Puppy Schedule for First Day Home

When bringing home a new puppy (or two puppies in my case), try to begin a puppy schedule of routines right away – even their first day home. They will adjust and feel comfortable more quickly with their new home and family! Like young children, when a puppy starts to understand what is coming next, she will trust you and behave better more quickly.

The First Afternoon:

Check details of First Full Day Schedule below & pick up with the schedule whenever you return home with your new puppy
Allow puppy to potty before even going in the house – get ready! They go a lot!
Allow to explore designated areas of the house off leash for a short amount of time, just to sniff out the smells of their new home, but watch!
When time to eat, feed/water. Go outside to potty within 15 minutes. Don’t crowd. Let her come to you when ready. Don’t rush.
Make treat cups to use for good behavior like coming to you when called and go ahead and treat whenever she sits, just because sitting is always good!
Remember she is just a baby so any accidents will not her fault. Be gentle!

Begin Crate Training

Set crate up out of the way but in a common room where puppy gets used to some regular house noises. Sleep will be important for your new puppy.
Entice into exploring crate with treats & toys.
Place him in crate for short periods of time to get comfortable.
Surround the crate with a pen, cover to make cozy, and leave door to crate open, but surround with a pen that she can still begin feeling like is her own room.

The First Night

7:00 – Food/water

Introduce potty area & wait – Use leash and the 10-10-10 rule which is:

10 Minutes in the Yard: Take your puppy to their designated potty area in the yard and give them ten minutes to go potty.
10 Feet of Potty Area: Designate a specific area about 10 feet in size for your puppy to use as their potty spot.
10 Minutes of Supervision: Closely supervise your puppy during those ten minutes to prevent distractions and ensure they’re focusing on the task at hand. Keep them leashed after the first day and stand still so there’s nothing to do except go potty.

Playtime

10:00 – Potty Break

Hopefully, he will fall asleep in your lap. Even if he doesn’t, put him in crate by 11:00 with a stuffed animal (My puppies loved the Snuggle Puppy with a heartbeat and warmer) & scented blanket brought home from the breeder.. If he cries before 1:00 ignore him. If needed, snuggle til he falls asleep again. I let my two sleep together the first night.

1:00 – Respond to cries around this time. Might need a Potty Break

4:00 – Respond to cries around this time. Might need a Potty Break (Mine were so tired the first night they made til about 5:00!)

The First Full Day Puppy Schedule

This schedule works if you are home with your puppy. Pay close attention to potty times & adjust schedule when needed.

If he wakes up earlier, snuggle on couch til 7:00 (or whenever you eventually want the day to start) after potty break.

6:30/7:00 – Potty Break (Generally, take him out at top of every hour as well as before/after feeding) Playtime & Toys – (clean up crate if accidents)

7:45 – Feeding Time (inside crate) – Take note of how long it takes to go after a meal – moisten food with warm water

8:00 – Potty Break , Playtime & Toys (I ordered this 20 Piece Puppy Toy Set from Amazon and every single toy has become a favorite at one point in their first 6 months)

8:45 – Nap Time (inside crate) – adjust schedule after napping by taking him out when he wakes up and then getting back on the every hour schedule. Don’t wake the sleeping baby if you don’t need to.

9:00 Potty Break, Playtime with Toys & Nap Time

10:00- Potty Break (teach “go pee pee”)

10:15 – Playtime & Toys (teach no finger bites – replace biting with chewing toys, teach “sit” for treats) & Nap Time

11:00 – Potty Break

Training:

Introduce collar & leash in house and/or yard
Get him used to putting collar on and off
Attach leash & let him drag it around
Play chase
If chewing, distract with a treat
Get him to follow me around using the food bowl/treats – calling name – 3 Day Activity
Reward & praise

12:00 – Potty Break & Feeding Time (inside crate), Potty Break (teach “go pee pee” & alternate potty breaks w/w/o leash & Nap Time (inside crate)

1:00 – Potty Break, Playtime in Pen & Nap Time

2:00 – Potty Break (w/leash), Playtime Outside & Crate Play with soft toys & Nap Time

2:45 – Feeding Time (inside crate)

3:00 – Potty Break, Playtime & Nap Time

4:00 – Potty Break, Playtime & Nap Time (inside crate)

5:00 Potty Break, Playtime & Nap Time

6:00 – Potty Break, Training (“Watch Me!”, “Sit” & release word “okay”) & Potty Break

6:45 – Feeding Time (inside crate)

7:00 – Potty Break & Nap Time (in crate)

8:00 – Potty Break, Playtime & Nap Time

9:00 – Potty Break

9:30 – Cuddles

10:00 – Potty Break & Bedtime – I started my bedtime routine of turning off TV, the lamp, and turned on “Brown Noise” on my Amazon Alexa app to drown out strange noises they weren’t used to. They learned to walk right into those crates after only a short while. Well, in the beginning they enjoyed me “putting them to bed” just like a little kid does! Sometimes they still want to be carried to bed. Ha!