Walk into a pet store and they'll convince you that you need WAY TOO MUCH stuff.
You don't.
Rough currency conversion
- Australia: Multiply everything by 2
- USA: Multiply everything by 1.5
| UK | Australia | US |
| £10 | $20 | $15 |
| £20 | $40 | $30 |
| £50 | $100 | $75 |
| £100 | $200 | $150 |
The Must-Haves (And Nothing Else)
Crate - Right size means they can stand, turn around, and lie down. Not bigger or they'll toilet in it. If you have a large or XL breed, you'll need to buy bigger crates as they grow. Factor that into your budget. £50-150.
Bed - Get a cheap one for the crate. They may destroy it. Don't spend £100 on something they'll shred in week two. £20-40.
Food and water bowls - Stainless steel or ceramic. Stable and hard to tip. Nothing fancy. £15-30.
Collar and lead - Adjustable collar, 6-foot lead. Simple. £20-40.
No-pull harness - Get a harness with a front clip attachment. These are brilliant for teaching walking, especially if you have a larger dog. £30-60.
Puppy pads - Accidents will happen. Just get them. £10-20.
Long line for small breeds - Get a long piece of rope (relatively thin, 25mm), roughly 20 metres long. Use it for training recall. You can get this at any hardware store for under £10.
Long line for large breeds - You'll likely need a horse lunge line, especially if you have a big dog. A rope may snap or not offer enough control. Under £60.
ID tag - Before they leave the house. £10. You can also get a holder for an AirTag and attach it to their harness.
Food - Whatever the breeder or rescue was feeding. Transition slowly. £50-80 per month.
Treats - Small, soft training treats. Get a range to see what your dog really wants to work for. £10-20.
Toys - Variety of textures. Rotate them. Don't buy them all at once. £30-50 to start.
Enzymatic cleaner - For accidents. You will need this. Not regular cleaner. Enzymatic. £15-25.
First aid kit - Basics: gauze, tape, antiseptic, tweezers. £30.
Overwhelmed by equipment options? Our community has shopping lists broken down by dog size and budget. You'll also find recommendations from other owners about which brands actually hold up and which are a waste of money.
Nice To Have (But Not Essential)
Puppy pen or exercise pen. Kong or puzzle toys. Car harness or crate (if you can afford it, this is a brilliant addition). Grooming supplies like clippers.
Complete Waste Of Money
Fancy beds (they'll destroy them anyway). 47 different toys. Outfits and costumes. Expensive bowls. Elaborate grooming tools (not yet).
Money-Saving Tips That Actually Work
Buy a second-hand crate. Dogs don't care if it's new.
Make your own puzzle toys. This is way easier than you think.
Rotate toys rather than buying new ones. Dogs get bored of toys they see every day. Put half away for a week, then swap.
DIY training treats. Cut up chicken or cheese. Cheaper than shop-bought and often more motivating.
Borrow equipment for short-term needs. Ask in your local dog owner groups.
What You'll Need (But Not Immediately)
Don't buy everything at once. Your puppy will grow. Their needs will change.
Wait on:
- Grooming tools until you know what coat type they actually have
- Advanced training equipment until you know what you're doing
- Multiple beds until they stop destroying things
- Fancy toys until you know what they like
The One Thing Most People Forget
Enzymatic cleaner.
Regular cleaner doesn't remove the scent of urine. Your puppy can still smell it. They'll toilet in the same spot again.
Enzymatic cleaner actually breaks down the compounds. No smell. No repeat toileting.
Buy it before your puppy arrives. You'll need it within 24 hours.
Get Ongoing Support For Your Puppy Journey
Knowing what equipment you need is just the start. Having support as you use it, troubleshoot problems, and decide what else to buy makes all the difference.
That's why we created our free Skool community - to give you continuous support every step of the way.
Inside the community, you'll get:
- Weekly live Q&A sessions where you can ask about specific equipment and get honest recommendations
- Complete puppy courses covering how to actually use equipment properly
- A supportive community of other owners sharing what worked and what was a waste
- Shopping lists and budget guides broken down by dog size
- Troubleshooting help when equipment isn't working as expected
- Updated resources including money-saving tips and DIY alternatives
Best part? It's completely free. No subscription. No catch. Just dog owners helping dog owners.
Join The Toe Beans Co community today and get the ongoing support you need to buy the right equipment without wasting money.
