Puppy's new schedule

cheeks215

I started my puppy out with no real set schedule and in return housebreaking has been a pain, yes I know it's all my fault. My puppy Baxter is a 4 months old Chihuahua/Pekingese and he's been doing great with puppy pads, but I want him to know that I only want him to use the pads for emergency as a just in case place to go, I want him going outside the majority of the time. I realize that I have been giving my puppy way too much freedom, and it's going to come to a halt whether he likes it or not. He is adorable, but the peeing on my bed, crying when he can't get his way, and all of the other puppy antics are becoming overwhelming, again my fault. I'm going to do this the right way now, and I want to know others' opinions on this schedule I've come up with. I work from 2pm-10pm, and my mom comes over for a half hour while I'm working and feeds my pets, so this is what I came up with:
7:00 AM- Out of crate and outside to potty spot
7:15AM- Feed breakfast in crate/offer water
7:30AM- Outside to potty/walk
8:00AM- Crate for nap
10:00AM-Outside to potty spot
10:15AM-Walk/play time
10:30AM-Free play in puppy-proof area
12:00PM- Feed lunch in crate/offer water
12:15PM-Outside to Potty
12:30PM- Free play in puppy-proof area
1:30PM-6:30PM Crate
6:30PM-7:30PM Last feeding/water in puppy-proof area
(Note, the puppy pad will be available for this half hour, my mom doesn't walk him..she gets out of work tired and i'm lucky she even comes to feed him dinner)
7:30PM- Crate
10:30PM- Offer a last drink of water/ Outside for potty
10:30PM - Crate for bedtime

Is this a good schedule? Any input would be appreciated

pawzaddict

Sounds very detailed lol any schedule that workds for you and the dog is a great schedule. Just make sure your puppy is getting enough water during those feeding and play times and you might need to leash him to you for a little bit of time until he gets used to it, just to make sure you don't turn your back and he runs off to pee
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cheeks215

Just wanted to post an update..
Baxter is doing great with his potty training. The schedule isn't as black and white as it seems lol, that was just for reference.

He's been doing so well, that I started letting him sleep in bed with us, he holds it until we take him out between 6-6:30am. There have been no overnight accidents because if he has to go outside he'll paw me in the face to wake me up, kinda rude but better than peeing on the floor lol. During the daytime, he's started to alert us when he has to go out , by pacing around, whining, and just giving us that "look". If we don't take him out right away when he gives us the signal, he will pee on the floor. Is letting him sleep in bed and not crating him so often slowing down the training? Or is he just having normal accidents?

browndogcbr

Hmmm.
I don't move that fast with a dog, especially a pup. I crate any new dog when I go to bed at night and when I leave the house.

The NILF (nothing in life is free) has worked well for me with all my dogs. My current dog was never left loose if I couldn't watch him until he proved that he wouldn't get into mischief. Not wanting a puppy this time, I got a 14 mo old. He was not left totally free until well past his 2nd birthday.

Your schedule looks pretty good for a young pup. As your pup ages, your vet can give you advice on how long he can be expected to hold his bladder.

Be careful starting a pup off sleeping in bed with you...they can become too protective.

Sounds like he's making good progress for you.

cheeks215

I forgot to add some things. He's now 5 months old. We've eliminated the puppy pads completely. My mom feeds him and takes him out when she gets home since he knows to go potty outside now. You are probably right, its a little to early for him to be getting all this freedom, especially sleeping in bed with us, I was getting ahead of myself with all the progress he's made. I think I'll just leave him loose in my room, keeping an eye on him, until we're ready to go to sleep, he can sleep in his crate.