Indie — Daily Puppy Schedule
Starting routine for an ~8–9 week Standard Poodle • Bedtime 9–10 PM • Overnight potty around 2:00–2:20 AM
| TIME / TRIGGER | POTTY / ROUTINE | FOOD / WATER / NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Morning wake-up | Outside immediately. Praise/treat after she finishes. Then start the day. | Put out her measured daily puppy-food allowance for free feeding. Fresh water available. |
| While awake | Potty every 45–60 minutes at first; every ~30 minutes during very active play if needed. | Play, explore, short 3–5 minute training sessions, grooming/handling. |
| After EVERY nap | Straight outside before play, food, or wandering around. | Then water, play, and normal daytime routine. |
| After eating / big drink | Take her out within about 5–15 minutes, and sooner if she starts sniffing/circling. | Keep using the same potty door and same outside area. |
| Late morning / noon | Potty before and after activity. Short socialization and training. | Check how much of the measured daily food she has actually eaten. |
| Afternoon | Repeat the pattern: potty → play/train → potty → nap. | Use the crate/playpen whenever she cannot be directly supervised. |
| 5:00–7:00 PM | Family time and gentle play. Potty before and after active play. | Continue daytime free feeding and normal water access. |
| 7:00–8:30 PM | Begin winding down. Calm play, chew, grooming/handling, and another potty trip. | If overnight poop becomes a problem, consider ending food access about 2 hours before bed. |
| 9:00–10:00 PM | FINAL POTTY immediately before bed, then into the crate. | Do not intentionally dehydrate her. If she is thirsty, give water; just avoid encouraging a huge last-minute drink. |
| 2:00–2:20 AM | Quiet overnight potty trip: outside → potty → praise → straight back to crate. | No play, breakfast, or excitement. Treat this as nighttime, not morning. |
| If she wakes early | If a potty need is plausible, take her out briefly. If she does not go, return her to the crate. | Start daytime feeding/play at the normal household morning. |
Potty Rules to Remember
- Take her out immediately after waking, after eating, after a big drink, after active play, after crate/playpen time, and before bed.
- If she does not go, bring her back in under close supervision or crate her for 10–15 minutes, then try again.
- No punishment for accidents. Clean with an enzymatic cleaner and shorten the next potty interval.
- For free feeding, measure the full daily allowance each morning instead of continually topping off the bowl.
- For the dog door, first teach that the same door leads to the potty area. Add flap training after house-training is becoming reliable.
Indie — Crate & Basic Training
Keep sessions short, positive, and frequent. Consistency matters more than duration.
Crate Training — First 1–2 Weeks
| STEP | WHAT TO DO | IMPORTANT |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Set up | Use a divider so she can stand, turn around, and lie comfortably without a large toilet corner. | Never use the crate as punishment. |
| 2. Make it valuable | Toss treats inside, give a safe chew, praise voluntary entries, and let her come back out. | Start with the door open. |
| 3. Close door briefly | After potty and when calm, close the door while you sit nearby. Start with seconds, then a few minutes. | Increase gradually; do not jump from minutes to hours. |
| 4. Practice naps | Potty first, then crate her when sleepy with a safe chew/toy. | Take her straight outside when she wakes. |
| 5. Practice separation | Step out of sight briefly, return calmly, then slowly increase the time. | Keep departures and returns low-key. |
| 6. Night routine | Final potty before bed. Your normal 2:00–2:20 AM wake-up becomes the planned overnight potty trip. | Potty only, then straight back to sleep. |
| 7. Whining | If a potty need is plausible, take her out quietly. If she does not potty, return her to the crate. | Do not punish or turn whining into playtime. |
| 8. Accidents | Clean thoroughly and make the next potty opportunity sooner. | Repeated accidents usually mean the interval is too long or she needs a veterinary check. |
Basic Training — 3–5 Minutes at a Time
| SKILL | HOW TO TEACH IT | FIRST GOAL |
|---|---|---|
| Name / attention | Say “Indie” once. The instant she looks at you, mark with “yes” and reward. | Turns to you when she hears her name. |
| Come | From a few feet away: “Indie, come,” move backward, reward when she reaches you. | Happy, fast response indoors. |
| Sit | Lure her nose slightly up/back. Mark and reward when her bottom hits the floor. | One verbal cue. |
| Down | From sit, lure the treat straight down and slightly forward. | Comfortably follows the lure. |
| Crate / kennel | Toss a treat in, say the cue as she enters, then reward again inside. | Enters willingly. |
| Leave it | Closed fist with treat. Reward from the other hand when she disengages. | Backs away / looks at you. |
| Drop it | Trade the toy for a treat, mark the release, then often give the toy back. | Releases without guarding. |
| Handling / grooming | Briefly touch paws, ears, mouth, tail, and body while feeding tiny treats. | Relaxed with normal handling. |
| Collar / leash | Reward wearing equipment and following you on a loose leash indoors/yard. | Follows willingly. |
| Biting / mouthing | Redirect teeth to a toy. Briefly end interaction if biting gets too hard. | Chooses toys over hands/clothes. |
| Dog-door foundation | Use the same potty door now. Later hold the flap open, reward going through, then gradually lower it. | Confident using the flap after potty habits are forming. |
First-Week Priorities
- Potty outside more often than inside.
- Feel safe in the crate and playpen.
- Learn her name and begin coming when called.
- Accept paws, ears, and body handling calmly.
- Build a calm, predictable routine.