Can we talk puppy schedules?
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2018 12:57 pm
So, I wanted to get some input from some of the more seasoned pros on here. I have a new (working- Protection and Detection) DS puppy and I’m trying to optimize her schedule the best I can around work/life balance. I'm reading and researching the most I can to give this pup the best quality life, education, bonding and stimulation as I can. The times on my schedule are flexible as we all know life happens and everything doesn’t always go according to plan. I put the (to and from) time in to give myself a reference of time and how much needs to be occupied to get through the day. My wife is a stay at home, last time preggers wife, currently, which allows more time with puppy.
My current schedule is as follows:
0615-0620: Take puppy out before work
0620-0645: Pup goes back in the crate while I get ready for work
0645-0700: Morning feeding (1/4 can of Taste of the Wild wet food and 1 cup of TOTW dry puppy kibble
0700-0710: Take pup back out for potty (high praising for going in the designated spot, lower praise for going outside, but not in designated space)
0710-0745: Goes in crate while wife and girls get ready to go to school
0745-0820: Take pup back out to go potty before taking kids to school
0820-0915: Wife takes the kids to school, pup goes in crate
0915-0940: Wife gets back, eats breakfast does morning chores (pup stays in crate)
0940-1000: Wife takes pup out for walk
1000-1030: Puppy playtime, work on some of the basics
1030-1045: Puppy goes back out for potty
1045-1115: Puppy bonding, lays next to one of us while we work or read something
1115-1130: Puppy goes back out for potty
1130-1215: Puppy goes back in crate, wife goes to pick up 1st kid
1215-1300: Get back eat lunch with Arianna
1300-1315: Afternoon feeding (1/4 can of Taste of the Wild wet food and 1 cup of TOTW dry puppy kibble
1315-1330: Goes out for potty
1330-1400: Puppy Playtime, work on some of the basics
1400-1500: Nap time in kennel
1500-1515: I get home from work
1515-1530: Take pup out for potty
1530-1645: Puppy goes back in crate while I go to the gym
1645-1700: Puppy goes back out for potty break
1700-1715: Evening feeding (1/4 can of Taste of the Wild wet food and 1 cup of TOTW dry puppy kibble
1715-1730: Puppy goes back out for potty break
1730-1845: Puppy goes back into crate, Family goes to dinner
1845-1920: Puppy goes back out for a potty break and walk (20 minutes)
1920-1935: Puppy comes back in after walk, drinks water, relaxes with us
1935-1945: Last potty break before sleep
1945-0615: Puppy goes in crate to sleep for the night and is taken out as necessary until 0615
Questions:
1. Leash on or off? Right now, I take pup out without a leash since I have a fenced backyard… Does anyone leash up once out and at what time do you put it on and why?
2. Am I over stimulating her with my wife being home with her and does she need to have more nap times?
3. Ideas for puppy playtime? I have heard and read about NOT working on obedience and starting in the right order of training.
4. Is there anything you would change on my schedule to accommodate other activities or re-order it, what would you change and why?
My current schedule is as follows:
0615-0620: Take puppy out before work
0620-0645: Pup goes back in the crate while I get ready for work
0645-0700: Morning feeding (1/4 can of Taste of the Wild wet food and 1 cup of TOTW dry puppy kibble
0700-0710: Take pup back out for potty (high praising for going in the designated spot, lower praise for going outside, but not in designated space)
0710-0745: Goes in crate while wife and girls get ready to go to school
0745-0820: Take pup back out to go potty before taking kids to school
0820-0915: Wife takes the kids to school, pup goes in crate
0915-0940: Wife gets back, eats breakfast does morning chores (pup stays in crate)
0940-1000: Wife takes pup out for walk
1000-1030: Puppy playtime, work on some of the basics
1030-1045: Puppy goes back out for potty
1045-1115: Puppy bonding, lays next to one of us while we work or read something
1115-1130: Puppy goes back out for potty
1130-1215: Puppy goes back in crate, wife goes to pick up 1st kid
1215-1300: Get back eat lunch with Arianna
1300-1315: Afternoon feeding (1/4 can of Taste of the Wild wet food and 1 cup of TOTW dry puppy kibble
1315-1330: Goes out for potty
1330-1400: Puppy Playtime, work on some of the basics
1400-1500: Nap time in kennel
1500-1515: I get home from work
1515-1530: Take pup out for potty
1530-1645: Puppy goes back in crate while I go to the gym
1645-1700: Puppy goes back out for potty break
1700-1715: Evening feeding (1/4 can of Taste of the Wild wet food and 1 cup of TOTW dry puppy kibble
1715-1730: Puppy goes back out for potty break
1730-1845: Puppy goes back into crate, Family goes to dinner
1845-1920: Puppy goes back out for a potty break and walk (20 minutes)
1920-1935: Puppy comes back in after walk, drinks water, relaxes with us
1935-1945: Last potty break before sleep
1945-0615: Puppy goes in crate to sleep for the night and is taken out as necessary until 0615
Questions:
1. Leash on or off? Right now, I take pup out without a leash since I have a fenced backyard… Does anyone leash up once out and at what time do you put it on and why?
2. Am I over stimulating her with my wife being home with her and does she need to have more nap times?
3. Ideas for puppy playtime? I have heard and read about NOT working on obedience and starting in the right order of training.
4. Is there anything you would change on my schedule to accommodate other activities or re-order it, what would you change and why?