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Petplan Puppy Hub

Give your puppy the best start in life with free expert advice on health, behavior, training and more.

Getting a new puppy is an exciting time but it can be difficult to know where to turn for guidance. Perhaps you’re wondering which breed is right for you or maybe your new companion has arrived and is now causing chaos!

Petplan is the UK's No.1 pet insurer with over 45 years experience keeping pets healthy and their owners happy. We are on hand to support you through puppyhood and help you learn everything you need to know.

Petplan Puppy Hub

Getting a puppy

Puppy chewing rope toy
Puppy chewing rope toy

What to do before collecting a puppy.

The arrival of a new puppy is a very exciting…

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Puppy drinking water
Puppy drinking water

New puppy shopping list

Going to meet a litter of puppies is incredibly exciting—but…

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Beagle puppy taking a treat from hand
Beagle puppy taking a treat from hand

Four homemade puppy treats

Keeping plenty of treats on hand for your new puppy…

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Golden retriever puppy in grass
Golden retriever puppy in grass

How to choose the perfect pup

Going to meet a litter of puppies is incredibly exciting—but…

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Brown puppy sniffing a Tabby cat's nose
Brown puppy sniffing a Tabby cat's nose

How to introduce a puppy to other pets

Wondering how to introduce a new puppy to a cat,…

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Small puppy cuddling a white teddy bear
Small puppy cuddling a white teddy bear

A guide to choosing puppy-safe toys

Petplan expert Nick Jones shares his top tips on what to look for when choosing safe toys for your pup.

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Puppy sat in training crate
Puppy sat in training crate

Getting a puppy: are you ready?

Welcoming an adorable new puppy into your family is an…

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Labrador puppy drinking water from bowl
Labrador puppy drinking water from bowl

What to do before bringing a puppy home

Bringing your new puppy home is an extremely exciting time, but there’s plenty to do...

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Golden retriever puppy
Golden retriever puppy

The low-down on Lucy’s Law

Lucy’s Law came into effect 6th April 2020, following a…

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More advice on getting a puppy

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Settling in

Puppy holding a teething toy
Puppy holding a teething toy

Puppy teething: what you need to know

Expert advice on puppy teething and how to help your pup through it.

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Brown Labrador holding blue chew toy
Brown Labrador holding blue chew toy

How to stop puppy biting

Bringing a puppy home for the first time is exciting,…

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Smartphone with puppy sitting for photo
Smartphone with puppy sitting for photo

How do I take a great photo of my puppy?

Much like children, puppies grow fast and most owners want…

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Chihuahua puppy at groomers
Chihuahua puppy at groomers

Preparing your puppy for the groomers

Depending on your puppy’s breed and coat type, regular grooming…

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Dog with ball
Dog with ball

A guide to exercising your puppy

Find out how much exercise your puppy needs

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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel walking on pavement
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel walking on pavement

How to look after a new puppy

The first weeks with a puppy are wonderfully exciting but…

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How to crate train your puppy

A dog crate is a useful aid for toilet training and offers a secure retreat for their pet.

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Labrador puppy being vaccinated by vet
Labrador puppy being vaccinated by vet

Vaccinating your puppy

Having your pup vaccinated after it leaves its mother is…

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Puppy toilet training
Puppy toilet training

How to toilet train your puppy

Bringing home a puppy can be a learning curve – especially when it comes to toilet training.

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Fleas on puppies – what you need to know

Here’s what new puppy owners need to know about spotting the signs of flea problems on their pet...

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Golden spaniel looking up
Golden spaniel looking up

How to Clicker Train a Puppy

Puppy clicker training is a common and effective method of…

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White puppy with brown face surrounded by pink and yellow flowers
White puppy with brown face surrounded by pink and yellow flowers

Your new puppy: How to deal with the first 24 hours

Bringing home a new puppy for the first time is…

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Labrador puppy sat on purple sofa
Labrador puppy sat on purple sofa

How to make vet visits go smoothly

Expert advice on how to make your puppy’s vet visits calm and stress-free – from the first time.

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More advice on settling in

Setting up for success

Lurcher puppy jumping through the air
Lurcher puppy jumping through the air

How can I train my puppy not to jump up?

