Puppy Essentials: The New-Puppy Starter Kit
A new puppy needs a surprising amount of kit, fast. This is the starter list — the genuinely useful essentials for the first weeks, gathered so you can set up before they arrive rather than dashing out mid-chaos.
Speckled Fleece Pet Mat — Crate & Travel
A reversible sherpa fleece mat with a foam inner and non-slip base — hypoallergenic, machine washable, and sized to fit standard crates.
Pet Teezer Puppy Grooming Brush
A palm-sized grooming brush designed specifically for puppies, with soft-flex two-tier teeth that glide gently through delicate fur.
Reversible Puppy Print Pet Bandana
A reversible puppy-print bandana that gives your dog or cat two looks in one easy tie-on.
Tarhong Concentric Circle Slow Feeder Bowl for Dogs & Cats
A stylish slow-feeder bowl that encourages healthier, calmer mealtimes — available in blue, grey, or white.
Stainless Steel Puppy & Kitten Litter Weaning Bowl
A wide stainless steel weaning dish with a raised centre so a whole litter can feed together without crowding.
Tarhong Paw Maze Slow Feeder Dog Bowl — BPA-Free Polypropylene
A round paw-print maze slow feeder that slows eating, aids digestion, and turns mealtimes into a mini enrichment session — in blue or grey.
Stainless Steel Slow Feeder Dog Bowl
A stainless steel bowl with raised rounded bumps in the base that force dogs to eat around them, slowing fast gulping and aiding digestion. Durable, rust-resistant and easy to clean.
Tarhong Bone Puzzle Slow Feeder Dog Bowl — BPA-Free Polypropylene
A bone-shaped puzzle slow feeder that makes dogs work for their meals — helping reduce bloat, gulping, and boredom at the same time.
LickiMat OH Bowl for Dogs — Slow Feeder with Tongue-Cleaning Tips
A vet-developed dog feeding bowl with raised rubber tips that clean the tongue as your dog licks — calming, dishwasher safe, and available in three sizes.
LickiMat OH Bowl for Cats — Slow Feeder with Oral Health Benefits
A vet-designed slow-feeder cat bowl with a textured rubber base that helps clean bacteria from the tongue as your cat eats — in green or pink.
LickiMat Slomo Slow Feeder Mat for Dogs
A textured rubber feeding mat that lets you serve wet and dry food together, slowing mealtimes and promoting calmer behaviour through licking.
LickiMat Felix & Casper Slow Feeder Mats for Cats
Whisker-friendly flat feeding mats that slow mealtimes, reduce stress, and keep cats mentally engaged — freezer and microwave safe.
Tarhong Medallion Slow Feeder Puzzle Dog Bowl
A stylish BPA-free puzzle bowl that slows down greedy eaters — available in three sizes and a choice of colours.
Deluxe Absorbent Puppy Pads — Leak-Proof, Pack of 100
Highly absorbent disposable pads with sealed edges and a waterproof backing — essential for toilet training or incontinent dogs.
Padded Pet Crate Mat with Corner Ties
A padded crate mat with corner ties that stays put inside a cage or carrier.
Octagonal Foldable Pet Playpen
A lightweight octagonal playpen with mesh panels that pops up fast to keep small pets safe.
Waterproof Pet Playpen Cover & Sunshade
A waterproof tie-on cover that shades and shelters your pet's playpen or crate outdoors.
Washable Reusable Puppy Pee Pad
A quilted, absorbent training pad that soaks up accidents and locks in moisture, with a waterproof backing to protect floors and bedding. Fully washable and reusable, making it a greener alternative to disposable pads.
Anti-Gulp Slow Feeder Bowl
A slow-feeder bowl with a central spoke that makes fast eaters slow right down.
Raised Cat Slow Feeder Bowl with Water Dispenser
A raised cat feeding station combining a ridged slow-feeder bowl with an automatic gravity water dispenser. The tilted bowl aids digestion and posture while the refillable bottle keeps fresh water topped up. Approx 30 x 30 x 23cm.
Silicone Slow Feeder Mat With Bowls
A silicone feeding mat with slow-feeder maze, lick panels and two built-in bowls in one tidy tray.
Deodorising Puppy Training Pads
Super-absorbent disposable training pads that lock in moisture and odour to keep your pet's toilet area clean and dry. Ideal for puppy training, indoor accidents and travel.
Washable Reusable Dog Training Pad
A washable, reusable training pad with a quick-absorbing top layer and waterproof non-slip backing. It instantly locks moisture away to protect floors, beds and crates, then machine-washes for use again and again.
Super-Absorbent Pet Toilet Training Pads
Multi-layer training pads that quickly draw in moisture and lock away odour for cleaner, drier toilet training. Leak-proof backing protects floors, ideal for puppies, kittens and indoor pets.
The week-one shortlist
Prioritise the things you will use on day one: a [crate](/dog-crates) and [training pads](/puppy-pads) for toilet training, a washable [puppy bed](/puppy-beds), food and water bowls (a [slow feeder](/slow-feeder-dog-bowls) helps gulpers), and a couple of [teething toys](/puppy-teething-toys) for those needle teeth.
Add a soft, fully-adjustable harness and lead for when vaccinations are done, plus a brush to start gentle grooming habits early. Our full [new-puppy hub](/hub/puppy) walks through using all of it.
Buy once, buy for the adult dog
Where you can, size up: a crate with a divider grows with your puppy, and an adjustable harness saves buying three. It is cheaper over the first year than replacing everything as they grow.
Skip the gimmicks. A puppy needs comfort, safety and a few good chews far more than a basket of novelties — spend on the things that get daily use.
Everything here is chosen to be genuinely useful in everyday life with your pet — quality-checked, fairly priced and shipped tracked across the UK. For any health concern, your vet is always the best first port of call.
Common questions
What do I actually need before a puppy comes home?
A crate, bed, food and water bowls, training pads, a collar with an ID tag, a soft harness and lead, age-appropriate food, and a few teething-safe toys. Set it all up before they arrive.
How much does puppy kit cost to start?
It varies, but buying adjustable, grow-with-them items (a divider crate, an adjustable harness) keeps the first-year cost down versus replacing things as your puppy grows.
When can my puppy go for walks?
Usually about a week after their second vaccination — your vet will confirm. Until then, focus on toilet training, settling, and gentle handling and grooming at home.
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