puppies – extremely important
Puppies are basically like small children. They need safety, security and certain rules to help them navigate the confusion of life.
Most dog owners and trainers agree: if the owner offers his young dog a regular daily routine and clear rules, the dog is more likely to grow up to be a strong-minded, calm and balanced adult animal.
Especially in the first weeks of life, many puppies are hopelessly overwhelmed. They have just been separated from their mother and siblings from the same litter. They can adjust more quickly to their new surroundings and strangers if they can rely on everything being the same every day.
Support your puppy during the settling-in period by making sure that he always eats, sleeps and is allowed outside at the same times.
In the first few weeks, you should of course let your puppy go out according to whether it has to or not. But little by little, more and more of the walking will become a habit.
This is what the daily routine with a puppy looks like
You should bear in mind that puppies are not late sleepers. They usually wake up between 6 am and 7 am and want to get up immediately, do their business and play.
It is best to take your puppy outside immediately after waking up so that it can be house-trained as quickly as possible.
After the first walk, you should give the dog water and keep him busy for a short time. After that, give it food. If the puppy is still very small, it will need to sleep again after a snack. As soon as the animal wakes up again, take it outside immediately. This will be around 8 o’clock at the latest.
If you work during the day, it is best to do this from home, take the little puppy with you or find someone to watch the animal. As soon as the puppy shows signs that it needs to go outside, it should go quickly. The less often the animal does its business indoors, the sooner it will be house-trained.
At around 12 o’clock you can take the puppy for a longer walk, offer it something to eat and of course provide it with water. After feeding, take the puppy outside again.
The puppy will sleep most of the afternoon until it is fed again in the early evening. Between 5pm and midnight you will need to take the puppy outside several more times to let it drink and play with it. Trust your instincts and pay attention to the subtle signs your puppy is giving you with its behaviour.
Most dog owners need to take very young dogs out again around 3am. This is important so that the animal can defecate outside. It is best to set your alarm clock!
What you can do if the daily routine is not always the same
Not everyone can fully adjust to their puppy. For example, if you have irregular working hours, you probably can’t change them just because you now have a dog.
In this case, it is important to find someone who can offer the puppy everything it needs for the more restless times of the day or for the night. Ask your parents, partner or flatmates to cover for you while you are away.
If the dog has a very strong character and is calm, it can already get used to a not very regular daily routine when it is still a puppy. To avoid overburdening the animal, you should still take at least the first two weeks off after moving in.
Before buying a puppy, make sure that it is a breed that is naturally calm, balanced and uncomplicated.
The first years with a dog
The older your dog gets, the sooner you can relax in everyday life with a dog. It is important that the animal is not left alone for several hours. It would therefore be very nice if you could either find an employer who lets you take the dog with you or if you can work from home.
Especially in the first years of life, it is very important that the dog experiences only positive things, if possible. Therefore, always handle the animal with foresight. If a situation is likely to become dangerous, try to avoid it.
If dogs experience bad things at an early age, the memory of it never completely disappears in the worst case. As a result, they can develop behavioural disorders that need to be avoided urgently.
Another important hint that should go without saying: Enjoy the first years and especially the time as a puppy owner with your dog!
Much too quickly, the animals grow up and you can no longer take large breeds in your arms so easily. The behaviour of dogs changes drastically as they age. Enjoy a young dog for whom everything is still exciting and new.
In addition to education, a regular daily routine and, of course, healthy feeding, one thing is especially important for puppies: proper socialisation. Make sure that your dog comes into contact with both animals and people. Playing with other puppies in a group is important so that the puppy learns normal dog social behaviour.
Conclusion: Optimal daily routine for puppies
Your puppy is learning about the world in the first weeks and months. Due to his age, he gives you a daily routine.
Eating, playing, sleeping or looking for treats: Your puppy can challenge you.
In any case, it is advisable to offer a regular daily routine. This way your puppy learns structure and accepts the clear rules more easily.
