New Puppy Checklist: Everything to Have Ready (UK)

Before your puppy comes home, have a bed or crate in a quiet spot, food and water bowls, the food your breeder or rescue has been using, a collar with an ID tag, a lead, toys, poo bags and a registered vet lined up. Your puppy must already be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old, and once they are out in public they must wear a collar with your name and address on it.

Below is a full checklist, split into the legal and health essentials, the home set-up and the first few weeks. For more on beds and the home, see our complete dog beds and home guide.

The legal essentials

Microchip

According to GOV.UK, dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered on an approved database by the time they are eight weeks old. When you collect your puppy, ask for proof of microchipping, such as a microchip certificate or vet records. As the new owner, you are responsible for keeping the details up to date, so make sure the record is transferred into your name and shows your current address and phone number. GOV.UK states you can be fined up to £500 if your dog is not microchipped or not registered when they need to be. Our guide on how to update your dog's microchip details explains the process.

Collar and ID tag

Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, a dog in a public place must wear a collar with the owner's name and address on it, either on the collar itself or on a tag or plate attached to it. A phone number is not a legal requirement but is strongly advisable. A microchip does not replace this. Once your puppy starts going out, they need to be wearing their collar and tag. Read more in our guide to UK dog ID tag law.

Where you get your puppy from

In England, Lucy's Law means puppies under six months cannot be sold by third-party sellers such as pet shops or dealers. You should buy direct from a breeder or adopt from a rescue centre, and licensed breeders are required to show puppies interacting with their mothers in their place of birth.

Health and vet checklist

• Register with a vet before your puppy arrives, so you know where to go and can book a first check.
• Vaccinations. Ask the breeder or rescue which vaccinations your puppy has had and bring any records to your vet. Your vet will set the rest of the schedule and tell you when your puppy can safely go out in public places.
• Flea and worm treatment. Ask your vet what your puppy has had and what they recommend next.
• Insurance. Consider pet insurance before you need it, and read the policy details carefully.
• Paperwork. Keep the microchip details, vaccination records and any breeder or rescue paperwork together in one place.

Home set-up checklist

Sleeping

• A bed with washable bedding, sized for now with room to grow, or a crate with soft bedding inside.
• A quiet, draught-free spot for it. Many owners keep the puppy close by for the first few nights.
• A familiar-smelling blanket or toy from the breeder, if they can give you one.

Not sure whether you need a crate? Our guide on choosing a crate or dog bed sets out the options, and our guide on where to put a dog bed covers placement. A washable floor bed such as the Richmond Bed, which has a removable cushion and is machine washable at 30°C, will see your puppy through plenty of muddy paws. Browse all our dog beds.

Feeding

• Food and water bowls, ideally stable and easy to clean.
• A supply of the food your puppy has been eating, so you can change gradually if you want to switch.
• Treats for training, in small pieces.

Walking and ID

• A lightweight, adjustable collar and an ID tag with your name and address.
• A lead for short training sessions and, later, walks.
• Poo bags and a dispenser.

Puppies grow quickly, so choose an adjustable collar and check the fit often. The Kensington Collar is adjustable, with a quick-release clasp engraved with your dog's name and your number. As it does not carry your address, you will still need an address tag to meet the legal minimum. Our guide to puppy collar and lead training explains how to get your puppy used to both.

Play and enrichment

• A few safe, puppy-appropriate chew toys.
• A basket or box to keep toys tidy. The Keep is a hand-coiled cotton rope basket personalised with your dog's name.

Cleaning and grooming

• Old towels for wet paws and accidents.
• An enzyme-based cleaner for toilet training accidents.
• A soft brush suited to your puppy's coat.

Puppy-proofing the house

• Move cables, shoes, children's toys and anything chewable out of reach.
• Check the garden fence and gate for gaps.
• Store cleaning products, medicines and human food securely.
• Use a baby gate to keep stairs or certain rooms off limits.

The first few weeks

• Book your first vet visit and follow their advice on vaccinations.
• Check the microchip record is in your name.
• Start short, positive training sessions and a regular toilet routine.
• Introduce new sights and sounds gently, at your puppy's pace.
• Find out about local puppy classes.

Frequently asked questions

Does my puppy need a microchip before I bring them home?

Yes. GOV.UK states dogs must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. Ask for proof when you collect your puppy, and update the record into your name.

Does my puppy legally need a collar and tag?

Yes, in public. Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, a dog in a public place must wear a collar with the owner's name and address on it or on an attached tag.

When should I register my puppy with a vet?

Before your puppy arrives, so you can book a first check and plan vaccinations with your vet.

What does a puppy need for the first night?

A comfortable bed or crate in a quiet, draught-free spot, water, a familiar-smelling blanket if possible, and you nearby.