Six tips for first-time dog owners

The thought of picking up your new dog and seeing them bound through the door of your home is exciting, but there are some important things to consider before you get to this stage. 

Whether you’re rehoming a puppy or an older dog, we share some expert tips for first-time dog owners to help ensure your pup has the best chance of settling into their new life.

A common mistake among first-time dog owners is failing to research different breeds and their specific needs. Rather than selecting your new furry family member based on their cuteness, it’s more important to identify a dog that will be a good fit for your household in terms of energy levels, exercise requirements and temperament.

Good dog breeds for first-time owners include:

• Greyhounds, which tend to have lower energy.
• Labradors, which are gentle and amenable to training.
• Golden Retrievers, which are intelligent and fun-loving family dogs.
• Poodles, which have a fun-loving temperament.
• Bichon Frises, which thrive in busy households. 
• Pugs, which are full of character.
• Yorkshire Terriers, which make good pets for families.

As a first-time dog owner, it’s best to avoid breeds that are highly energetic and require more physical and mental stimulation. These include: 

• Border Collies
• Springer Spaniels
• Huskies
• Dalmatians 
• Chow Chows  

Make sure you know as much as possible about your new pet before bringing them home. If you’re adopting from a rescue centre, it's also worth asking why they were put up for adoption. Rescue centres will have spent time with the animals in their care, so will understand each animal’s likes, dislikes and any potential behavioural issues.

If you have any other pets, you’ll also need to consider how a dog would fit in with them and whether your home environment is suitable. 

Check out our breed pages for more information on different breeds, or use our Dog Breed Selector tool to find the right dog for you.

In the early days of life with your new dog, making time for training and socialisation will ensure they learn the right habits. Here’s how to get started.

Spending quality time with your new pup and establishing a daily routine can help them to feel more relaxed and settled in their new environment. 

When building a routine, consider how timings for meals, walks, play and training can best fit around your schedule so you can remain consistent. For example, if you’re out at work all day, you might plan a longer walk in the morning before you leave, or in the evening after you get back. 

It’s also useful to help your dog feel comfortable alone in those early days, so they’re less likely to experience separation anxiety. Start by introducing short periods of time when your pet is left on their own, to help them adjust. You can also use food dispensers or activity toys as a distraction while you’re away.

While jobs, family and social lives can sometimes make it tricky to stick to a routine, having one in place will help to reduce any unnecessary anxiety or stress for your dog.

If you’ve rehomed a dog, you’ll hopefully have received a behavioural profile that highlights any issues – but it’s a good idea to carry out your own tests, too. This could include paying close attention to their body language, and observing their reactions to things such as noise, movement and touch. 

To help your new dog understand right from wrong, it’s important to reward good behaviour and ignore bad behaviour – this is called positive reinforcement training. 

Rewarding good behaviour with treats, praise or toys will increase the chances of your dog repeating these actions in the future. This includes setting some ground rules from day one, such as basic commands during mealtimes (‘sit’ or ‘stay’) to discourage jumping up. 

Not only will positive reinforcement training provide mental stimulation for your dog, but it will also build a greater bond between the two of you. See our puppy training timeline for more advice.

If you’re adopting a puppy, the first four months of their life is vital for helping them adjust to the world around them through socialisation. 

During this ‘ socialisation window’, start introducing them to new experiences: meeting other family members, hearing new sounds or seeing new objects, for example. If you have other pets, ensure these first meetings are calm, controlled and positive. Bear in mind that socialisation must be done gradually to avoid overwhelm – keep an eye out for signs your dog is overwhelmed or scared. 

Once your dog seems used to their surroundings at home – and they’ve had the necessary vaccinations – try taking them outside for walks. Start with a short lead or a long training line in open spaces to find out how they react to other dogs, animals and people. Once you’re confident about their behaviour and recall training, they can be let off the lead.

The health and nutrition needs for your puppy will depend on their breed, so make sure you understand the typical requirements for the breed you're adopting. Take time to understand what kind of food and exercise routine is best for them, and consider different kinds of mental stimulation to keep them stimulated and content.

Before adopting an older dog, make sure they’ve had a recent vet check so you’re aware of any potential health issues. 

If you have dog insurance with Petplan, you can use our Pet Expert Chat to ask any health-related questions – just log in to your My Petplan account to access.

It takes time to help your dog settle into their new home and for them to feel secure. Here are a few things that first-time dog owners can do to help with this process. 

Before your new dog arrives, it’s important to ensure your space is set up correctly for them. 

For instance, you may want to restrict certain areas of the house with a baby gate (or similar) to keep them contained and so they get used to the area. You’ll also want to set up quiet places for them to sleep and eat out of the way of busy walkways.

Prevent accidents and injuries by ‘ dog-proofing’ your home and eliminating any potential hazards. This can include identifying toxic plants and wires that your dog could chew on, or any small objects or chemicals that could be harmful to ingest.

New puppies can have a lot of energy and may be unintentionally destructive, so it's always worth storing away any items you’d rather they didn’t get their paws on!

Moving to a new home is likely to unsettle your new dog at first, but designing a safe and quiet area can help them to feel more at ease. This could be a dog crate, playpen or favourite area of theirs that you’ve identified.

Taking a blanket or similar item that smells of where they’ve come from can also comfort new puppies. Canine pheromone sprays or diffusers can help relax anxious dogs, which can be useful during the early days. 

With the right care and attention, your new dog will feel at home in no time.