What Do You Actually Need for a Puppy? Essentials vs Things You Can Wait to Buy

Getting ready for your first puppy can get expensive surprisingly quickly.

Search for “puppy essentials” and you’ll find lists containing everything from bowls and beds to cameras, automatic feeders, grooming kits, travel accessories and enough toys to fill a cupboard.

You do need to prepare properly.

You don’t need to buy everything before your puppy comes home.

A better way to shop is to divide things into three groups:

ACTION NOW — things you should have ready, or decisions you should make, before your puppy arrives.

USEFUL SOON — things you’re likely to need, but which may be easier to choose once you know your puppy better.

WAIT AND SEE — things that are useful for some owners but aren’t automatic puppy essentials.

This guide explains what belongs where — and, more importantly, why.

Puppy essentials at a glance

If you’d rather work through everything as a checklist:

→ First-Time Dog Owner Checklist UK: What You Actually Need Before Your Puppy Comes Home

1. The food your puppy is already eating

ACTION NOW

Have suitable food in the house before your puppy arrives.

But don’t assume arrival day is the moment to choose a completely new diet.

Find out:

• exactly what your puppy is currently eating
• how much they’re being given
• how often they’re being fed
• whether the breeder or rescue will provide some food for the transition

PDSA recommends finding out what food a puppy is already eating as part of preparing for their arrival.

If you later want to change their diet, do it thoughtfully and seek veterinary advice if you have concerns about your puppy’s health, growth or nutritional needs.

Do you need to buy a huge bag?

Probably not.

Until you know the food suits your puppy and whether you’ll continue using it, buying an enormous supply can create unnecessary waste.

First Dog verdict: ACTION NOW — but don’t overbuy.

2. Food and water bowls

ACTION NOW

You need:

• a food bowl
• access to fresh drinking water

That’s the essential part.

For most puppies, you don’t need to turn bowl shopping into a major purchasing project.

Look for bowls that are:

• appropriately sized
• stable
• straightforward to clean
• suitable for your puppy

Specialist slow feeders, raised feeding stations and other feeding products can solve particular problems, but they aren’t automatically required simply because you’ve bought a puppy.

First Dog verdict: buy simple first. Solve specific problems later.

3. Somewhere safe and comfortable to sleep

ACTION NOW

Your puppy needs a comfortable place where they can rest without constantly being disturbed.

The RSPCA includes a bed and safe resting space among the basic items to have ready for a new dog.

What you don’t necessarily need is an expensive permanent bed.

Before buying one, remember that your puppy may:

• grow substantially
• chew bedding
• have toilet-training accidents
• eventually prefer a different sleeping position or type of bed

A practical, washable first bed or mat can therefore make more sense than trying to choose their forever bed on day one.

Buy for puppy size or adult size?

That’s a genuine buying decision rather than something a generic checklist can answer well.

→ What Size Dog Bed Should You Buy for a Puppy? Buy for Now or Adult Size?

First Dog verdict: ACTION NOW for a sleeping space. WAIT before spending heavily on the perfect permanent bed.

4. A collar and identification

ACTION NOW

Have an appropriately fitting collar ready.

Visible identification and microchipping are separate issues; don’t assume that one makes the other irrelevant.

In Great Britain, most dogs in a public place are required under the Control of Dogs Order 1992 to wear a collar bearing the owner’s name and address, either on the collar or on an attached plate or badge, subject to stated exemptions.

You’ll also want to make sure your puppy’s microchip information is correctly transferred and kept up to date. GOV.UK advises people getting a dog to ask for proof that a microchip has been fitted and to ensure the registered details are updated.

Because rules and administrative requirements differ in some respects across the UK’s nations, check the current requirements applying where you live.

First Dog verdict: ACTION NOW.

5. A lead

ACTION NOW — BEFORE WALKS

You need a sensible way of safely controlling your puppy when you’re ready to take them out.

