Lifestage kits
New puppy starter kit (UK): what to buy in the first month
A new puppy is exciting, exhausting, and expensive. The right starter kit covers the genuine essentials — crate, bedding, food, lead, vet — without padding the cart with things you'll throw away.
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What to look for
- Crate sized for the adult dog with a divider — saves buying a second crate.
- Two flat-bottomed water and food bowls — stainless steel or ceramic.
- Soft puppy collar and lead — first collar will be outgrown in 3 months.
- Puppy training pads for the first week before vaccinations are complete.
- Vet booked for first check and vaccination plan.
- Microchip arrangement — legally required in the UK by 8 weeks.
What to avoid
- Tug toys with knots and rope ends — fibres swallowed cause gut blockages.
- Cooked bones from any source — splinter and cause gut damage.
- Rawhide chews — choking risk.
- Walking in public before second vaccination — parvo risk.
Puppy essentials by category
| Category | What to buy | Skip |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeping / containment | Crate sized for the adult dog, with a divider | A second, smaller crate 'for now' — the divider saves the extra cost |
| Feeding | Two flat-bottomed stainless steel or ceramic bowls | Tug toys with knots and rope ends — fibres swallowed cause gut blockages |
| Toilet training | Puppy training pads until vaccinations are complete | Walking in public before the second vaccination — parvo risk |
| Chewing / enrichment | Kong Classic (puppy size) | Cooked bones or rawhide chews — splinter and choking risk |
| Health admin | Vet booking + microchip arrangement | Delaying microchipping — legally required in the UK by 8 weeks |
How we chose these
We kept this list to genuine essentials rather than padding it with extras, and excluded anything with a documented injury risk for puppies specifically — knotted tug toys, cooked bones, and rawhide are all excluded outright, not just deprioritised, because of gut-blockage and choking risk.
Our top picks
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Amazon
Puppy crate (sized for adult, with divider)
Sized for the adult dog with a divider. Saves buying a bigger crate later.
Check Price on Amazon →Good for:- One crate that grows with the puppy — saves buying twice
Not for:- Nothing — this is the recommended default approach
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Amazon
Two sets so one is always clean. Puppy will chew bedding for the first weeks.
Check Price on Amazon →Good for:- Easy cleanup during house-training accidents
Not for:- Nothing — machine-washable is the standard to look for
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Amazon
For the first week before outdoor toilet training begins.
Check Price on Amazon →Good for:- The window before vaccinations are complete and outdoor toileting is safe
Not for:- Long-term use once the puppy is reliably house-trained — phase out
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Amazon
Stainless steel food and water bowls
Easy to clean, durable, no chipping.
Check Price on Amazon →Good for:- Durable, easy to sterilise, won't tip like plastic
Not for:- Nothing specific — a safe default choice
Stronghold for Dogs
Broad-spectrum, prescription-strength spot-on — treats fleas, ticks, ear mites, and roundworm/hookworm in one monthly dose.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Shop Stronghold for Dogs →Popantel for Dogs
Treats roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm in one easy dose.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Supplied by Best Vet Care (licensed UK veterinary pharmacy).
Shop Popantel →Vet-prescribed treatments & OTC medications
Prescription and over-the-counter treatments from a licensed UK veterinary pharmacy — flea, tick, worm, skin and wound care for dogs and cats.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Supplied by Best Vet Care (licensed UK veterinary pharmacy).
Browse Best Vet Care →Frequently asked questions
What about insurance?
Sort it before pickup. Lifetime cover from a UK provider is the standard recommendation — non-lifetime policies stop covering chronic conditions after the first year.
When can my puppy go for a walk?
After the second vaccination — typically around 11–12 weeks in the UK. Before that, garden time only.
Also worth considering
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Amazon
Stuff with wet puppy food, freeze. Calming and a focused alternative to chewing the sofa.
Check Price on Amazon →Good for:- Safe chewing and enrichment outlet from a young age
Not for:- Unsupervised use with any new chew toy — supervise the first few times
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Amazon
Pet stain and odour remover (enzymatic)
Breaks down urine at a molecular level. Crucial for toilet training.
Check Price on Amazon →Good for:- Genuinely breaks down accident odours, unlike standard cleaners
Not for:- Nothing — a real essential during house-training
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Amazon
Basic first aid kit alongside the puppy gear.
Check Price on Amazon →Good for:- Every new pet household — see our full first aid kit guide
Not for:- Nothing — this should be bought alongside any new puppy setup
This page contains affiliate links to Amazon Associates, Best Vet Care (Commission Junction), and Canada Pet Care (Commission Junction).