Buyer Tips

Buying a puppy online can feel overwhelming. These tips will help you stay safe, ask the right questions, and protect yourself before, during, and after your purchase.

Before Starting Your Search

• Consider your lifestyle. Think about your available space, your activity level, and your time constraints.
• Research breeds. Review temperament, health issues, lifespan, exercise & grooming needs, and think about how well they would fit into your lifestyle.
• Set a realistic budget. Include purchase price, vaccinations, food, supplies, etc.

While Searching for a Puppy/Choosing a Seller

• Confirm that the seller's profile shows that their email address, phone number, and ID are verified. If they aren't, ask the seller to complete those verifications.
• Research the breeder online. Check social media and look for more information on the breeder through search engines like Google or DuckDuckGo. You may be able to find information on the breeder by looking up their license number on the USDA web site (if applicable) at https://aphis.my.site.com/PublicSearchTool/s/inspection-reports.
• Review the seller's listed location. Every listing on the site will show the breeder's city/state location. The location is something that the breeder designates upon their account creation. If they ask you to send money somewhere different, discontinue the purchase and report them to the Puppies.com Support Team.
• Review the breeder's listing(s) with a critical eye:
  • Compare the included price(s) against prices in other listings for dogs of the same breed/general age on the site. If the price seems deeply discounted or the dog is offered for free, this may be a red flag.
  • Perform a reverse image search for photos included in the listing. If identical photos appear on different sites online, this may indicate that the photos are stolen (which is often a sign of fraud).

Questions to Ask the Seller/Breeder

• Breed Characteristics & Care
  • What kind of lifestyle does this breed require?
  • What personality traits should I be informed about?
  • What grooming requirements are there with this breed?
  • What type of exercise does this breed require?
  • Are there any common health problems associated with this breed?
  • What is the average lifespan of the dogs?
• Health & Nutrition
  • What type of food do you feed your dogs?
  • What immunization protocol do you follow for your breeding dogs and your puppies?
• Puppy Development & Readiness
  • At what age can the puppy go to its new home?
  • Do the puppies have any type of socialization prior to being sent to their new home?
  • Do the puppies have any type of training prior to being sent to their new home?
• Breeder Practices & Environment
  • Can I meet the puppy's mother and father?
  • If one of the parents is not available, does the Breeder have pictures available of the parent?
  • May I see/visit where the puppies are raised?
  • How many litters do you have per year?
  • What happens to your retired breeding dogs?
  • How many different breeds do you breed?
  • Are you affiliated with any breeder associations? Why or why not?
  • Do you have references?
• Contracts, Guarantees & Policies
  • What guarantees do you offer with your puppies?
  • Do you require spay/neuter contracts on your pet quality puppies?
  • If, for any reason, I am unable to keep the puppy, what is your policy?

Most breeders are more than happy to answer questions related to the purchase of one of their puppies and will be just as concerned about the type of person/household they are releasing one of their puppies to.

Remember: It is up to both the buyer and the breeder to be comfortable with one another and to ensure that the puppy has been and will be treated properly.

Before Your Purchase

• Once you’ve chosen a breeder and a puppy, request appropriate documentation. Ask for copies of the puppy's health/vaccination records, health guarantee, registration, and/or pedigree, etc., prior to meeting with the breeder.
• Email should not be the only form of contact with a breeder/seller. Once you have your initial questions answered and feel you want to move forward with the purchase of a puppy, ask for a phone number to talk to the breeder. If they refuse to give a phone number or they state that their phone is out of service, walk away from the sale.
• Insist on meeting the breeder in person or with a free video-chat app, such as Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, or Google Duo. If the breeder is unwilling to meet or have a video call so that you can see the breeder and the puppy along with the puppy's living conditions, discontinue the sale.
• Save the appropriate information for your records:
  • Bookmark the listing and the seller's profile. Having a link to the seller's profile can make it easier for you to leave a Testimonial after your purchase.
  • Save the seller's contact information. This can make it easier to get in touch with them down the line in case a problem arises (or if you decide to purchase another dog from them down the road).
  • Print the listing and/or take a screenshot of it. This will ensure that you'll have a record of the listing in case it is removed by the seller.

During Your Purchase

• Make sure there’s a clearly defined contract in place before the purchase is finalized. The contract should specify which dog you’re receiving, any registration details, the time frame for receiving registration papers, the health guarantee, and the process for reimbursement or return if the dog is sick. Most contracts also require a vet visit within a set time frame. A well-defined, signed contract protects both buyer and breeder and helps prevent issues from miscommunication.
• Read the entire contract carefully before signing. Ask questions if anything is unclear, and don’t sign under pressure. Some contracts may contain restrictive clauses that limit your ability to leave Testimonials, seek legal remedies, or take certain actions with your dog (such as breeding or naming). You should fully understand and feel comfortable with all terms before proceeding.
• Do not make any payments through cash-transfer apps (like Zelle or PayPal Friends and Family) or services such as Western Union or MoneyGram. Once this payment leaves your hands, there is no recourse for recovery or refund. Using a credit card is highly recommended so that you can dispute the transaction if something goes wrong.
• Follow your instincts. It's natural to feel a bit of pressure upon meeting a seller (especially after doing so much prep beforehand!), but if you have an uncomfortable feeling, do not do business with the seller. Give yourself permission to walk away from the sale, there are plenty of other options.

After Your Purchase

• Get a receipt that proves you paid for the puppy. This receipt can help you prove your purchase if necessary, and can be helpful if you need to take legal action or write a Puppies.com Testimonial regarding your experience with the seller.
• Have your veterinarian check the dog ASAP. Keep copies of all medical records and vet invoices.
• Save all important records/documents. Save a copy of the contract and receipt along with a printout/screenshot of the listing for your records. If you or the breeder make an agreement that is not included within the contract, get it in writing (such as in an email).

Important Information & Disclaimers

Puppies.com does not act as an escrow service. We will not hold funds until you receive a puppy. If any breeder tells you differently, report them to Puppies.com Support. Puppies.com staff will not refer you to any specific breeder. If you feel like a Breeder has not upheld their end of the contract, you always have the right to pursue legal action against them.

Listing characteristics such as Health Guarantee, Current Vaccinations, Registered, Pedigree, and all others are self-reported by the seller. Puppies.com makes no guarantee of their accuracy or status. It's important that you verify these characteristics with the seller. Always ask for documentation in writing before you make a purchase.

Puppies.com does not offer any guarantees, nor do we pre-screen advertisers on the site. However, if you are unsure about a specific breeder and feel they might be a potential scammer, please feel free to forward us their information and we will review the account.