For most first-time owners, there’s no reason to buy several different leads before they’ve even lived with the dog.

Start with one appropriate lead and see what your routine eventually requires.

You may later decide you need:

• a different everyday lead
• a long line for training
• a particular setup for travel
• something suited to a particular activity

Those are later decisions.

First Dog verdict: one suitable lead first. Build the collection only if you actually need one.

6. A harness

USEFUL SOON — BUT NOT A BLIND PURCHASE

Harnesses appear on almost every puppy shopping list, but there are really two questions:

• Do you want or need to use a harness?
• If you do, what type and fit are appropriate?

Don’t reverse those questions and start by choosing a product.

Young puppies grow quickly, which also means buying several expensive harnesses in advance makes little sense.

If you’re not sure whether you should use a collar, harness or both:

→ Collar vs Harness for a Puppy: Do You Need One or Both?

If you’ve decided a harness is appropriate:

→ How to Choose a Puppy Harness: Fit, Size and Features That Actually Matter

First Dog verdict: USEFUL SOON. Decide first, buy second.

7. A crate?

WAIT — DECIDE WHAT PROBLEM YOU’RE SOLVING

A crate isn’t automatically an essential piece of puppy equipment.

It can be useful as part of an appropriately introduced setup, but the underlying need is not “own a crate”.

The underlying need is:

How will I give my puppy a safe, manageable area in my home?

Depending on your circumstances, that might involve:

• a crate
• a puppy pen
• baby gates
• a puppy-proof room or area
• a combination of these

PDSA recommends puppy-proofing the home and notes that baby gates can be useful for controlling access to rooms and hazards.

Dogs Trust also recommends puppy-proofing before arrival.

So don’t buy a crate purely because a generic puppy shopping list says CRATE — ESSENTIAL.

Start with your home and routine.

→ Puppy Pen vs Crate: Which Do You Need — and Should You Have Both?

First Dog verdict: DEPENDS. Your puppy needs a safe environment; that doesn’t automatically mean they need a crate.

8. A puppy pen?

DEPENDS

Puppy pens can be useful when you want to give a puppy more room than a crate while still limiting access to the rest of the home.

That can be particularly relevant when you’re:

• working nearby
• managing toilet training
• keeping your puppy away from hazards
• creating a defined puppy area
• unable to supervise every movement continuously

But once again, it’s the problem that matters.

Some homes can create an appropriate safe space perfectly well without a pen.

Others may find one extremely useful.

→ Puppy Pen vs Crate: Which Do You Need — and Should You Have Both?

First Dog verdict: useful in the right home, not universally essential.

9. Puppy-proofing

ACTION NOW

This is more important than several products that appear above it on many shopping lists.

Before your puppy arrives:

• move unsafe chemicals out of reach
• think about exposed electrical cables
• secure bins
• protect or remove things you don’t want chewed
• consider access to stairs
• check gardens and outdoor areas
• decide which rooms your puppy can enter
• make it difficult for a curious puppy to reach obvious hazards

PDSA specifically recommends puppy-proofing the house before bringing a new puppy home.

A baby gate costing relatively little may solve more problems in your particular home than a collection of expensive puppy gadgets.

First Dog verdict: ACTION NOW. Prepare the environment before buying accessories for the environment.

10. Toys

ACTION NOW — A FEW, NOT DOZENS

Have some appropriate toys ready.

Dogs Trust recommends having toys available from the puppy’s first day, both for interaction and to give them suitable things to chew instead of household items.

A sensible starter selection might cover several different purposes:

• something appropriate to chew
• something for interactive play
• something that encourages exploration or enrichment

But you don’t yet know what your puppy loves.

There is very little benefit in buying fifteen toys before discovering that your dog ignores fourteen of them.

Better approach

Buy a small variety.

Observe.

Then buy more of the types your puppy actually engages with.

First Dog verdict: ACTION NOW for a small selection. WAIT AND SEE before filling the toy box.

