Buyer Tips

Getting a new puppy is exciting! Here is how to do it safely.

6 Ways to Stay Safe

If you do nothing else on this page, do these:

1. Use the Message Center for all your messages with the seller. This saves a copy of what you both said. You will need it if there is a problem. You also need it to leave a review later. Watch out for sellers who want to text or email right away.

2. Pick sellers with all three verification badges: email, phone, and ID. You can see these on the seller's profile. If any are missing, ask the seller to add them.

3. See the puppy with your own eyes before you pay. Visit in person if you can. If not, ask for a video call on Zoom or FaceTime. The seller should show you the puppy and where it lives. If they say no, walk away.

4. Pay with a credit card the right way. If something goes wrong, your bank can help you get your money back, but only if you pay the right way.

• Safe: Pay with a credit card through a real checkout, like a breeder's website that uses Stripe, Square, Shopify, or PayPal Goods & Services. These give you the right to dispute the charge.

• Risky: "Friends & Family" payments on PayPal or Venmo. These are meant for sending money to people you know, not for buying things. They do not come with buyer protection, even if you funded the payment with a credit card. Sellers who ask for "Friends & Family" to "save on fees" are taking away your protection.

• Never use these: Zelle, Cash App, Western Union, MoneyGram, wire transfers, gift cards, or crypto. These move money like cash. Once it is gone, it is gone, and your bank cannot help you get it back.

          If a seller pushes you to pay in a way that takes away your protection, that is a red flag. Walk away.

6. Get a signed contract before you pay anything, even a deposit. The contract should list the puppy, the price, the health guarantee, the papers you will get, and the rules for returns. If a promise is not in writing, it does not count.

7. Take the puppy to the vet within two days. Do this even if the puppy looks fine. Most health guarantees and state laws need this to protect you.

Watch for Red Flags

Some red flags mean stop right now. Others mean slow down and ask questions. Know the difference.

If you see any one of these, do not send money. Stop right now. This is a Scam. Walk away and report the seller.

• The seller is using stolen photos. Search the listing photos on Google Images or TinEye. If the same photos show up on other websites, under different breeder names, or on stock photo sites, the seller is not trustworthy. Real puppies, real photos. No exceptions.

• The seller wants payment sent to a different state or country than the listing shows. A breeder in Texas asking you to wire money to someone in Nigeria, Cameroon, or even another U.S. state is a scam pattern we see all the time.

• The seller asks you to pay with Western Union, MoneyGram, a wire transfer, gift cards, crypto, or Cash App. Real breeders do not ask for these. Scammers do, because the money cannot be recovered.

• The seller says Puppies.com will "hold" your payment in escrow. We do not do this. Anyone who says we do is lying.

• The seller's story keeps changing. The puppy's age, the parents, the shipping plan, the price. If basic facts shift between messages, the seller is making it up.

• The seller keeps making excuses to avoid a phone or video call. Real breeders will get on a call.

Slow Down and Ask Questions

These are not always scams, but they call for more digging before you send money.

• The price is much lower than other puppies of the same breed and age. Compare against other listings on Puppies.com. A purebred puppy priced at half the going rate, or offered for free, usually has a catch. Sometimes that catch is a scam. Sometimes it is a sick puppy or a backyard breeder. Either way, find out before you pay.

• The seller pushes you to pay fast or "secure" the puppy with a deposit today. Pressure is a tactic. Real breeders give you time to think.

• The seller refuses to accept any payment other than cash. Cash payment offers you no protection if something goes wrong or the puppy isn’t how it was represented. 

• The seller will not give you a written contract. This is sometimes laziness rather than fraud, but it leaves you with no protection. Get the contract or move on.

• The seller will not show you where the puppies live. A live video walkthrough is reasonable to ask for. If the seller dodges, find out why.

• The seller will not give references from past buyers. Most breeders are proud of their happy customers. A flat refusal is worth questioning.

If something feels off, trust your gut. There are always other puppies.

How to Check a Seller's License

Some breeders need a license. The rules depend on where they live and how many dogs they sell. A licensed breeder is not always a good one, and an unlicensed breeder is not always bad. But it is one more thing you can check.

USDA license (federal). Breeders who sell puppies sight-unseen across state lines often need one. Look up their name or license number here: https://aphis.my.site.com/PublicSearchTool/s/inspection-reports or https://www.dogbreederlicensing.org/license-lookup. You can also see past inspection reports. Lots of failed inspections are a bad sign.

State license. Many states have their own rules for breeders. Search "[state name] dog breeder license lookup" in Google. Most states have a free public search tool. You can also check this site for a quick guide to state rules: https://www.dogbreederlicensing.org/

Local license. Some cities and counties also require a kennel or breeder license. Check your local government website if you want to be thorough.

What to do with what you find:

• Has a license and a clean record: good sign.

• Has a license but lots of bad inspections: ask the seller about it. A real breeder will explain.

• Should have a license but does not: ask why. If the answer feels off, walk away.

• Does not need a license (small hobby breeder selling locally): this is normal. Move on to the other safety steps on this page.

Before You Start Looking

• Think about your life. How much space do you have? How active are you? How much time will you be home? Do you have kids or other pets? The right breed fits your real life.

• Plan your budget. The puppy is just the start. You will also pay for shots, food, supplies, training, and vet visits. Save some money for surprises.

• Learn about breeds. Look at things like personality, health, how long they live, exercise, and grooming. Our Breed Matchmaker can help.

Questions to Ask the Seller

You do not have to ask all of these. Pick the ones that matter to you. A good breeder will be happy to answer. A bad one will dodge.

• Can I meet the puppy's mom and dad, in person or on video?

• May I see where the puppies are raised?

• What health checks have the parents had? What guarantees come with the puppy? Please send copies.

• What shots and worming has the puppy had? Please send documentation. 

• How old will the puppy be when it comes home? What training has it had?

• What is your return policy if the puppy gets sick or does not work out?

• Can you give me names of past buyers I can call?

After You Buy

• Save everything. Keep the receipt, the signed contract, the shot records, vet bills, a screenshot of the listing, and your Message Center chat.

• Take the puppy to the vet within two days. We said this above, but it really matters.

• Leave a review. Because you used the Message Center, you can. Other buyers will thank you. Learn how to leave a review.

Important Things to Know

We do not check sellers before they list puppies. We do not promise that any listing is true. The verification badges only mean we have checked the seller's email, phone, or ID. They do not mean we approve of the seller or the puppy.

We do not hold money for you. We will never keep your payment until the puppy arrives. If a seller says we will, that is a scam. Report them.

Sellers fill in their own listing details. This includes Health Guarantee, Current Vaccinations, Registered, and Pedigree. Check these with the seller and ask for written proof before you pay.

Not sure about a seller? Send us their info and we will look into it. If a seller breaks your contract with them, you can consider taking them to court.