A common challenge for lots of new puppy owners is jumping up to get attention.

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How to groom your dog at home

Our veterinary expert Brian Faulkner shares his dog grooming tips…

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Puppy sitting
Puppy sitting

How to Train a Puppy to Sit

Training your puppy to sit doesn’t need to be difficult, especially if your dog is food driven

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Labrador puppy sat on purple sofa
Labrador puppy sat on purple sofa

How to Teach a Puppy to Lay Down

Training a puppy to lie down is useful command in your puppy’s training.

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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel walking on pavement
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel walking on pavement

How to look after a new puppy

The first weeks with a puppy are wonderfully exciting but…

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Labrador puppy sat on purple sofa
Labrador puppy sat on purple sofa

Neutering your puppy

As a responsible puppy owner, it’s important to be informed about...

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Labrador puppy being vaccinated by vet
Labrador puppy being vaccinated by vet

Vaccinating your puppy

Having your pup vaccinated after it leaves its mother is…

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Two white Yorkshire Terriers sat on a doorstep
Two white Yorkshire Terriers sat on a doorstep

Socialising your puppy

After the initial excitement of getting a new puppy has…

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Puppy with birthday gifts
Puppy with birthday gifts

Puppy dental care guide

Puppy tooth care: our experts and other owners share their recommendations.

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More advice on setting up for success

Day-to-day

Woman walking dog in field
Woman walking dog in field

How to keep your pet in tip-top shape

In Britain, around two-thirds of us are classified as either…

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Small white dog running on grass
Small white dog running on grass

Abnormal Puppy Behaviour

When your dog reaches his or her ‘teenage’ years, a…

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Beagle puppy carrying red ball
Beagle puppy carrying red ball

7 top tips for exercising your puppy

Puppies are little bundles of energy, so it’s important they…

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When to stop feeding your dog puppy food

As your puppy’s rapid growth starts to slow, you should be getting ready to feed them an adult formula

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Puppy putting paw on human hand
Puppy putting paw on human hand

How to groom your puppy

How often you groom your puppy will depend on his…

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Cockapoo in bath being washed
Cockapoo in bath being washed

How do I bath my puppy?

Bathing your puppy should become a fun and routine event, however it can be a bit daunting at first.

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Springer spaniel puppy
Springer spaniel puppy

How to give your puppy a health check

Checks to help ensure that problems with your puppy are detected and treated as early as possible.

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Puppy eating a treat
Puppy eating a treat

Puppy feeding tips

There’s plenty of information for feeding young puppies, but what about a growing young dog?

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Dog paw being wrapped in bandage
Dog paw being wrapped in bandage

First aid for puppies

No matter how vigilant you are as caring owners, your…

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Person holding a microchip reader to a dog's back
Person holding a microchip reader to a dog's back

Preventing puppy theft

While still relatively uncommon, dog theft is on the rise…

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More advice on day to day

Insurance advice from Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick and our team of experts

Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick is kneeling on the ground, interacting lovingly with a golden retriever

Supervet on vital pet insurance questions

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A woman sits on the floor, gently cradling a cat in her arms

Hidden vet fee limits explained

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Supervet on diagnostic tools

Supervet on diagnostic tools

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A woman embraces her dog affectionately while seated in a veterinary clinic’s waiting area.

No Claim Price Increase

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All insurance advice

Explore different breeds

Discover grooming tips, personality traits, nutrition guide and more.
Beagle
Beagle
Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise
Border Collie
Border Collie
Border Terrier
Border Terrier
Boxer
Boxer
English Bulldog
English Bulldog
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavapoo
Cavapoo
Chihuahua
Chihuahua
Chow Chow
Chow Chow
Chow Chow
Cockapoo
Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel
Dachshund
Dachshund
Dalmatian
Dalmatian
Dobermann
Dobermann
English Springer Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel
French Bulldog
French Bulldog
German Shepherd
German Shepherd
Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever
Greyhound
Husky
Husky
Jack Russell Terrier
Jack Russell Terrier
Labradoodle
Labradoodle
Labrador
Labrador
Lhasa Apso
Lhasa Apso
Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzer
Pomeranian
Pomeranian
Poodle
Poodle
Pug
Pug
Rottweiler
Rottweiler
Shiba Inu
Shiba Inu
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier

Protect all of your pets & put your mind at ease

Having Petplan pet insurance can help you cover the cost of vet bills and get your pet the best care. If you have more than one furry friend, you can save £12 per pet on your insurance costs with our multi-pet discount.