11. Training treats

ACTION NOW

Having small, appropriate rewards available makes it easier to begin teaching your puppy from day one.

PDSA recommends positive, reward-based puppy training and consistency in the cues and behaviours owners teach.

You don’t necessarily need:

• five brands of treats
• expensive training gadgets
• a giant pouch of specialist equipment

Start with rewards that are appropriate for your puppy and useful during short training interactions.

Training itself matters much more than owning training merchandise.

First Dog verdict: ACTION NOW for suitable rewards. Equipment beyond that can wait.

12. Cleaning supplies

ACTION NOW

This is the unglamorous part of the shopping list that you may appreciate most at 2am.

Have:

• poo bags
• old towels
• suitable supplies for cleaning accidents
• somewhere safe to keep household cleaning products away from your puppy

Puppy pads?

DEPENDS.

They can be useful in particular circumstances, but don’t assume they’re mandatory for toilet training.

Decide how you intend to approach toilet training first.

Then buy products that support the plan.

First Dog verdict: ACTION NOW for basic cleaning. WAIT AND SEE on specialist products.

13. Grooming equipment

DEPENDS ON THE DOG

A first-time owner can easily be sold an entire grooming kit before knowing what their puppy’s coat actually requires.

Start by finding out:

• what coat type your puppy has
• how often it needs brushing
• what type of brush or comb is appropriate
• whether professional grooming is likely to be needed
• how you can help your puppy become comfortable with handling and grooming

The right equipment for one breed or coat can be completely inappropriate for another.

So this isn’t a category where we’d recommend a universal First Dog grooming kit.

First Dog verdict: buy for the dog in front of you, not for the word “puppy”.

14. Insurance

ACTION NOW — MAKE THE DECISION

Insurance isn’t physical equipment, but it belongs near the top of your preparation list because waiting until something has gone wrong is obviously too late to decide how you intended to manage the financial risk.

Dogs Trust includes considering pet insurance among its preparations before collecting a new puppy.

Don’t simply choose the first policy you see.

You’ll want to understand things such as:

• what veterinary fees are covered
• policy limits
• excesses
• exclusions
• how pre-existing conditions are treated
• whether cover is time-limited, maximum-benefit or lifetime-style
• when cover begins

The decision isn’t:

Which insurer has the nicest advert?

It’s:

What financial risk am I trying to protect myself against, and what type of policy actually does that?

→ How to Choose Puppy Insurance in the UK: What First-Time Owners Should Compare

First Dog verdict: ACTION NOW. Understand before you buy.

15. Registering with a vet

ACTION NOW

This is another essential that doesn’t arrive in a cardboard box.

Dogs Trust recommends registering with a vet before collecting a new puppy.

Find out:

• which practice you’ll use
• how to contact them
• their normal opening hours
• what happens out of hours
• where you’d go in an emergency

PDSA likewise suggests identifying a local vet while preparing for a puppy.

First Dog verdict: ACTION NOW — and there’s nothing to buy.

That’s worth emphasising because some of the most important parts of puppy preparation aren’t products at all.

16. Health records and paperwork

ACTION NOW

Make sure you receive and keep the relevant information about your puppy.

That may include:

• microchip information
• vaccination records
• veterinary records
• flea and worm treatment history
• diet information
• relevant health information or certificates

For England, GOV.UK advises people obtaining a dog to ask for proof that a microchip has been fitted.

Your vet can then advise you on what your puppy needs next rather than you trying to reconstruct their history from memory.

First Dog verdict: paperwork is more important than another accessory.

17. Travel equipment

ACTION BEFORE COLLECTION — EXACT PRODUCT DEPENDS

Before collection day, decide how your puppy is getting home safely.

That doesn’t necessarily mean buying a particular expensive travel product immediately.

