Puppy and Owner viewing a Sample Daily Puppy Routine

Sample Daily Puppy Routine (8–12 Weeks) for Real Life

Sample Daily Puppy Routine (8–12 Weeks) for Real Life

Puppies don’t come with a built-in timetable—but they do thrive on routine.

This guide gives you a sample daily puppy routine for 8–12 weeks that you can adapt to your life. We’ll balance toilet trips, crate time, play, naps and feeding, without pretending you live in a bubble with nothing else going on.

Key Principles for a Good Puppy Routine

At this age, remember:

  • Puppies need lots of sleep (18–20 hours a day isn’t weird)
  • Awake windows are short: 45–90 minutes before they crash
  • Toilet breaks need to be frequent and proactive
  • Over-tired puppies turn into bitey, zoomy gremlins

The basic pattern you’re aiming for:

Toilet → activity (play/walk/train) → calm time → sleep (crate/bed)

Example Morning Routine (6:30am – 12:00pm)

6:30am – Wake & Toilet

  • Straight outside or to the designated toilet spot
  • Quiet praise and a small treat if they go

6:40am – Breakfast

  • Feed at their feeding station or in their crate
  • Use a bowl or slow-feeder; no need to be fancy at this age

7:00am – Gentle Play & Bonding (15–20 mins)

  • Short burst of play (tug, small fetch, sniff games)
  • 2–3 reps of simple training: name, sit, look, touch

7:20am – Toilet Again

  • Puppies often need another wee not long after eating and playing

7:30–8:30am – Crate Nap or Bedtime Rest

  • Into the crate or bed with a soft toy or safe chew
  • Door can be closed if you’re nearby and they’ve been positively introduced
  • You do quiet “human stuff” while they rest

9:00am – Wake, Toilet, Short Play

  • Quick toilet break
  • Another small play or handling session (paws, ears, gentle brushing)

9:30–10:30am – Supervised Free Time

  • Puppy hangs out near you in the living area
  • Explore a little more of the house (in a controlled way)
  • Redirect chewing to appropriate toys if needed

10:30am – Toilet + Short Crate/Bed Nap

  • Most pups will need another nap – pop them into the crate or pen to recharge

Example Afternoon Routine (12:00pm – 5:30pm)

12:00pm – Lunch (if still on 3 meals)

  • Toilet → lunch → toilet again
  • Gentle play or training

12:30–1:30pm – Crate or Pen Time

  • Perfect window for you to work, do chores or duck out briefly
  • Provide a safe chew or enrichment toy

1:30pm – Toilet & Short Walk/Outdoor Time

  • Age-appropriate outing (even if it’s just sniffing in the yard)
  • Socialisation sights and sounds at a distance

2:00–3:00pm – Indoor Play & Settle

  • Light play, training, puzzle toys
  • Encourage pockets of “just chilling” near you

3:00pm – Toilet + Nap

  • Back into the crate/bed for another sleep block

4:30pm – Wake, Toilet, Calm Interaction

  • Cuddles, massage, handling, brushing
  • Teach them that not all interaction is high-energy

Example Evening Routine (5:30pm – Bedtime)

5:30–6:00pm – Dinner

  • Food at the feeding station or inside the crate
  • Followed by a toilet break

6:00–7:00pm – Family Time

  • Hang out in the living room with supervised play
  • Brief training (sit, down, small recalls)
  • Short chew or lick mat while you watch TV

7:00–7:30pm – Rest / Light Nap Nearby

  • Let them doze near the family in their bed or crate

7:30–8:00pm – Last Burst of Energy

  • Toilet
  • Short play or sniffy walk if appropriate
  • Wind-down with calm interaction

8:00–9:30pm – Wind-Down Mode

  • Dim lights, reduce noise
  • Pup in their crate or bed near you while you relax

Before Bed – Final Toilet Trip

  • Last wee outside
  • Then into their night-time crate or bedside crate

Overnight, expect 1–2 wake-ups in the 8–12 week window. Quiet toilet, no party, back to bed.

Tweaking the Routine for Your Life

You don’t have to hit these times exactly. The important bits are:

  • Frequent toilet breaks, especially after sleep, food and play
  • Clear crate/bedtimes where puppy properly sleeps
  • Short windows of quality attention (not constant stimulation)
  • Allowing them to just be around you while you live life

As they grow, awake windows stretch out, naps consolidate, and the day starts to feel less like a baby schedule and more like a normal dog routine.

Your environment does a lot of the work:
well-placed crates, clear feeding stations, safe decor and defined puppy zones all help your new mate learn the house rules without you having to micromanage every second.


Back to blog