An eight-week puppy needs a tight routine for meals, sleep, potty breaks, training, play, social time, vet care, and safe supervision.
Bringing home a fur torpedo is a thrill, but those first days set the tone. At two months, your new pal is learning fast, sleeping loads, and counting on you for every need. This guide gives a plan, feeding tips, potty steps, early training, social time, health basics, and gear that helps you breeze through week one.
Caring For An Eight-Week Puppy Daily Plan
This age runs on rhythm. Short cycles of eat–toilet–train–play–nap keep energy steady and accidents rare. Use the routine below as a template and tweak for breed size and your schedule.
| Time Block | Action | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 6–7 AM | Out to toilet, then breakfast | Empty bladder first, food on a set clock aids house training |
| 7–8 AM | Calm play, name games, leash on in yard | Build focus and early leash comfort |
| 8–9 AM | Nap in crate or pen | Rest fuels growth; safe rest space prevents mischief |
| 9–10 AM | Toilet break, gentle handling, chew time | Teeth and gums stay busy; more chances to potty outside |
| Noon | Lunch, short training (sit, come, trade) | Food rewards speed learning |
| Afternoon | Nap, then toilet, brief meet-and-greet exposure | Social time inside the safety rules |
| 5 PM | Dinner, calm play, sniff walk on yard path | Sniffing lowers stress and builds confidence |
| Evening | Quiet chew, cuddle, last toilet trip | Wind-down reduces night whining |
| Bedtime | Crate near your bed, set an alarm for one toilet trip if needed | Night plan reduces accidents and teaches holding |
Feeding A Two-Month Pup The Right Way
Pick a complete and balanced puppy food that meets growth needs (FDA “complete and balanced” pet food claim). Check the label for the AAFCO growth claim or a passed feeding trial. Brands market many lines; the statement is the part that counts. Use the bag chart as a start, split the daily total into three to four meals, and adjust with your vet as your pup gains.
Small and toy pups burn through energy and may need a tiny snack between meals to avoid low blood sugar. Big breeds grow fast and need puppy food made for large growth to keep joints happy. Fresh water stays down all day. To track intake, scoop with the same cup and weigh your puppy weekly.
Simple Feeding Steps
- Set meal times, then pick up the bowl after 15 minutes.
- Feed in the crate or pen to prevent bowl guarding and to link calm with food.
- If tummy is loose, cut rich add-ins and call your vet if it lasts.
- Skip raw bones and pork rib chews that splinter.
Sleep, Play, And Calm Energy
Puppies at this age snooze a lot—often 14–20 hours across a full day. Catnaps come in waves after short play bursts. Plan two to three short play blocks and equal rest. Use soft chews, food puzzles, and gentle tug with clear “trade” cues. End sessions before your pup is wiped; leave them wanting one more toss.
Reading The Tired Signs
Look for droopy ears, slower sits, itch-scratch fidgets, and zoomies that tip into nips. That’s your cue for a quick toilet trip and a crate nap. Over-tired pups bite more, soil inside, and learn less.
House Training Without Tears
Success comes from timing, tiny wins, and loads of repeats. Take your pup out first thing, after meals, after play, after naps, and every hour while awake. Stand in the same spot, say a cue once, stay quiet, and reward the instant they finish. Keep a log for the first week; patterns pop fast.
Crate And Pen Setup
Pick a crate just big enough to stand up, turn around, and lie down. Too roomy invites a bathroom corner. Pair the crate with a playpen for safe roaming and a potty pad only if your schedule is tight. Most pups can hold it as many hours as their age in months plus one, up to about four hours by day at this stage, with longer at night.
Cleanup And Oops Protocol
Accidents still happen. Blot, enzyme clean, and move on. No scolding; it delays the next squat and makes sneaky messes more likely. If you keep missing windows, scale back freedom and add one more outing per hour for two days.
Smart Social Time Between Eight And Twelve Weeks
There is a golden window for new sights and sounds from three to about fourteen weeks. Gentle, planned exposure now pays off for life. Pair each new thing with treats: people of all ages, hats, umbrellas, doorbells, traffic, wheelchairs, bikes, and friendly, healthy dogs owned by pals.