Dog insurance

Just like their feline friends, dogs need proper care when they're ill or injured. It's sensible to plan ahead and get pet insurance to help cover the cost if your dog needs veterinary attention.
Dog insurance

Pet insurance

When they're ill or injured, your pet deserves the best care. We've been working alongside vets and supporting pet owners for over 45 years and our policies are designed to pay out.
Pet insurance

Multi-pet insurance

Multiple furry friends? Get a £12 discount per pet every year when you insure more than one pet with us. You can tailor your cover for each pet and manage payments in a way that works for you.
Multi-pet insurance

For more FAQs visit our help and support page

Insuring your puppy from an early age is an important part of responsible pet ownership. It might not be fun to think about in the excitement of bringing home a new pet, but puppies are susceptible to illness and injury too. Boisterous and curious puppy natures can easily lead to injuries and accidents which may bring unexpected vet bills. What’s more, pets are just as susceptible to illness and injury as we are and 90% of the claims we pay out are for illness rather than injury. Should your pup get ill, puppy insurance can help you get the best care for your pet. In addition, most pet insurers won’t cover your pet for any conditions they had before you took out a policy. Insuring your puppy whilst they’re young and healthy can help to ensure that they’ll be covered for as many conditions as possible on your pet insurance policy throughout their lifetime.
The price of pet insurance can vary enormously and is dependent on a range of different things such as where you live, your pet's species, age, breed and most importantly, the product you choose. As pet insurance is so specific to each and every pet, there is no fixed cost to insure your best friend so it's important to make sure you do some research to find out which policy suits you best both in terms of cost and benefits. Your price will increase every year as your pet gets older and the cost of treating pets increases, but at Petplan we guarantee that we’ll never charge you more for claiming. Our pricing approach is different to most other pet insurance and one of the reasons why over 90% of customers renew each year.
Vaccinations aren’t usually covered on pet insurance. However, it is important that you keep your puppy’s vaccinations up to date in order to keep them healthy throughout their life. If you don’t keep your pet’s vaccines up to date and they get a condition that could have been prevented, then any treatment for that condition may not be covered. When you take out a pet insurance policy, you should always check your Terms and Conditions and Certificate of Insurance carefully to understand what vaccinations your provider requires.
The cost of puppy vaccinations can vary based on a number of factors including what vaccines are offered, where you are in the UK and simply your vet clinic’s charges. However, on average you can expect to pay around £70 to full vaccinate your puppy. This price might also include other essential preventative treatments such as worming and flea and tick treatments.
Your pup’s growth rate will depend on their breed, so make sure you do your research! In general, larger breeds will take longer to reach their full size – up to 2 years – whilst you might find your smaller breed is fully grown by 6 months.
Yes! Lots of puppies love banana and for dogs with a sweet tooth, it can be a great low calorie training treat. However, your pup can’t live on bananas alone and it’s important that their main diet consists of a high-quality, nutritionally-balanced puppy food that is appropriate for their age and size. Always ask your vet for advice if you’re not sure and make sure to take a look at our guide to what puppies shouldn’t eat.

Just like human babies, puppies need lots of sleep. Don’t be surprised if your pup is asleep for 18-19 hours a day. Even though they might seem like little balls of energy, your puppy needs this rest to support healthy growth so don’t be tempted to push them into too much playtime or long walks before they’re ready.

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Petplan is a trading name of Pet Plan Limited (Registered in England No. 1282939) and Allianz Insurance plc (Registered in England No. 84638), Registered office: 57 Ladymead, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1DB.

Pet Plan Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register No. 311969. Allianz Insurance plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Financial Services Register No. 121849. Pet Plan Limited is a subsidiary of Allianz Insurance plc. Fitz All Media Limited is an Appointed Representative of Pet Plan Limited.