The correct setup depends on:

• the vehicle
• puppy size
• where they’ll travel
• how frequently you’ll use the car
• how much they’re likely to grow

Think through the journey before the puppy is sitting beside the car.

You can then choose the appropriate restraint, carrier, crate or other arrangement for your situation.

First Dog verdict: ACTION NOW on the transport plan. Buy according to that plan.

18. A puppy camera

WAIT AND SEE

A puppy camera can be extremely useful for the right owner.

For example, you may want to observe:

• whether your puppy settles while alone
• what they’re doing when you’re in another part of the home
• whether certain behaviours happen after you leave

But owning a puppy does not automatically create a need for a camera.

Start with:

What do I need to know when I’m not there?

If the answer is “nothing at the moment”, don’t buy a camera merely because it appears on a pet retailer’s puppy checklist.

If monitoring would genuinely help:

→ Do I Need a Puppy Camera? When It’s Useful — and When It Won’t Help

First Dog verdict: WAIT AND SEE. A camera should solve a problem, not create a purchase.

19. An automatic feeder

WAIT AND SEE

An automatic feeder is another product that can solve a real problem in certain households.

But your first priority with a new puppy is establishing an appropriate feeding routine.

If your routine later creates a genuine reason for automation, you can investigate it then.

There is no prize for automating a problem you don’t have.

First Dog verdict: WAIT AND SEE.

20. Expensive versions of everything

WAIT AND SEE

You can spend extraordinary amounts of money preparing for a dog.

Premium:

• bowls
• beds
• leads
• collars
• toys
• cameras
• feeders
• grooming products
• storage
• travel systems

may all have their place.

But “premium” and “appropriate for my puppy” are not the same thing.

Before upgrading anything, ask:

What problem am I solving?

If you can’t identify one, stop.

Which feature solves it?

Don’t pay for eight unrelated features because you need one.

Will my puppy outgrow this?

Especially relevant to:

• harnesses
• collars
• beds
• crates
• clothing
• some travel equipment

Do I know enough about my dog yet?

Sometimes waiting a month produces a much better purchase than researching for another three hours before the puppy arrives.

First Dog verdict: function first, premium second.

What we would buy before the puppy comes home

If we strip everything back, the practical shopping list is much shorter than many retailers suggest.

ACTION NOW

• Your puppy’s current food
• Food bowl
• Water bowl
• Suitable initial bed or bedding
• Collar
• Identification
• Lead
• A few appropriate toys
• Suitable training rewards
• Basic cleaning supplies
• Any equipment genuinely required to make the home safe
• A safe transport solution for collection day

And the non-shopping jobs matter just as much:

• Register with a vet
• Check the microchip paperwork
• Get health/vaccination records
• Make your insurance decision
• Puppy-proof the home
• Decide where your puppy will eat, sleep and rest
• Agree basic household rules

Dogs Trust, PDSA and the RSPCA all emphasise preparation extending beyond products themselves, including veterinary arrangements, safe resting areas, appropriate food, puppy-proofing and basic equipment.

Things we’d usually wait to buy

WAIT AND SEE

• Expensive permanent bed
• Multiple harnesses
• Multiple collars
• Huge toy collection
• Specialist grooming products before understanding coat needs
• Puppy camera without a monitoring need
• Automatic feeder without a feeding problem
• Large quantities of one particular treat
• Premium accessories simply because they’re marketed for puppies
• Products intended to solve problems your puppy hasn’t shown

Waiting isn’t being unprepared.

Sometimes it’s simply making the buying decision with better information.

How much will all this cost?

The initial shopping trip is only one part of the financial picture.

You’ll also need to think about recurring and less predictable costs such as:

• food
• insurance
• routine veterinary care
• preventative healthcare
• training
• grooming where required
• replacement equipment
• daycare or dog walking in some households
• boarding or pet care
• unexpected veterinary bills

So rather than asking only:

“How much will my puppy stuff cost?”

ask:

“What will my first dog realistically cost me over the first year?”

