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Dogs are creatures of habit, so establishing a routine is important if you want to make life much easier for them. Having a structured routine helps a puppy adapt to its new environment and family, and encourages discipline and good behaviour. So before you allow any pooch to set its paw into your home, create a new puppy schedule right away and make sure you stick to it.

How to train a dog

Getting Your Pup into a Routine

It is important that you know how often an average puppy eats daily before you start planning its mealtimes. Puppies between six and eight weeks old are usually fully weaned from their mother’s milk and should be fed two to three times a day until they are six months old. Ideally, they should be fed at the same time every day so that they end up having regular potty times. The recommended hours for pooches to have their meals are 7 a.m., 12 p.m., and 5 p.m.

Stick to this feeding schedule until your puppy reaches the age of six months, at which point you should reduce its number of feedings to twice a day until it turns one year old. Feed your pooch once in the morning and once in the evening. Make sure that you keep its feedings at eight-to-12-hour intervals. If possible, give your dog its last meal for the day at 5 p.m. so that it will have enough time to digest its food and do its business before bedtime.

Housetraining a puppy is recommended when it is between 12 and 16 weeks old. This way, it already has enough control over its bladder and bowel movements. Do not wait long before you potty train your pooch, as it may take longer to learn.

Always take your furball out to do its business first thing in the morning then once every 30 minutes. Also, take it outside after every meal, activity, and nap. Finally, take it out one last time before bedtime. Do these consistently until your dog is completely housetrained.

Some puppies urinate and defecate only once or twice daily, while others pee and poop four or more times a day. The truth is, how often your pooch goes isn’t what matters. As long as it does its business the same number of times per day, you should not worry about anything. But if it’s potty break goes from one to four times daily, there may be something wrong with its health and a vet visit may be needed.

New puppy vet care is required to ensure your pooch’s general health. At two to three weeks of age, a pup will need to see a vet for an initial checkup and de-worming. At six to eight weeks old, it will need to visit its vet for vaccinations and parasite preventative treatments.

Ideally, your pooch will need to visit its vet once every three to four weeks until it is 16 weeks old for basic vaccinations and injections such as DA2PP, leptospirosis, and rabies. However, schedules may vary depending on the specific needs of your dog. Leave it to your vet to recommend the best schedule for your puppy.

Whether it’s walking, chasing, or tugging, puppies need daily interaction and exercise. It is recommended that you play with your pooch for at least 20 minutes a day, then give it another 20 minutes of exercise.

Bear in mind that different breeds have different energy levels. Also, smaller dogs require less physical activity than larger ones. If your pooch is still young, it is suggested that you shorten its play sessions and exercise, and give it plenty of time to nap. Make sure you are consistent with the schedule and avoid repeating the same activities. Be mindful of your dog’s actions, as it could be telling you that it is too exhausted to go on. Finally, talk to your breeder or vet should you have any questions about your furry friend’s physical needs.

Puppies may be full of energy, but they usually sleep from 16 to 20 hours a day. This is why you should plan a sleep schedule that includes naps. A good routine to follow is to get your pooch ready for breakfast at 7 a.m., then take it out for a potty break and some exercise. Allow it to nap for 30 minutes to two hours, then repeat the whole thing after lunch.

It is recommended that you feed your dog dinner at 5 p.m. to give it ample time to do other things before bedtime. After eating its last meal, take it out for a final walk and have it interact with other family members. Before sleep, give it a quick bathroom break, then lead it back to its crate.

Teaching your pooch obedience and social skills at an early age will allow it to become happy, safe, and confident in any environment and situation. What you need to do is schedule a few short training sessions daily to teach your dog basic commands. Remember that puppies have an attention span as short as five to ten minutes, so make sure to keep your sessions brief but fun.

A great time to train your pooch is after every meal so that it has enough energy to spare. Eight to ten weeks of age is a great time to teach a puppy the basics such as their name, simple commands, and early socialisation. This is also the age when you can start potty training and crate training your dog.

From ten weeks old to six months old is the best time to expand your pooch’s knowledge of commands, socialisation, and impulse control. You may start giving it command combinations and introduce it to structured play sessions.

Many dog owners find training to be one of the toughest things to do. This is because some breeds can be independent and stubborn. If you are having a challenging time teaching your pooch how to behave appropriately at home and outdoors, a dog training program can help.

Start Your Puppy Off Right with DoGoodDoggy!

DoGoodDoggy aims to transform puppies of all ages, breeds, and levels into well-mannered family members. We provide doggy owners with all of the tools they need to manage their pets by offering an all encompassing training method which includes basic commands, obedience, early socialisation, potty training, crate training, and much more!

New Puppy Schedule