New dog? Start here.

New dog owner questions, answered

What do I need to buy before bringing a new dog home?

The essentials are a bed and a crate sized to your dog, food and water bowls, a complete food (ideally the one they're already eating, to avoid a sudden switch), a collar with an ID tag, a lead and harness, poo bags, a few simple toys and a chew, and cleaning supplies for accidents. Beyond the shopping, do two things: puppy-proof the areas the dog will use (secure wires, remove toxic plants and foods, set up baby gates), and pick a vet. Our new-puppy checklist and puppy-proofing guide cover the full list so nothing is forgotten in the excitement.

What should I do the first day with a new dog?

Keep it calm and small. Bring them straight home (no detours or a welcome party), show them where to toilet, then let them explore one quiet area at their own pace rather than being passed around excited visitors. Offer water, keep to the food they know, and expect them to be tired, unsure, or uninterested in food — that's normal. Start the routine you want from day one (where they sleep, where they toilet, calm greetings), and give them a safe den like a crate with the door open. Less is more on day one; the bonding comes over the following weeks.

What is the 3-3-3 rule for a new dog?

It's a rough timeline for how a rescue or newly-adopted dog decompresses: about 3 days feeling overwhelmed and shut down (they may hide, not eat much, or seem "perfect" because they're too nervous to do anything), about 3 weeks starting to settle and show their real personality as a routine forms, and about 3 months feeling truly at home and bonded. It's a guide, not a law — some dogs are faster, some slower — but it helps you set patient expectations and not panic when a quiet first week turns into testing behaviour in week three. Our 3-3-3 guide walks through each stage.

How long does it take a new dog to settle in?

Longer than most people expect — think in weeks and months, not days. Many dogs need a few days just to come out of their shell, a few weeks to relax into a routine, and a couple of months to feel fully at home; the 3-3-3 timeline captures this. Adult rescues and dogs from tougher backgrounds can take longer, and progress isn't a straight line — a dog who was settling can regress after a change. The best thing you can do is keep the routine boringly predictable, keep early experiences low-key, and let the dog set the pace.

How do I introduce a new dog to my home and other pets?

Slowly and on neutral terms. For the home, let the new dog explore one room at a time rather than the whole house at once. For an existing dog, first meetings go best on a walk on neutral ground (not inside, where the resident dog may guard), parallel-walking with space before any nose-to-nose greeting, then short, supervised time at home with separate beds, bowls, and toys to prevent guarding. Cats need their own escape routes and a barrier at first. Go at the pace of the more nervous animal, and never force an interaction — rushed introductions cause most of the early conflict.

Should I get a puppy or an adult dog?

Both are wonderful; the honest difference is time and predictability. A puppy is a blank slate you shape — but it's months of toilet training, night waking, chewing, socialising, and vet visits, and you're guessing at adult size and temperament. An adult (often a rescue) usually comes house-trained and past the demanding puppy stage, with a known size and personality — but may bring habits or nerves to work through. Match the choice to your time, energy, and household honestly rather than to the cuteness of a puppy photo. Whichever you choose, the first-weeks approach is the same: calm, routine, and patience.