Your Puppy Crate Training Schedule

This handy schedule will help you crate train your puppy quickly and easily. Keeping expectations realistic and sticking to a routine are the keys to successful housebreaking.

Puppies thrive on routine and learn by repetition, so a predictable daily schedule is a great way to start.

It's a good idea to build your puppy's days around a fairly regular (but flexible) routine. This helps with crate training because it regulates his body clock and 'bodily functions'.... making it easier for you to figure out when he'll need to pee or poop.

Try to feed him at roughly the same time every day. You don't need to carry around a stop-watch and time it to the minute, but aim for a variation of no more than 30 - 45 minutes.

When you're housebreaking your new puppy, try to ensure that you and your pup are on the same basic schedule for when it's time to get up and go to bed.

During the night-time it's not unusual for a pup to need to 'go' at least once, sometimes twice, usually this would be about 3 - 4 hours after going to bed, and perhaps another one depending on how early you rise in the morning.

Housebreaking Schedule - Overview

Your average 8 week old puppy will need to eliminate approx. every 30 minutes to an hour, immediately after waking up, eating, drinking, taking a nap, playing... and so on.

Yes, you're going to be making a LOT of trips to his wee-wee spot, but that's absolutely normal and necessary.

One of the main keys to successful housebreaking is finding a way to prevent your pup from having potty 'accidents', because habits take root fast, and sometimes it seems that bad habits do so faster than good ones!

This is where using a crate fits in. The vast majority of puppies, and older dogs, will do their very best not to pee or poop in their crate. In my experience, crate training can be nothing short of miraculous IF you understand the concept and do it right. Check out this page to learn all about why it works so well.... Crate Training Your Puppy

As long as you don't leave your pup crated for longer than his bladder/bowel control can handle, using a dog crate will help him learn to 'hold it' for short periods... plus he can't disappear from view and pee on the Persian rug, or sofa, or bed etc. A big plus, believe me.

A predictable daily routine doesn't just help your pup physically, it also lets him feel secure in his new environment and encourages self-confidence. Something as simple as sticking to a regular schedule can make an anxious, homesick little pup feel a bit less worried.

Click on any of the thumbnail images below to get more information to help your housebreaking efforts go more smoothly.

Crate Training Schedule For Puppies

Below is an example of a puppy crate training schedule that's generally suitable for an 8 - 10 week old puppy.

Time of Day	Activity/Action
07:00am	Get up. Potty break. Playtime in crate.
07:30am	Breakfast. Potty break/walk. Crate for play/nap.
08:00am	Playtime. Potty break. Nap in crate.
10:30am	Potty break. Playtime/Training. Potty break. Nap in crate
12:30pm	Lunch. Potty break. Playtime. Potty break. Nap in crate.
03:00pm	Potty break. Playtime. Potty break. Nap in crate
05:30pm	Potty break. Dinner. Playtime. Potty Break/walk. Nap/play in crate
07:30pm	Potty Break. Playtime/walk. Potty Break. Nap in crate
09:00pm	Potty break. Playtime. Potty break. Nap/play in crate.
10:30pm	Potty break/walk. Bedtime.
02.00am - 7:00am	Potty breaks as necessary.

But do remember, every single puppy is unique and some have much better control than others. This might be:

Physical - their nervous system development is maturing more quickly)
Breed or size specific - small and tiny breeds have tiny bladders and simply can't 'hold it' for long
Temperamental - a pup who has a nervous personality may have more trouble controlling his bladder/bowels, and puppies with true canine separation anxiety may lose control due to their extreme emotions

As you get to know your new pup better, you'll come to understand his body language, habits andabilities Then you'll be able to adjust the puppy crate training schedule (above) to suit his unique needs, in it's raw form it's a guide that I hope gives you the 'big picture' view and a jumping off point.

It might help to know roughly how many times your little one will need to relieve himself on a daily basis.. here's a quick look at the number of elimination trips you'll be making..

8 to 14 weeks - 8 to 10 trips

14 - 20 weeks - 6 to 8 trips

20 to 30 weeks - 4 to 6 trips

Of course, YOU also have needs, and already have time commitments and a routine that works for you and your family. Things will run more smoothly once you manage to 'sync' your pup's daily schedule with your own.

Obviously your little guy also needs lots of one-on-one time with you outside of his crate. Play times, walks and training sessions. Whenever he has free-run of your house you must supervise him carefully.

Puppies can sneak off and pee/poop in a corner or under a table inside a minute.Small breeds are already so low to the ground (and their piddles so tiny) that they can squat and pee, then move on within seconds... and you won't realize it until later.

The more accidents your pup had the more problems it will cause in his potty habits. Consistency, containment and supervision are all important.