Dogs for first-time owners

About dogs for first-time owners

If you are looking for the best dog for a first-time owner, the honest answer is a dog whose needs match your life, not a breed that needs nothing. Easy dog breeds for beginners tend to be biddable, sociable and of moderate size, with exercise needs you can meet on a wet Tuesday in February.

What this work involves

A first dog is a daily commitment for twelve years or more. A puppy needs toilet training, short training sessions several times a day, careful socialisation with people, dogs, traffic and household noise, and a routine that builds up gradually to being left alone. Adult dogs need daily exercise whatever the weather, grooming, vaccinations, parasite control, insurance and vet bills.

The breeds usually recommended as first puppy breeds want to please, forgive a beginner’s inconsistency, are friendly with strangers and other dogs, and settle indoors once exercised. Searches for low maintenance dog breeds UK are common, but no dog is maintenance-free: a short coat may mean less grooming but more hair on the sofa.

Who trains and supplies these dogs in the UK

Companion dogs for first-time owners come from private breeders and rescue charities. Private breeders range from hobby breeders with one litter a year to licensed breeding businesses. In England, anyone who breeds three or more litters in any 12-month period and sells any of the puppies, or who breeds dogs and advertises a business of selling dogs, needs a council licence, and their adverts must show the licence number and the council that issued it. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own schemes.

Dogs Trust, which describes itself as the UK’s leading dog welfare charity, rehomes dogs through more than 20 rehoming centres across the UK, and Blue Cross rehomes dogs and offers behaviour advice.

Training is the owner’s job. The Royal Kennel Club’s Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme, established in 1992 and described by the club as the largest dog training programme in the UK, is promoted by more than 1,700 organisations across the country. Its four award levels run from Puppy Foundation, which puppies can start from eight weeks of age, through Bronze, Silver and Gold, and it is open to pedigree dogs and crossbreeds alike. Canine Breeder does not breed, train or sell dogs; we list breeders so you can contact them directly.

Breeds and lines

• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: gentle, adaptable and small enough for most homes. Health screening of the parents matters a great deal in this breed.
• Labrador Retriever: eager, food-motivated and easy to train, but needs more exercise than many expect. Working (field trial) lines are usually more driven than show-bred lines.
• Retriever (Golden): sociable and patient, with a heavy-shedding coat that needs weekly brushing.
• Bichon Frise: small and cheerful, with a coat that sheds little but needs regular professional grooming.
• Greyhound (retired racer): calm indoors and usually content with two moderate walks a day. Retired racers from tracks licensed by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) are rehomed by the Greyhound Trust, through more than 50 volunteer-led branches, and by other GBGB-approved homing centres, helped by funding from the GBGB’s Greyhound Retirement Scheme.

What to ask a breeder

1. Can I see the puppy with its mother, and if you are licensed, what is your licence number and which council issued it?
2. Which health tests have both parents had, and how do the results compare with the Royal Kennel Club Health Standard for the breed?
3. Can I see your socialisation and habituation plan for this litter?
4. Is the puppy microchipped and registered, and how will the record be transferred to me?
5. Will you give me a written contract of sale? The RSPCA points buyers to the Puppy Contract as a guide.
6. Will you take the dog back, or help, at any point in its life if things go wrong?

Legal and welfare notes

First-time buyers can be easy targets for puppy dealers. Under Lucy’s Law, in force in England since 6 April 2020, licensed pet sellers may not sell puppies under six months old that they did not breed themselves, so buy from the breeder or a rescue. Licensed breeders in England must not sell a puppy under eight weeks old and may only show a puppy to buyers together with its mother. All dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. In England and Wales, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 places a duty of care on every owner to meet their dog’s needs, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have equivalent laws.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best dog for a first-time owner?

There is no single best breed. Look for a biddable, sociable dog of moderate size whose exercise and grooming needs fit your routine, from a breeder or rescue that will support you afterwards.

Are there low maintenance dog breeds in the UK?

Some breeds need less grooming or exercise than others, but every dog needs company, training, daily exercise and veterinary care. A retired greyhound or an assessed adult rescue dog can be less demanding than a puppy of any breed.

Should a first-time owner get a puppy or a rescue dog?

Both can work. A puppy lets you shape its habits but needs months of intensive training; an assessed adult comes with a known character and often some training already done.

Breeders whose dogs suit first-time owners, and who offer genuine lifetime support to the people who buy their puppies, are welcome to list on Canine Breeder.