The short answer
- In the Netherlands a puppy must be chipped and registered within 7 weeks of birth, and must have a European pet passport.
- After you buy or adopt your puppy, you report online that you are the new owner.
- Dog tax depends on your municipality. Rotterdam stopped charging it in 2018.
A new puppy is a lot of fun and a little bit of admin. This checklist covers what the law asks of you, plus the things that make the first weeks easier.
Before you pick up your puppy
- Chip and registration. The breeder has the puppy chipped and registered within 7 weeks of birth. Ask for the chip number.
- European pet passport. The puppy must have one. Buying a dog without a chip, registration and passport is punishable.
- Let a vet check. Not sure? A vet can scan the chip and check the passport before you commit.
- Prepare your home. A bed or crate, the food the puppy already eats, and cables and shoes out of reach.
Paperwork in the first week
- Register as the new owner. Report online that the puppy is now yours. You do not have to wait for the previous owner to deregister it. RVO lists the portals you can use.
- Keep the passport safe. You need it at the vet and when you travel abroad.
- Check dog tax. About a third of Dutch municipalities still charge it. Rotterdam stopped in 2018. Check your own municipality's website.
Bringing a dog from abroad? It must already be chipped and have a passport or health certificate before it arrives, and you register it within 2 weeks of arrival.
The first vet visit
Book a check-up in the first weeks. Your vet sets the vaccination and deworming schedule, checks the chip and answers questions about food and growth. Bring the passport.
Routine, training and alone time
- Short and often. Puppies learn in short sessions and need frequent toilet breaks.
- Meet the world calmly. New people, sounds and other dogs, one step at a time.
- Build alone time slowly. Start with a few minutes and make it longer step by step.
Questions owners ask
The breeder arranges it through a vet or a registered chipper, within 7 weeks of birth. After you take the puppy home, you report online that you are the new owner.
The dog must be chipped and have a passport or health certificate before it arrives. You register it within 2 weeks of arrival.
No. Rotterdam stopped charging dog tax in 2018. Rules differ per municipality, so check yours if you live elsewhere. Need help with your puppy? Find a pet sitter in Rotterdam.