→ How Much Does a Puppy Cost in the First Year in the UK? A Realistic Budget

And once our calculator is live:

→ Puppy Cost Calculator UK: Estimate Your First-Year Dog Budget

What should you spend more money on?

Price alone doesn’t tell you whether something is good.

But some categories deserve more thought than others.

We’d spend our research time on products or services where:

• poor fit could make the item unsuitable
• safety matters
• the purchase is expensive
• you’ll pay repeatedly
• changing later is difficult or costly
• there are complicated exclusions or terms

That means decisions such as:

Insurance

deserve much more investigation than:

Which basic water bowl should I buy?

Similarly:

Harness fit

deserves more attention than buying several decorative collars.

A useful purchasing rule is:

Spend research effort in proportion to the consequences of getting the decision wrong.

Not every puppy purchase requires a 2,000-word buying guide.

The First Dog buying rule

Whenever you’re tempted to add something else to the basket, run through these questions.

1. What problem does it solve?

Be specific.

2. Does my puppy actually have that problem?

Not another puppy.

Your puppy.

3. Do I need to solve it now?

“Later” is a legitimate buying decision.

4. What characteristics actually matter?

Work out the buying criteria before looking at products.

5. Is there a cheaper or simpler way to solve it?

Sometimes there is.

Then — and only then — start looking at individual products.

That’s the approach you’ll see throughout First Dog:

Need → timing → criteria → appropriate options.

Already feeling overwhelmed?

Don’t try to remember everything from this page.

We’ve turned the preparation process into a practical checklist you can work through before collection day.

Get the printable First Dog Checklist

It includes:

• ACTION NOW / USEFUL SOON / WAIT AND SEE
• things to arrange before collection
• equipment checklist
• vet details
• microchip information
• insurance notes
• puppy’s existing food
• collection-day reminders
• first-48-hours tasks
• expected and actual cost columns
• space for your own notes

The full advice stays available on FirstDog.co.uk.

The printable version simply makes it easier to keep track of what you’ve done.

→ Or use the online First Dog Checklist

Where should you go next?

Want to work through everything in order?

→ First-Time Dog Owner Checklist UK

Worried about how much all this will cost?

→ How Much Does a Puppy Cost in the First Year in the UK?

Want to estimate your own costs?

→ Puppy Cost Calculator UK

Trying to understand insurance?

→ How to Choose Puppy Insurance in the UK

Deciding how to create your puppy’s safe space?

→ Puppy Pen vs Crate

Choosing walking equipment?

→ Collar vs Harness for a Puppy

then:

→ How to Choose a Puppy Harness

Unsure what bed to buy?

→ What Size Dog Bed Should You Buy for a Puppy?

Wondering whether you need to monitor them?

→ Do I Need a Puppy Camera?

Puppy coming home very soon?

→ Your First Month With a Puppy: A Week-by-Week Guide

The short answer

You don’t need everything marketed to new puppy owners.

You do need:

• appropriate food and water
• a safe place to rest
• basic walking equipment
• identification
• some appropriate toys
• basic cleaning supplies
• a puppy-safe home
• a transport plan
• a vet
• the right paperwork
• a plan for managing veterinary costs

Then get to know your puppy.

Their size, coat, behaviour, preferences, routine and your own lifestyle will tell you what comes next.

Preparing properly doesn’t mean buying everything.

It means having the right things ready — and knowing which decisions can safely wait.

About this guide

First Dog is for people navigating dog ownership for the first time.

Where this guide refers to legal or administrative requirements, we check current official sources. Welfare and veterinary guidance is based on reputable UK organisations such as Dogs Trust, PDSA and the RSPCA.

Where something is a practical purchasing judgement — such as suggesting you wait before buying an expensive permanent bed — we’ll treat it as judgement rather than pretending it’s a universal rule.

For health questions specific to your puppy, speak to your vet.

Last factual review: August 2026.