Guides

Dog and puppy care guides

Practical guides to everyday dog care, written from reliable sources.

10-week-old puppy potty schedule: break times for a full dayA 10-week-old puppy needs a potty break at least every 2.5 hours, plus after naps, meals and play, and up to 2 night trips. Sample times from 07:00 to 22:00.
10-week-old puppy schedule: a sample dayA sample day for a 10-week-old puppy: four meals, naps after every play session, toilet trips every hour or so and usually one quiet trip at night.
12-week-old puppy potty schedule: break times for a full dayA 12-week-old puppy needs a potty break at least every 3 hours, plus after naps, meals and play, and up to 2 night trips. Sample times from 07:00 to 22:00.
12-week-old puppy schedule: a sample dayA sample day for a 12-week-old (3-month-old) puppy: moving from four meals to three, longer awake spells, toilet trips every hour or two and first short walks.
16-week-old puppy potty schedule: break times for a full dayA 16-week-old (4-month-old) puppy needs a potty break at least every 3.5 hours, plus after naps, meals and play, and about 1 night trip. Times from 07:00 to 22:00.
8-week-old puppy potty schedule: break times for a full dayAn 8-week-old puppy needs a potty break at least every 2 hours, plus after naps, meals and play, and about 2 night trips. Sample times from 07:00 to 22:00.
8-week-old puppy schedule: a sample dayA sample day for an 8-week-old puppy: potty breaks every 45–60 minutes awake, four small meals, naps after play and one quiet trip out at night.
A daily routine for your dog: sample schedule by ageA sample day for an adult dog (2 meals, walks, potty breaks, 8–13.5 h sleep) and for a puppy (3–4 meals, frequent naps), built from Dogs Trust, AKC and RKC advice.
Adult and senior dog care: the everyday numbersThe everyday numbers for adult and senior dogs in one place: sleep, water, calories, walks, poop and time alone, with calculators and when to call the vet.
Dog diary app: log walks, sleep, potty and vet visitsA dog diary app logs walks, sleep, pee and poo, meals and vet visits in a tap, so changes show early. What to log for an adult dog, and what DogsLife does free.
House-training accidents: causes and fixesWhy puppies and adult dogs have accidents indoors, how to clean up so they don't repeat, what to do instead of punishing, and when to see a vet.
How long can a puppy hold its pee? Hours by ageA resting puppy can hold its pee about 1 hour per month of age, some say months + 1. Awake it's far less: 30–60 minutes when young. Rules, limits and warning signs.
How long can a puppy or dog be left alone? By agePuppies: about 1 hour per month of age, from 1 hour under 10 weeks to 6 at 6 months. Adult dogs: UK charities say no more than 4 hours routinely.
How much exercise does a dog need?How much exercise dogs need by breed and age, with breed examples, the puppy five-minute rule, senior dog tips and signs your dog needs more or less.
How much should a dog sleep? Hours for adults and seniorsAdult dogs sleep about 8–13.5 hours a day, seniors 12–15 and large breeds up to 18. Hours by life stage, what changes it and when to call the vet.
How much should a puppy sleep? Hours by agePuppies sleep about 15–20 hours a day at 4–12 weeks, 14–16 hours at 3–6 months, then 12–14. Hours by age, nap tips and when to ask your vet.
How much to feed a puppy: label, meals and body conditionStart from the feeding guide on your puppy's food, weigh every portion, split it into 3–4 meals, then adjust by body condition and weight trend with your vet.
How much water should a dog drink a day?Most dogs drink about 40–60 ml per kg a day (about 1 oz per lb): a 10 kg dog, 400–600 ml. Drinking over 100 ml/kg is a vet sign. How to measure it at home.
How often does a puppy need to pee? By ageYoung puppies pee every 30–60 minutes while awake; at 3–6 months many wait 3–4 hours, and 4–6 from 6 months. Day and night guide by age.
How often should a dog poop? What's normal by ageMost adult dogs poop 1–2 times a day; puppies more often, usually after meals. What normal poop looks like, and why no poop for 24–36 hours means a vet call.
New puppy checklist: before and after you bring it homeEverything to sort before your puppy arrives and in its first week: supplies, a safe sleeping spot, house rules, puppy-proofing, the vet and a routine.
Overtired puppy: signs and how to settle itAn overtired puppy gets bitey and wild, not sleepy. Puppies of 4–12 weeks need 15–20 hours of sleep a day: the signs, how to settle it now, and a routine that helps.
Puppy biting and teething: how to stop it (and when it ends)Puppy biting is normal and usually fades by around 6–7 months, once teething ends. Stay still, redirect to a chew, and protect naps: tired puppies bite more.
Puppy crying at night: why it happens and what to doA puppy crying at night usually needs the toilet, feels alone or is hungry. Check needs first, settle it calmly, stay close and move away slowly.
Puppy nap schedule: a sample day that worksYoung puppies nap about every hour, for 30 minutes to 2 hours, and sleep 15–20 hours a day. A sample day around meals and potty breaks, and how it changes.
Puppy potty training: a step-by-step guideTake a young puppy out every 1–2 hours, plus after waking, meals and play. Step-by-step potty training: rewards, accidents, nights and how long it takes.
Puppy socialisation checklist: what to introduce, week by weekSocialise your puppy in its first months: people, sounds, surfaces, handling and safe dogs, a little at a time, carried in public until your vet says it's safe.
Puppy tracker app: what to log and why it helpsWhat a puppy tracker app should log (sleep, pee and poo, meals, walks), how a few days of logs help with potty training, and what DogsLife does for free.
Puppy vaccination schedule: how it usually worksPuppies get core vaccines from 6–8 weeks, every 2–4 weeks until at least 16 weeks, then a booster from 26 weeks (WSAVA). Which shots are core and why plans differ.
Puppy's first night home: a calm routineNight one in 5 steps: sleep close, a last toilet trip right before bed, at least 1 planned night trip, and comfort if it cries. Plus the first morning.
Senior dog sleep changes: what's normal?Why older dogs sleep more, which sleep changes are normal ageing and which (like night-time pacing) need a vet check, and how to help them sleep well.
When do puppies sleep through the night?Most puppies sleep through the night at around 16–20 weeks, or 4–6 months. Night potty trips by age, why sources differ, and how to get there step by step.
Why is my dog sleeping so much? Normal sleep by ageAdult dogs sleep about 8–13.5 hours a day, seniors 12–15, puppies 15–20. Over 20 hours, or a sudden change, is worth a vet check. How to tell normal from worrying.
Your puppy's first year: a month-by-month guideEverything for a puppy's first year in one place: before arrival, 8–12 weeks, 3–6 months and 6–12 months, with sleep, potty, feeding, vaccines and the right tools.