Ideal Daily Schedule for Dogs and Puppies

If you could give your dog the schedule they want, what would it be? What schedule would make a dog the happiest? In this article, we’ll try to answer that by helping you understand the way dogs like to eat, sleep, play, and live!

Play

You can help your pet be their happiest (both mentally and physically) by providing plenty of stimulation. This can be in the form of challenging toys, a doggy play date, or plenty of walks and playtime with you. Keeping your puppy stimulated, however, can be tricky when you have a busy schedule. To help support pet parents, 24Petwatch offers a $30 discount to Rover with a Lifetime Protection Membership. Rover helps busy pet parents by providing services from the world’s largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers.

A consistent dog walking schedule is one of the best ways to ensure your dog gets the exercise and stimulation they need. Regular walks not only help with physical health but also provide mental enrichment through new sights, smells, and social interactions.

Sleep

There are sleep requirement differences by breed, but generally, dogs like to sleep around 16 to 18 hours a day. Dogs sleep more than people but wake far more frequently. When and how much your dog sleeps depends on the level of activity in their environment. A dog living as a pet in a home is likely to sleep more than a dog that works for a living, such as a search and rescue dog or a dog working on a farm. Some dogs will sleep more out of boredom.

Water

Dogs like to have access to fresh, clean water at all times. Make sure your dog’s bowl is fresh. Change the water daily and wash out the bowl.

Food

Generally, dogs like to eat once or twice a day, although some dogs will only eat well every other day. They appreciate the opportunity to eat every day. Smaller breeds often like to be fed more often than larger breed dogs. Young puppies need to be fed more frequently than adult dogs.

Opportunities to Eliminate

Adult dogs like opportunities to urinate and defecate at least every 8 hours. Although some dogs can hold their urine a long time, if they had their choice, they would still like the opportunity to “go out” every 6 to 8 hours. Puppies need to be let out more often, especially if you are trying to housebreak them. A well-planned dog walking schedule can help prevent accidents and reinforce good bathroom habits.

General Comfort

Dogs like the comfort of a clean environment that is not too hot or too cold. Most dogs are very happy indoors, although outdoor dogs are able to have great lives as well. Dogs especially enjoy the comfort of the indoors during extreme hot or cold temperatures. If you have an outdoor dog, they should have access to warm shelter in the winter and shade in the summer, as well as constant access to fresh, clean water.

Time

Dogs love to be fussed over and to spend quality time with their owners. This time makes them feel important and loved, just as we feel when a loved one gives us undivided attention. This “time” can be just sitting or watching TV. Many dogs love to be petted and brushed as well!

An Ideal Daily Schedule for Your Dog

It is understood that most people have to work and may not have the flexibility to offer all these frequent trips outside. That’s why a reliable dog walking schedule—whether managed by you or a trusted service—is key to maintaining your dog’s happiness and health. A Lifetime Protection Membership from 24Petwatch features a discount to Rover, a premier provider of pet services. The benefits of a membership can contribute to your pet’s ongoing health, well-being, and safety needs.