All guides

• Wire, fabric or plastic dog crate: which to buy in the UK

  Wire vs fabric vs plastic dog crate in the UK: what PDSA and the RSPCA say, real zooplus prices from £27, and which type suits the house, the car or a chewer.

• Dog training classes in the UK: cost and what to look for

  What dog training classes cost in the UK (about £12 a session in the listings we read), what RSPCA and Dogs Trust say to check, and who can skip them.

• Dog poo bags and walk kit in the UK: what to buy

  Black, biodegradable or compostable dog poo bags compared by price per bag, plus the only walk kit worth buying. Zooplus prices checked November 2026.

• Best stair gates for dogs in the UK: three picks by dog size

  The best stair gates for dogs in the UK by dog size and budget, with October 2026 prices, what each does badly, and who should not buy a gate.

• Leaving a dog alone in the UK: how to build up to it

  How long can you leave a dog alone? What Dogs Trust, PDSA and the Royal Kennel Club say, a step ladder to build it, and what is worth buying.

• Senior dog food (UK): what changes, what's marketing

  Does an older dog need senior food? What PDSA says, what the labels show on Hill's, Arden Grange and IAMS, and what each costs per kg.

• Dog toothbrush and toothpaste (UK): what to buy

  What a dog toothbrush and toothpaste kit needs, the under-£12 starter set I'd buy at zooplus, and how to get a dog to accept brushing first.

• Dog long lines in the UK: what to buy for recall work

  A long line is a training tool, not a licence to let a dog roam. Which length, material and price to buy in the UK, and who should skip it.

• Lick mats, snuffle mats and food toys (UK): what to buy

  Lick mat, snuffle mat or KONG? What each does, what the UK charities say, and prices from zooplus UK. Most dogs need one cheap item, not a drawer full.

• Do dogs on complete food need supplements? (UK)

  Does a dog on complete food need a daily multivitamin or superfood topper? What UK Pet Food and a vet nutritionist say, plus prices for three products.

• Calming supplements for dogs (UK): what the evidence says

  YuMOVE Calming Care, Zylkene and calming chews compared on ingredients and UK prices, what the research shows, and what to try first before fireworks.

• Best puppy harnesses in the UK: three picks by dog size and budget

  The best puppy harnesses in the UK by chest size and budget, with October 2026 prices, what each does badly, and who should not buy one yet.

• Dog joint supplements (UK): what the evidence says

  Which dog joint supplements are worth it? YuMOVE vs Flexi Protect on printed doses and price, what the research found, and which dogs should skip them.

• Dog brushes by coat type: the £5 tools that do the work

  Which dog brush suits which coat, what it costs at UK retailers, and why the £21 de-shedder is the one most dogs do not need. Checked October 2026.

• Dog bowls and slow feeders (UK): when a £5 bowl is enough

  Which dog bowl to buy in the UK, when a slow feeder helps, and why a raised bowl can be the wrong call. Prices from zooplus UK, advice from PDSA.

• Best puppy crates in the UK: four picks by dog size and budget

  The best puppy crates in the UK by adult size and budget, with prices, what each one does badly, and who should not buy a crate at all.

• Dog training treats (UK): size, calories and cost per session

  UK training treats, judged on kcal, piece size and cost per 100 kcal. What the 10% rule means, which packs hide their calories, and when kibble wins.

• Stair gates and dog-proofing a British home

  Which stair gate for a dog? Screw-fit or pressure-fit, how tall, what it costs, and the cheaper dog-proofing jobs that matter more than the gate.

• Dog beds (UK): what survives a chewer, what suits an old dog

  No dog bed is chewproof, and the retailers say so. What actually survives a chewer, what an older dog needs, and the sizing test most beds fail.

• Puppy checklist (UK): what to buy before collection day

  What to buy before you collect a puppy, what can wait a month and what to skip, checked against Dogs Trust and Battersea's own lists.

• The first night with a puppy: what the UK charities actually say

  Where should a puppy sleep on night one? What Blue Cross, PDSA, Dogs Trust and Battersea actually say — and the claim with no UK source behind it.

• Driving with a puppy: what the law says, and what the labels do not

  Is it illegal to have a loose dog in the car in the UK? Rule 57 word for word, why the £5,000 fine is out of date, and what restraint suits a puppy.

• Puppy nail clippers: three types, one real risk, and a claim that just got tested

  Guillotine, scissor or grinder? Which puppy nail clippers to buy in the UK, how to find the quick, and what a 2026 study found about long nails.

• Puppy shampoo: the pH argument is real, and smaller than the label suggests

  Do puppies need puppy shampoo? What the pH measurements show, how often to bathe, UK prices, and the one bottle that wastes your money.

• How much to feed a puppy: the chart on the bag is a starting point

  UK puppy feeding charts do not all mean the same thing. How to read them, how many meals by age, and the body test that beats any chart.

• Playpen or crate? Dogs Trust says that is the wrong question

  Playpen or crate for a puppy? UK charities cap crate time at about three hours. What each costs, where each wins, and why Dogs Trust says use both.

• Puppy toilet training: one thing worth buying, and five that aren't

  Puppy toilet training in the UK: the method every charity agrees on, why the hour-per-month rule is folklore, and the one product worth buying.

• Raw or kibble for a puppy? What the UK evidence actually says

  Raw or kibble for a puppy? The FSA found pathogens in 35% of raw packs it tested. What that means, the calcium risk, and the real case for raw.

• How much does it cost to feed a dog? (UK, per week & month)

  A 12kg dog costs about £16 a month on mid-range kibble, a labrador £32. Enter your dog's weight for your own weekly and monthly bill, plus 23 breeds.

• The puppy grooming kit: what the coat decides, and what it costs to get it wrong

  The brushes, comb and shampoo a puppy needs depend on the coat, not the breed. A UK kit for each coat type, and what matting costs at the groomer.

• Puppy teething toys: what survives, what breaks teeth, and what you can skip

  Dog teething toys that are safe: the two-second thumbnail test, why antlers and tennis balls fail, the frozen Kong trick, and how long teething lasts.

• Puppy food subscriptions in the UK: what they cost once the puppy grows

  Six UK dog food subscriptions compared, from 85p to £3.26 a day for a 12kg dog, and why a labrador puppy's bill nearly doubles in its first year.

• Puppy leads, collars and harnesses: what to buy once and what to buy cheap

  Which puppy lead, collar and harness to buy in the UK: what to buy cheap, what to buy once, and the one item British law requires.

• What size crate for a cockapoo puppy? (UK)

  Most UK cockapoos need a 30in crate, some 36in. The one question to ask the breeder, the measurement that decides it, and why a divider saves buying twice.

• Puppy crate size guide (UK): 24in to 48in, by breed

  What size crate for your puppy? UK sizes 24in–48in by breed, how to measure, and why you buy for the adult dog — from someone who ran a boarding kennel.