What does a new puppy need? A bed or crate in a quiet spot with soft bedding, the same food the breeder or rescue has been using, two bowls, a collar with an ID tag and a lead, a few safe toys, and a vet and insurance arranged before day one. In the UK your puppy must also be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old, and wear a tag with your name and address in public.
A new puppy changes the house overnight. The good news is that the list of things you really need on day one is fairly short, and most of it is about three things: somewhere safe to sleep, the right food, and the paperwork the law asks for. Here's our new puppy checklist for UK homes, with what each item is for, so you can buy what you need and skip what you don't.
In this guide:
- The checklist at a glance
- Somewhere to sleep
- The first nights
- Food and bowls
- Collar, ID tag and lead
- Toys, grooming and toilet training
- The car
- Microchip, vet and insurance
- Questions new owners ask
The checklist at a glance
- A bed, a crate, or both, in a quiet spot
- Soft bedding and a couple of washable blankets
- The same puppy food the breeder or rescue has been using
- Separate food and water bowls
- A collar with an ID tag, and a lead
- A few safe toys and some puppy pads
- Poo bags, a soft brush, and a puppy toothbrush and toothpaste
- A way to keep your puppy secure in the car
- A local vet, chosen before your puppy arrives
- Insurance, set up from the first day
Somewhere to sleep
The PDSA suggests a crate, a bed or both, placed somewhere quiet and away from the busiest part of the house, with plenty of soft bedding for warmth. Even if your puppy ends up sleeping in your room, it still helps to give them a spot of their own to retreat to. Everyone at home should know it's the puppy's space, and leave them alone when they're in it.
Choosing a bed for a puppy
Three things matter more with a puppy than with an adult dog:
- It has to wash easily. Accidents happen in the first weeks. A cover that zips off for the washing machine, or a waterproof layer under the top, saves a lot of trouble.
- Think about the adult size. Puppies of large breeds grow fast. A bed that fits at eight weeks may be too small a few months later, so check the size your dog will reach. Our dog bed size guide by breed gives average adult weights and the size of bed to start with.
- Expect some chewing. Most puppies chew while they're teething. Keep an eye on them with a new bed, give them toys that are meant for chewing, and take away anything that's coming apart.
A crate, if you plan to use one
A crate gives a puppy a secure base, and the PDSA notes it can help with toilet training. According to the PDSA, it should be tall enough for your dog to stand and sit without touching the top, and long and wide enough for them to turn around, lie down and stretch out. It needs something soft on the floor: a flat mattress or mat that matches the size of the crate tray fits better than a round bed. Introduce it slowly, never use it as a punishment, and the PDSA's advice is not to keep a dog in it for longer than three hours at a time during the day.
The first nights
Your puppy has spent every night of its life in a pile of littermates, next to its mum, so the first nights alone are a shock. The PDSA's vets suggest a simple bedtime routine:
- After the evening meal, take your puppy out to the toilet, then give them time for a last play.
- Before they get too tired, go out for a final toilet trip.
- Settle them in their bed or crate with a favourite safe chew or toy, and stay nearby while they play quietly.
- Make the bed warm and cosy. A bed that feels too open and exposed can make a puppy feel vulnerable.
- If your puppy struggles to settle, sleeping in the same room for the first nights can help.
If your puppy wakes and cries, check first whether they need the toilet: many young puppies can't hold on through the night yet. Then settle them back down calmly, with just enough attention to comfort them. The PDSA doesn't recommend leaving a puppy to "cry it out" in the first nights.
Food and bowls
Ask the breeder or rescue what your puppy has been eating, and how much, and stick to the same food and the same mealtimes at first. If you want to change it, do it gradually, to avoid an upset stomach. You'll need a complete puppy food, not an adult one, plus separate bowls for food and water, placed near the bed but not in it.
Collar, ID tag and lead
This one is a legal requirement. 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 a tag attached to it. A phone number is optional but sensible. Add a lead, and a harness if you prefer one, and get your puppy used to wearing the collar at home before the first walk.
Toys, grooming and toilet training
- Toys: a few safe ones, including something to chew.
- Puppy pads: for the early days of toilet training. Take your puppy out after meals and naps, when they're most likely to need it, and praise them when they go in the right place.
- Poo bags: for every walk once your vet says your puppy can go out.
- Grooming: a soft brush, and a puppy toothbrush with puppy-safe toothpaste, so your puppy gets used to being handled while young.
