Guide · UK sources · checked 5 October 2026

Vets, insurance and the legal basics.

Three things to sort in the first weeks: a vet, a plan for unexpected bills and the legal essentials. They apply to every breed.

Registering with a vet and routine care

PDSA advises keeping your dog registered with a vet in case of emergencies.
PDSA lists four core vaccines (parvovirus, distemper, infectious hepatitis and leptospirosis). Puppies usually start at about 6 to 8 weeks with two injections two to four weeks apart, sometimes a third, and protection builds two to four weeks after the last. Boosters follow through life: leptospirosis yearly and the others roughly every three years. Until fully protected, PDSA says to carry puppies in public and avoid unknown dogs.
Treat for fleas and worms regularly and check for ticks from spring to autumn (PDSA).
Neutering is a decision to make with your vet. PDSA, as a charity, advises neutering all dogs unless a vet says otherwise and says timing is individual, with larger breeds perhaps better later. That is one organisation’s position; ask your vet about the trade-offs for your particular dog.

Legal basics

Microchipping: GOV.UK says dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old, and the owner must keep the details up to date, for example after moving house. A fine of up to £500 can apply.
ID tag: in public, a dog must also wear a collar and tag with the owner’s name and address (GOV.UK).
Control: GOV.UK says allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control is unlawful anywhere, including at home, and that penalties rise with the harm caused, up to six months in prison, rising to five years if the dog injures someone. The page does not say how this differs between UK nations, so check the relevant government page for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Pet insurance: what to look at

PDSA and MoneyHelper describe similar policy types, with slightly different names:

Lifetime: an annual limit that resets if cover continues.
Maximum benefit: a fixed sum per condition with no time limit.
Time-limited (annual): usually covers a condition for up to 12 months.
Accident-only: injuries only, and usually the cheapest.

Things to check before choosing: most policies exclude pre-existing conditions, and MoneyHelper says to declare them honestly or claims may be refused; waiting periods of roughly 10 to 14 days are typical (PDSA); premiums rise with age and some insurers limit cover for older pets; check the excess and annual limits; routine care such as vaccines and grooming is usually excluded. We do not rate or recommend insurers. PDSA’s guide promotes its own insurance product, so we cite it only for how policies work.

Sources

Limits: general information, not veterinary, legal or financial advice. We are not authorised to advise on insurance. Rules and policies change; check the current source. Nothing here changes breed matching.

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