Safe Ways To Mix And Mingle
- Visit a clean friend’s yard for a short meet with a vaccinated adult dog.
- Carry your pup at stores that allow pets to hear carts and buzz.
- Host a tiny sound party at home: clatter bowls, play thunder on low, drop a book, feed after each sound.
- Skip dog parks and pet store floors until core shots are complete.
First Vet Visits, Shots, And Parasite Control
Plan a vet visit in week one. Bring any breeder or rescue records. Core shots for distemper, adenovirus, and parvo usually run in a series every three to four weeks starting around six to eight weeks, with a booster after the series (AAHA canine vaccination guidelines). Local rules set the timing for rabies; many places start between twelve and sixteen weeks. Your vet can tailor noncore shots based on travel, boarding, and wildlife risk.
Deworming often starts before you bring your pup home and continues every two weeks until a monthly broad-spectrum preventive begins. Ask about heartworm, flea, and tick prevention suited to your region.
| Age | Care Item | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | DHPP dose, deworm, start monthly prevention | Bring records; ask about product choices |
| 12 weeks | DHPP booster; rabies per local law | Many areas start rabies now; verify timing |
| 16 weeks | Final DHPP; rabies if not yet given | Next booster due in one year |
Early Training That Pays Off For Life
Short, sweet sessions beat marathons. Two to five minutes, three to five times a day, keeps brains fresh. Use a clicker or a crisp “yes.” Mark the moment your pup does the thing, then pay with a tiny treat. Keep cues short: sit, down, stand, stay, come, drop, leave it. Pair a hand target with “come” to guide motion. Name your pup and pay eye contact so you get attention fast in busy spots.
Bite Control And Chew Choices
Teeth on skin is normal at this age. Swap hands for a chew, pause play when bites land hard, then resume when calm. Offer a mix of textures: rubber, nylon, and soft snuffle mats for food. Freeze a stuffed toy for gum relief.
Safe Outings And Exercise
Stick to low-risk ground until shots are done. Clean lawns, your patio, and friend yards beat dog park turf for now. Think more sniff walks and less mileage. Two or three five-minute sniff walks plus backyard play usually suit this stage. If your pup flops or lags, you overdid it.
Gear That Makes Life Easier
You do not need a mountain of stuff. A flat collar with ID, a soft harness, a six-foot leash, a crate with divider, a pen, two bowls, poop bags, and five to six safe chews cover the basics. Add a clicker, treat pouch, and a snuffle mat for training. Keep one backup leash by the door.
Week One House Rules
Pick two or three rooms for now and gate the rest. Tether your pup to you with a light leash when loose indoors. Drop food for calm on beds and mats. Reward four paws on the floor when guests arrive. If your pup grabs shoes or cords, trade for a treat and add more chews.
When To Call Your Vet
Red flags include listless mood, nonstop loose stool, vomiting, blood in stool, coughing, labored breath, pale gums, swollen belly, or refusal to eat for a full day. Trust your gut and call. Bring a fresh stool sample to the first visit and any time tummy issues persist.
Printable One-Page Plan
Copy this: three to four meals, hourly outings while awake, crate naps between blocks, two to three micro training sessions per meal, two short sniff walks, planned social sound bites, daily handling of ears, feet, mouth, tail, and collar, and one cozy bedtime setup near you.
Easy Handling Routine Each Day
Spend two minutes daily touching paws, lifting lips, peeking in ears, and brushing. Feed as you handle. Clip a single nail, then party. Trade a treat for a toy near the bowl. These tiny reps build vet-ready habits and cut stress during grooming, meds, and ear cleanups.
Frequent Mistakes To Avoid
Free feeding, late rough play, skipped naps, and long walks slow progress. So does quitting the crate after one loud night. Stick with the plan for three days. If potty slips rise or sleep drops, trim awake windows and add one more toilet break each cycle.
Helpful References For New Pup Parents
Learn how to read the “complete and balanced” claim on a pet food label and see the current core shot plan set by leading groups. These pages give clear, vetted guidance and help you tailor care with your own vet.