New puppy checklist for families

Before your puppy comes home, get a bed or crate, food and water bowls, the food they already eat, a collar and tag, a lead and toys. Puppy-proof the house, register with a vet, and agree who feeds, walks and plays. Then check the microchip is registered to you, and sort out insurance.

Each item comes from a UK or Irish welfare charity or government page, linked so you can read more. Tick them off as you go.

Thinking of a puppy for Christmas?

Dogs Trust coined “A dog is for life, not just for Christmas” in 1978, and the advice still stands. The PDSA says “it’s best to wait until the holidays are over before getting a new pet”, and doesn’t recommend pets as surprise gifts. If a puppy is joining your family this winter anyway, the Christmas dangers at the end are worth a read.

Before they come home

From the PDSA’s new puppy checklist:

A crate, a bed, or both
Food and water bowls (Dogs Trust suggests spares too)
The food your puppy is already eating: Dogs Trust says to ask the breeder or rescue centre what it is
A collar and tag, which is a legal requirement (see the law)
A lead, and a harness if you want one
A car restraint
Lots of toys
Puppy pads for toilet training, and poo bags
A brush or comb for grooming
Blankets

Puppy-proof the house

Tidy up wires and anything small enough to swallow (Battersea)
Lock away cleaning products, human food and medicines (Battersea)
Decide where your puppy will sleep, and keep it the same (PDSA)

Agree the house rules

The PDSA asks families to decide “Who will be responsible for walks, feeding and play time?”, and to make sure everyone sticks to the same rules.

Agree who feeds, walks and plays with the puppy, and when
Agree the rules everyone will keep to
Decide how everyone will know the puppy has been fed: a printable feeding chart on the fridge, or a shared app like Wolfed

Vet, vaccinations and insurance

Register with a nearby vet practice (Dogs Trust)
Book a check-up for a few days after your puppy comes home (Battersea)
Vaccinations: the PDSA says puppies should ideally start at around 6 to 8 weeks, with two injections 2 to 4 weeks apart, and are fully protected 2 to 4 weeks after the last one
Ask your vet about worming, flea treatment and neutering (RSPCA)
Pet insurance: the PDSA says it’s a good idea to insure a new puppy as soon as possible

Microchip, collar and tag: the law

England, Scotland and Wales. “All dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered by the time they’re 8 weeks old,” says GOV.UK. You must keep the details up to date, for example when you move house, and your dog must wear a collar and tag with your name and address in a public place.
Northern Ireland. All dogs must be microchipped at eight weeks old and licensed, and must wear a collar with the owner’s name and address (nidirect).
Republic of Ireland. Since 31 March 2016 all dogs must be microchipped and registered on an approved database. Owners need a dog licence, and dogs must wear a collar with the owner’s name and address on a plate, badge or disc (Meath County Council).

Check your puppy is microchipped, and get the database’s contact details from the breeder (Dogs Trust)
Update the microchip record to your name and address
Get a tag with your name and address for the collar

Feeding your new puppy

Keep to the same food at first. The RSPCA says: “Feed them the same puppy food as they had before and keep the same routine with small, regular meals.”
Work out how many meals a day: young puppies usually have four, and our dog feeding schedule shows when the sources say to drop to three, then two
Make sure the whole family can see when the puppy has been fed, so nobody feeds them twice. See how to stop double feeding your dog

The first nights

The PDSA says your puppy may cry or bark if they feel worried or scared, which is completely normal, and it’s OK to comfort them.
Battersea says to expect, and plan, to be up every 3 to 4 hours for toilet breaks.

Christmas dangers

Dogs Trust and the RSPCA list festive foods that aren’t safe for dogs, including:

chocolate, including chocolate tree decorations and advent calendars
grapes, raisins and sultanas
mince pies and Christmas pudding
macadamia nuts and onions
alcohol
xylitol, a sweetener in some sugar-free foods

The PDSA says poinsettia, mistletoe, holly and ivy can all make your pet poorly, and the RSPCA says every part of a lily is highly toxic to dogs. If you think your puppy has eaten something poisonous, the RSPCA says never “watch and wait”: act fast and contact a vet straight away.

Sources read on 31 October 2026.