First-time dog owner: what do you need to know before getting a dog in the UK?

What should first-time dog owners know?

Dogs Trust's ten questions are a good start: whether you have the time, the patience and the money for a dog's whole life, whether you are getting one for the right reasons, whether another pet would suit you better, how existing pets would cope, and whether fostering first would help you decide. The PDSA boils it down to place, exercise, time and spend. The sections below put numbers on each.

How much time does a dog need?

The PDSA says four hours is the longest a dog should routinely be left alone, and that this would generally be too long for a young puppy; Dogs Trust also says no more than four hours. On top of that comes daily exercise, which the PDSA gives by size:

If you work away from home, budget for a dog walker or day care; see our dog walker cost guide. Puppies also need taking out to toilet every 2 to 3 hours during the day (PDSA).

How much does a dog cost?

These are minimums. Our cost of owning a dog guide works through food, insurance and flea treatment at today's prices, and the new puppy checklist lists first-year vet prices. Food is usually the biggest regular cost: our dog food comparison works it out per day.

What are your legal duties as a dog owner?

The collar rule surprises some owners: a microchip does not replace the tag. A phone number is not required by the Order but is useful, and Dogs Trust recommends adding one.

How do you choose a breed responsibly?

There is no single “best breed for first-time owners”, and we do not rank breeds. Match a dog's needs to your life instead. The Royal Kennel Club's Breeds A to Z filters breeds by size, daily exercise, grooming, size of home and garden, town or country, and shedding. For the breeds we cover, here is what the Royal Kennel Club says, in alphabetical order:

Health first

The RSPCA says flat-faced dogs can often suffer severe breathing difficulties, and if you choose one, to pick a puppy with a less flattened face and check its parents can breathe easily. The UK Brachycephalic Working Group asks buyers to stop and think before buying a flat-faced dog, and the BVA says prospective owners should speak to their local vet. Ask to see health test certificates for both parents; each breed page lists the tests to ask for. See our French Bulldog guide for what the research found.

Should you buy a puppy or adopt?

Adopting puts you through a matching process, and the fee includes vet work you would otherwise pay for:

If you buy a puppy, GOV.UK says to buy only from the breeder or a reputable rehoming centre, see the puppy with its mother at the breeder's home, never buy one under 8 weeks old, and check the seller's council licence number. Pressure to buy quickly, or a puppy with a pet passport, are warning signs. Third-party sales of puppies have been banned in England since 6 April 2020 (Lucy's Law) and in Wales since 10 September 2021 (Welsh Government). The RSPCA recommends using the Puppy Contract. The Royal Kennel Club closed its Assured Breeder Scheme on 31 December 2024 (Royal Kennel Club), so do not rely on that label.

First-week checklist

• Before the dog arrives: register with a vet and ask about out-of-hours cover, puppy-proof the house and garden, and plan who covers when you are out (Dogs Trust). Our new puppy checklist prices the kit.
• Microchip: contact the database and register your own details.
• Food: keep the same food and feeding times for the first few days; compare options in our puppy food comparison.
• Toilet training: start straight away, take a puppy out every 2 to 3 hours and after meals, play and sleep, and reward toileting outside (PDSA, Dogs Trust).
• Settling: avoid visitors in the first few days, keep regular times for meals, bed and walks, and build up time alone gradually (Dogs Trust).
• Vaccinations: no walks beyond the garden until the first vaccinations are done (Dogs Trust); the RSPCA says to carry a young puppy out to get used to sights and sounds. Our dog vaccination cost guide lists prices.
• Insurance: decide before the dog arrives; see our puppy insurance guide (general information, not advice).

Getting your dog near Bonfire Night or New Year? Read our dogs and fireworks guide. If you are worried about your dog's health at any point, contact your vet; our dog health hub covers the basics.