Paws & Play: A Day in the Life of a 10-week-old GDB Pup

Have you ever wondered how you’d fit a puppy into your busy schedule? Luckily, pups do well with flexible routines that include plenty of play time and nap time. With some proactive planning, puppy training sessions and outings can be woven into your daily routine without strict scheduling. The following is an example of what a day might look like for an 8 to 10-week-old puppy. Can you identify at least SIX training and socialization activities incorporated into this puppy’s day?

Sample Schedule

• 7-8am: Wake up and go outside to relieve, aka “Do Your Business” (DYB), followed by a little play time and then YES space with some fun toys.
• 8-8:30am: Breakfast! 5-minute crate training session and the rest of the meal in a Kong Wobbler in the YES space.
• 8:30-noon: Outside to DYB followed by YES space for a nap.
• 12-1pm: Outside to DYB. Play and training followed by lunch and another chance to relieve.
• 1-2:45pm: YES space for a nap.
• 2:45-3:30pm: Outside to DYB followed by a short car ride for school pick-up.
• 3:30-4pm. Play in the yard with the kids and a chance to DYB before coming back inside.
• 4-5pm: Practice settling/napping wearing a drag line in the house.
• 5-6pm: Outside to DYB followed by a neighborhood adventure walk.
• 6-8pm: Dinner in a frozen Kong and another chance to DYB followed by time in the YES space.
• 8-9:30pm: Outside to DYB followed by play time with toys in the house, cuddles, and a relaxing ear and body massage.
• 9:30pm: One last DYB outside before going into the YES space with a chew toy for the night.

Did you notice that puppies need to potty a LOT? As their bladders mature, you can lengthen the time between DYB opportunities, and phase out the ones immediately after a meal.

Here’s another example! Check out this pup’s story, and how the raiser adjusts and prioritizes activities to weave the puppy into her routine. Keep things flexible, pay attention to what your puppy may be trying to say to you with their behavior and adjust accordingly for more play, more training, or more naps.

First Things First
I woke up happy and ready to GO! My puppy raiser took me outside to DYB. Then we went back inside for a little while and she had some coffee to get her day going while I spent a little time playing in my YES space. She always gives me a fun thing to chew on when she wants me to settle. Yummy!

Once she had her coffee, we went outside for PLAY time! I got to sniff around in the grass and investigate the world for a while. She likes to play silly, fun games with me too. Whee!

Time for Learning
When I started to slow down a bit, we had a short training session. Sometimes these happen inside and sometimes outside. They’re always super fun, especially before breakfast (‘cuz I’m hungry enough to really want the kibbles) and after DYB and playtime (so I can concentrate).

Then we had another DYB and short outside play time so I can wind down from training. I love to get my puppy energy out during my free time. It’s one of my favorite things and I learn so much about the world too!

Breakfast and Nap Time
After a short play session, it was time for my breakfast and another DYB. Then <yawn> it was nap time and back to my YES space with a toy, but I was too tired to do much playing. Just in time for my raiser to jump on a phone call…boring!

Lunch Break
I’m just a baby so I can take looong naps. I didn’t wake up until almost lunch time. As soon as I stirred, it was back outside for DYB. Then I got some brief training games followed by a delicious lunch and another DYB opportunity. Guess what was after that? PLAY time again!

Afternoon Adventure
Once I was settled after lunch and play, we went on a short adventure in the car. My raiser had to drop something off at a friend’s house so I saw lots of sights, heard new sounds, and met a couple new friends! In their quiet neighborhood, we went for a sightseeing walk and I felt new things under my paws and had fun investigating smells and objects. Then it was back home again.

Quiet Time
When we got home, it was DYB time and then my puppy raiser was busy with other projects, so I spent a few hours in the YES Space. She gave me a fun interactive toy to keep me happy and busy while she came in and out the room. Mostly she ignored me during this time, even when I was talking to her (hmmf!). Eventually I figured out that it must be quiet time and I played with my toys then took a nap in my comfy crate.

Afternoon Play & House Time
After my nap it was time for DYB and playtime again. Then we came inside, and she let me roam around a small area of the house with the drag line on. She’s always right with me when I try to get into human things or do something unsafe. When that happens, she reminds me about my toys and my comfy bed. Today I was a good puppy and got to stay out with her for a long time. Sometimes, if I’m more energetic or overtired, she’ll let me back in the YES Space with a fun interactive toy so that she can get things done.

Dinner & Wind Down
Once we were finished with house time, it was DYB and play again. Then it was time for dinner. Today was busy so we didn’t do any training before dinner. But some days we have fun training games at dinnertime too. After dinner, of course, more DYB. Then it’s time for the household to start winding down. I got to lay on a comfy bed near her feet and I chewed a super fun toy. Some days I need an extra play session before wind down, but today I was tired and happy to lay on my bed.

Bedtime
Eventually, we were all sleepy. I had another DYB then it was bedtime in my YES Space. She gave me a night-night chew toy to let me entertain myself before I fell asleep. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!