The car
The PDSA recommends a car restraint so your puppy travels safely, starting with the journey home. For a small puppy, a car seat bed with a tether that clips to a harness keeps them in one place on the seat. For a bigger dog, a padded mat on the back seat or in the boot, used with a restraint, keeps the car clean and gives them somewhere comfortable to lie.
Microchip, vet and insurance
- Microchip. GOV.UK says all dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered by the time they're eight weeks old. Your puppy should already be chipped when you collect them. Ask for the details, and make sure the registration is moved into your name. It's then up to you to keep the details up to date, for example when you move house.
- Vet. Choose a local vet before your puppy arrives and book a check-up soon after. Ask about any vaccinations still due, and wait until your vet says your puppy is fully protected before walks outside or meeting unvaccinated dogs.
- Insurance. The PDSA advises insuring your puppy as soon as possible, so they're covered if they become ill or are injured.
From our range
We don't sell food, bowls or collars, but these are the pieces we'd point you to for the sleeping and travel side of the list:
- Dog Beds for Dog Crates: a flat foam mattress for the crate tray, with a waterproof liner, a cover that zips off for washing and non-slip grips underneath.
- Washable Pet Mat: four layers, including a waterproof membrane that stops anything reaching the floor. It works on a crate floor, in the car or under the bowls.
- Dog Bedding Blankets: soft fleece blankets in five sizes, easy to swap and wash during the early weeks.
- Oval Travel Dog Bed: a car seat bed for small dogs up to about 9 kg, with straps for the seat and a tether inside that clips to your puppy's harness. Off the seat, it's an ordinary bed.
- Elevated Car Bed: a car seat bed for small dogs up to about 11 kg. It sits high on the seat, straps round the headrest and through the seat belt, and has a tether that clips to your puppy's harness. The cover goes in the washing machine.
You'll find more in our crate and kennel beds, our small dog beds and our blankets and mats.
Before your puppy comes home
- Bed or crate set up in a quiet spot, with bedding ready
- Same food as the breeder or rescue, and two bowls
- Collar with an ID tag showing your name and address, and a lead
- Microchip details checked and registered to you
- Vet chosen and first check-up booked
- Insurance in place
- A safe way home in the car
Questions new owners ask
How long do puppies sleep?
A lot. The Kennel Club gives 15 to 20 hours a day for puppies of 4 to 12 weeks, 14 to 16 hours from 3 to 6 months, and around 12 to 14 hours after six months, when they move towards an adult pattern. It varies from dog to dog.
Is it normal for my puppy to sleep all day?
Yes. Puppies grow and develop quickly, and sleep is when their bodies and brains catch up. The Kennel Club notes that sleeping during the day doesn't stop a puppy sleeping at night too. Talk to your vet if the pattern changes suddenly, if your puppy seems unusually tired or restless, or if they have trouble breathing.
How can I help my puppy sleep through the night?
Keep to a routine: evening meal, toilet, a short play, a last toilet trip, then a warm, cosy bed with a safe chew. Stay close for the first nights if they need it. Young puppies often can't last the whole night without a toilet break, and the Kennel Club says they should sleep through more and more as they get older. If they still struggle, ask your vet.
Why does my puppy cry at night?
Usually because they need the toilet, or because they've woken up alone for the first time in their life. Check the toilet first, then settle them calmly. The PDSA advises against ignoring a crying puppy in the first nights, because it can make them more anxious about being alone.
Should my puppy sleep in a crate?
It's your choice. A crate can give a puppy a safe den and help with toilet training, but it has to be introduced slowly and kept a positive place. Make it big enough for your dog to stand, turn and stretch out, line the floor with a soft mattress or mat, and don't use it as a punishment.
What size bed should I buy for a puppy?
For a small breed, buy for the size your puppy is now plus a little room. For a medium or large breed, think about the adult size: a big puppy can outgrow a bed in a few months. Our dog bed size guide by breed lists average adult weights for 32 breeds.
Sources: the PDSA's new puppy checklist, first day and night with a new puppy, crate training guide and "Why do puppies cry at night?" (pdsa.org.uk); the Kennel Club's "Why does my puppy sleep so much?" (thekennelclub.org.uk); microchipping rules from GOV.UK (gov.uk/get-your-dog-microchipped); collar and tag rules from the Control of Dogs Order 1992 (legislation.gov.uk). Checked in October 2026.