Dog Reviews & Guides
UK guides for dog owners, in the order most owners need them: getting ready for a first dog, choosing a breed, what a dog costs, food, insurance and health, then kit such as harnesses, car restraints, GPS trackers and cameras. Battersea puts the cost of owning a dog at around £1,800–£2,000 a year (updated 13 October 2026); our cost of owning a dog guide breaks that down by size from prices checked on 21 October 2026. Every comparison links to its sources and shows when we last checked it.
Topics, in the order most owners need them
- First-time ownersTime, legal duties from microchips to collar tags, adoption fees and the PDSA's costs, plus the new puppy checklist with UK prices.Read the guide
- Breed guidesPopular UK breeds with Royal Kennel Club health tests and lifespan from UK vet records, plus Cockapoo vs Cavapoo and Springer vs Cocker.Find your breed
- Cost of owning a dogMonthly and yearly costs by size, from dated food, flea and vet prices, with a calculator for your own dog.See the costs
- Dog foodComplete foods compared on cost per day for a 20 kg dog, with puppy, large-breed puppy, senior, sensitive stomach and weight-loss guides.Compare foods
- Dog insuranceCover types, vet-fee limits, excess and exclusions explained, including pre-existing conditions and older dogs. We do not rank insurers.Understand cover
- Dog health and vet costsWSAVA vaccination timing, flea and worm subscriptions, and vaccination, neutering and dental prices from published practice price lists.Read the health guides
- Joint supplementsSupplements compared on dose and cost per day for a 20 kg dog, and what the evidence says about whether they work.Compare supplements
- Accessories and groomingHarnesses with Dogs Trust's fitting checks, car restraints under Highway Code rule 57, washable beds and grooming kit, with dated prices.Compare accessories
- Dog techGPS trackers and dog cameras compared on device price plus subscription over two years.Compare dog tech
Start here
- In season: Dogs and fireworksUK fireworks dates and legal cut-off times for 2026, RSPCA, Dogs Trust and PDSA advice for dogs and cats, and dated prices for non-medicine calming products.
- Cost of owning a dogWhat a dog costs a month and a year by size, before and after insurance, with every figure dated.
- Dog insurance comparedLifetime, per-condition and time-limited cover, with vet-fee limits, excess and exclusions side by side.
Is your dog eating the right amount?
Work out how much to feed your dog per day in kcal and grams, and what it costs.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of owning a dog per year?
Battersea puts it at around £1,800–£2,000 a year (updated 13 October 2026). Our cost of owning a dog guide adds up food, flea and worm treatment and the yearly booster by dog size from prices checked on 21 October 2026; insurance comes on top. The pet cost calculator works it out for your own dog.
How much should I feed my dog?
It depends on your dog's ideal weight, life stage and the calories in its food. Our dog food portion calculator uses the AAHA 2021 energy formula to give kcal a day, then grams from the kcal figure on your food. Treat it as a starting point, watch your dog's weight, and agree a target weight with your vet if your dog is overweight.
What do first-time dog owners need?
Dogs Trust's checklist covers a bed, bowls, the food the dog already eats, toys, a plain collar with an ID tag, a lead, a harness, a car restraint or crate and poo bags. A collar and tag in public is a legal requirement. Register with a vet before the dog arrives. Our first-time dog owner guide and new puppy checklist give the details and UK prices.
Can first-time dog owners adopt?
Yes. Dogs Trust and Battersea both ask you to register once and then match you with a dog that suits your home and experience. Adoption fees on 21 October 2026 were £300 at Dogs Trust and £230 per dog at Battersea, as listed in our first-time dog owner guide.
How we research this topic
All dog guides on Pawwala are researched from published prices, labels and policy documents, and checked against veterinary and welfare sources such as WSAVA, BVA, BSAVA, Dogs Trust, Battersea, the PDSA and the RSPCA. We compare products; we do not use them ourselves.
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