First-year kit for a dog, priced

Battersea's cost table puts the first kit for a medium dog at £206 to £315. That's my addition of its crate, bed, bowls, lead, harness, collar, tag, toys, puppy pads and microchip. Its page was updated on 13 October 2026. The table says only that costings are "at the time of writing".

Below I've priced four real items, then counted what's still missing. It's all from store listings and charity tables, read on 2 November 2026: Pets at Home for the first three, zooplus for the harness. I haven't had any of it on a dog. Prices were read from a Portuguese connection, so a UK visitor could see something different.

Four items, priced

At the prices read on 2 November 2026, those four come to about £117.

These four don't suit one dog for long

Dogs don't stay one size. That's the catch with any kit list.

Pets at Home says the Kong crate takes dogs up to 59 cm tall and 77 cm long, and isn't for adult dogs under 18 kg. The harness in size S stops at the weight shown above. So an adult that fits this harness is too small for this crate. The pairing only works for a puppy growing into a bigger dog, and that puppy will outgrow the harness. zooplus listed sizes M, L and XL on the same page, each at a higher price, so budget for a second one.

The crate has a divider panel for puppy training, which is what lets one crate last. The lead is the large version, and Pets at Home lists a small one for dogs up to 27.5 kg. Its page gives no length, and I'd want one before ordering.

The bed may fit the crate only just. Lay the two sizes above side by side: the bed's shorter side has to go across the crate's width, with very little to spare. Neither page says whether its figures are inside or outside measurements, so measure first. Pets at Home's care note for the bed: Machine washable.

If you're not sure on size, dog harnesses and leads, priced sets the alternatives side by side. Your dog's adult size is the number to find out first.

What's still missing

Battersea's other first-kit lines, from the same table:

• Bowls: £15 to £30
• Collar: £5 to £10
• ID tag: £6 to £10
• Toys and puzzle feeders: £50 to £70
• Puppy pads: £10 to £25 a pack
• Microchip: £10 to £30

That's £96 to £175 more. Add it to the £117 above and you reach about £213 to £292, at the prices read on 2 November 2026. So the four items make up 40% to 55% of the kit bill.

The collar and tag aren't optional. Battersea says dogs in England, Wales and Scotland must be microchipped and wear a collar with an ID tag. PDSA says the breeder should have done the chip by eight weeks, so ask before paying for one.

The bigger first-year sum

Kit is the smaller share. PDSA estimates set-up at £415, £531 and £560 for small, medium and large dogs, last calculated in 2024. Its list has no crate and no microchip, but it does include the first vaccinations, wormers until six months, neutering, a car restraint and a toothbrush.

Battersea's vet lines explain the difference: £70 for puppy vaccinations and £200 to £350 for neutering. Adding those to its kit total gives £476 to £735 for a medium dog. Neither charity counts the price of the dog itself. Battersea and PDSA both warn that kit wears out and needs replacing.

Food comes on top. Best-value puppy food by adult size covers that, and the pet cost calculator handles the years after. For other options, see the harness and lead listings or crates and carriers.