The Importance of Creating a Regular Schedule for Your Dog 

The Importance of Creating a Regular Schedule for Your Dog 

Just like humans, dogs thrive when certain needs are met. At the most basic level, dogs need to eat daily, get some exercise, and spend time socializing with humans or other dogs. By creating a regular routine or schedule, you can help both you and your dog live the healthiest possible life. Here’s what you should know about the importance of creating a regular schedule for your dog and what a sample dog schedule might look like—

Why Create a Regular Schedule for Your Dog?

Creating a regular schedule for your dog can help with behavior training and anxiety; it may also help you make sure that you’re meeting your dog’s needs every day. At a bare minimum, most dogs need the following things every day:

• Meal times. Most dogs need to eat twice a day, usually once in the morning and once at night. However, talk to your vet about your dog’s needs to establish a feeding schedule that makes sense for them.
• Exercise time. Dogs need regular exercise for both their physical and mental wellbeing. Depending upon your dog’s breed and age, this may look like playtime with other dogs, running to chase a frisbee, or going for a nice walk. 
• Socialization time. Dogs are social animals, which means that they shouldn’t be isolated by themselves all day. It’s important to make sure that your dog spends time with you every day; you should also introduce your dog to new people and dogs regularly as well, which is great for social stimulation. 

Note that while creating a regular schedule can help your dog know what to expect throughout the day and can help with behavior training, keeping a schedule that’s too strict and that doesn’t allow for any flexibility or unexpected events could cause anxiety in your dog. 

Sample Daily Dog Schedule

The schedule that you create needs to work for you and your pup based on things like your work hours and other obligations. With that in mind, here’s an example of what a dog’s daily schedule might look like:

• 7:00 a.m. walk 
• 7:30 a.m. breakfast
• 12:00 p.m. walk, playtime, chasing the frisbee, dog park, etc. 
• 5:00 p.m. socialization time—cuddles at home, dog park, etc.
• 6:00 p.m. dinner
• 6:30 p.m. walk 

Get Help Creating a Schedule from Happy Pup Manor

At Happy Pup Manor, our experienced dog trainers can help you create a schedule that works for your pup and helps you to achieve training goals. To learn more about our dog training services and the support we can provide, call us today or send us a message at your convenience.