Raising a Mini Aussie: 8-9 weeks Old Daily Puppy Schedule

First, things to remember:

Puppies need LOTS of sleep, but like babies they need to be put down for a nap by you.
A crate with a thin blanket thrown over the top is your new best friend for puppy naps!

Here's the daily schedule you should follow to ensure you have a well rested, happy puppy and very few potty accidents:

Daily Puppy Schedule

Get up to potty, if restless play for 10 minutes and then back in the crate to sleep in til 7ish

Wake up, go outside immediately for potty break. Carry the puppy there until you know you can trust them. After they potty, take them for a short walk around the yard and let them sniff or maybe even play with them. Try potty again before heading back inside.

Head back in and give puppy water. Play more inside. Toss a rope toy, kick a ball around with your foot, let them walk around explore the room.

Place 1/3 cup food in food bowl and place inside pen. Now is your time to eat/make breakfast. If your puppy whines when you leave the room, you can also put them in the kitchen with the exit blocked off if your kitchen is puppy proof and you can relax while you make breakfast and they explore around. Give puppy a ball, smart toy, or kong with treats to occupy him after he's finished eating.

Play more, let them have some chewing time. Give a stuffed kong, frozen carrot, frozen banana, apple pieces to occupy.

Matter-of-factly place puppy in a crate with a blanket or bed inside and blanket on top. They may whine at first. If they're still crying after 20 mins, take them out for potty and more play and try again after 20 minutes. Make sure the crate is away from the hubbub of the house, but not too secluded. Put on soft, relaxing music. Let the puppy nap, possibly even until 11 am if they haven't even stirred at 10:45. You might hear the occasional noise, but if it doesn't persist long, just ignore it and let them sleep it was just them changing positions.

Take puppy out of crate when they're awake and ready. Go to potty spot immediately and then proceed to do a short 20 minute walk/explore around the yard.
Now is a great time for a socialization get together! Go to a neighbor's house, have a friend come over--that might take up the whole hour plus.
Or, after milling around in the yard, come back and get some water and then play for 20 minutes and also let them explore the room you are in.
When they are a little more tired, say after 20 minutes of playing, try getting some treats and working on a few commands like "come" and "sit".
Give lots of love and pets. Let them come sit on you or with you and pet them, flip them on their backs and do a tummy rub.
Go back outside for another 10 minutes to pee/explore and when you get back in it's time for crating, relaxing music and another hour long nap.

Take them out to potty and then play for 30 mins.
You can put them back in play pen for 30 mins or let them hang out in the room with you chewing on their toys while you eat dinner.
Another 30 minute play session.
Start winding down around 7:45. Don't rile them up with any exciting games. Do lots of petting and gentle talking and lite chewing...so no tug of war, or maybe just a gentle tug-of-war. Maybe give them something to chew on to relax a bit and leave them alone.
Around 8 pm head back out for one more potty break.
Put them back in the crate, put the blanket over the top and turn the light out in your room. You can hang out for 5 minutes. If they're quiet you can leave and do stuff around the house.

Pick the puppy up. Don't talk to it. Walk straight outside to the pee/poop spot and wait around for 5-10 minutes--LITERALLY--5-10 mins. They need time to smell and hang out until they go to the bathroom. If they go, do lots of praise! Then back inside for bed again.
Once you get to know your dog you can probably skip getting up at midnight and just do 2 am.

Raising a Mini Aussie