Ditch the Puppy Schedule

One of the things I run into a lot from well meaning puppy owners is the insistence upon a puppy “schedule.” It's a prevalent idea, especially in modern dog training articles found online. You can find many versions of example schedules online. My feelings – not necessary, possibly counterproductive.

If you have a dog that is really wired for sound, they will begin to anticipate the next scheduled activity of the day and you may see behavior issues arise, such as vocalization due to overexcitement at the next scheduled activity. This can lead to neurotic behaviors and what is often called “separation anxiety.” Additionally, a fixed schedule can limit opportunities for exposure and socialization. For the puppy raised on a strict schedule, they may lack resilience to inevitable change of schedule that life is sure to bring.

Schedules can be helpful to us, as our own lives are generally scheduled, and how you handle and raise your puppy will fit into your already existing commitments. It is also helpful for housebreaking purposes to know that you can have your puppy outside to eliminate after meals. However, the insistence on a strict schedule is ill advised.

I'd much rather see a client establish procedures that will become mandatory, such as waiting before barging out of crate, and teach their puppy to tolerate variations in schedules. Spend the time to get your puppy used to extensive handling for grooming, as well as different types of containment – crates, kennels, pens, and even safely supervised tethering. It is even a good idea to send your puppy to a friend's house for a couple of days, as the day will come when they'll need to be watched by someone other than you.

Mix things up but meet their needs, puppies need lots and lots of sleep. Aim for 18-20 hours a day of rest time for young puppies. When you notice your puppy begin to anticipate events, mix things up or require behaviors in between, such as waiting at the doorway before going out.

I think sometimes we overcomplicate things in a effort to do right by our puppies. It can be better just to relax and not worry and fuss too much over things that are more important to us than our puppies. Spend the time training your puppy but don’t worry about sticking to a strict schedule.