Puppy Guide
New Puppy Schedule: Daily Routine by Age
Feb
Puppies thrive on routine. A consistent new puppy schedule helps with house training, reduces anxiety, and makes life easier for everyone.
🎯 Quick Answer
Puppies need 18-20 hours of sleep daily. An 8-week-old needs toilet breaks every 1-2 hours, enforced naps, and 3-4 meals. By 4-6 months, they can handle 3-4 hour gaps between toilet breaks and 2-3 meals. The pattern (wake → toilet → eat → toilet → play → toilet → nap) matters more than exact times.
The answer depends on age. An 8-week-old puppy needs a completely different routine than a 4-month-old. This guide gives you age-specific schedules you can adapt to your life.
Why Puppy Schedules Matter
| Purpose | How Schedule Helps |
|---|---|
| House training | Predictable schedule = predictable toilet times = fewer accidents |
| Sleep | Enforced naps prevent overtired biting and hyperactivity |
| Training | Short, consistent sessions work better than random long ones |
| Your sanity | Knowing what comes next removes the guesswork |
💡 Marine’s Pro Tip
The puppies we see who are easiest to groom? They’re the ones with established routines at home. They know what “rest time” means because they’ve been doing enforced naps since day one. Puppies without routine are often overstimulated and can’t settle.
8-10 Week Old Puppy Schedule
At this age, everything revolves around toilet training and sleep. Your puppy can only hold their bladder for about 2 hours during the day.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6:00am | Wake up → Outside immediately |
| 6:15am | Breakfast → Outside (post-meal) |
| 6:45am | Supervised play → Outside → Nap |
| 9:30am | Wake → Outside → Play/training → Nap |
| 12:00pm | Wake → Lunch → Outside → Play → Nap |
| 3:30pm | Wake → Outside → Play → Nap |
| 5:30pm | Wake → Dinner → Outside → Family time |
| 9:00pm | Final toilet break → Bed |
| ~2:00am | Night toilet break (may need alarm) |
Key Points at 8-10 Weeks
- Naps are essential. Overtired puppies bite more. Enforce naps even if they don’t seem tired.
- Toilet breaks every 1-2 hours during awake times.
- Short training sessions — 5 minutes maximum.
- Supervision or confinement — They’re either with you, in a crate, or in a puppy-proofed pen.
3-4 Month Old Puppy Schedule
More independence, longer awake times, and improved bladder control.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Wake → Outside → Breakfast → Outside |
| 7:45am | Play/training → Outside → Nap |
| 11:30am | Wake → Lunch → Outside → Play → Nap |
| 4:00pm | Wake → Outside → Play/training |
| 5:45pm | Dinner → Outside → Family time/walk |
| 9:30pm | Final toilet break → Bed |
Changes at 3-4 Months
- Awake periods of 2-3 hours between naps
- Toilet breaks every 3-4 hours during the day
- Two naps instead of three or four
- Longer walks become possible after vaccinations complete
- Training sessions can extend to 10-15 minutes
💡 Marine’s Pro Tip
The “witching hour” is real—usually 6-8pm when puppies go crazy. If your puppy is biting and running wild every evening, they’re probably overtired. Try an earlier bedtime or an extra enforced nap in the late afternoon.
4-6 Month Old Puppy Schedule
Starting to look more like an adult routine.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Wake → Outside → Breakfast → Morning walk (20-30 mins) |
| 9:00am | Training session → Nap/rest |
| 12:00pm | Wake → Lunch → Outside → Afternoon activity → Nap |
| 4:30pm | Wake → Training/play |
| 5:30pm | Dinner → Evening walk (20-30 mins) → Family time |
| 10:00pm | Final toilet break → Bed |
Common Puppy Schedule Problems
| Problem | Likely Cause | The Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “My puppy won’t nap” | Overtired puppies fight sleep | Crate/pen for enforced nap; cover to reduce stimulation |
| House training issues | Not enough toilet breaks | More frequent breaks—every hour if needed |
| “They’re awake at 5am” | Early light or learned behaviour | Don’t respond until chosen wake time; blackout curtains |
| Evening craziness | Overtired from missed naps | Extra afternoon nap; earlier bedtime |
The Pattern Matters More Than Exact Times
The sequence is what puppies need:
Wake → Toilet → Eat → Toilet → Play → Toilet → Nap
This can happen at 6am or 8am. Consistency in pattern creates security.
Written by Marine Ponchaut
Marine is the founder of WoofSpark, a professional dog grooming salon in Cessnock, NSW. Since founding WoofSpark in 2019, she has helped thousands of new puppy owners navigate the early months.
Related Guides
- House Training Puppy Australia — Toilet training guide
- New Puppy Checklist Australia — Everything you need
- Crate Training Your Cavoodle — Nap and sleep training
When Your Puppy is Ready for Their First Groom
Once vaccinations are complete, your puppy can visit us for their first grooming experience. We make it gentle and positive. Book an appointment or contact us.