Selling puppies online connects you with loving families across the country, but it also comes with the potential for risks. Scam buyers, fraudulent payment attempts, and bad actors are real threats that every breeder should be prepared for. At Puppies.com, we are committed to helping you build a trusted, successful breeding business. These seller safety tips will help you protect yourself, your puppies, and your reputation every step of the way.
How to Protect Yourself When Selling a Puppy Online
Communicate Safely and Securely From the Puppies.com Messaging System
To protect your privacy and personal information, keep all buyer inquiries within the secure Puppies.com communication platform. This safeguards your email identity while you get to know a potential buyer.
Once you feel comfortable and confident in the connection, you may choose to continue the conversation offline via phone, text, or video chat. Until then, keeping communication on Puppies.com adds an important layer of security for everyone involved.
Verify Buyer Identity Before Moving Forward
Before sharing personal details or entering into any agreement, take a moment to confirm that the buyer is who they claim to be. Check whether they are ID-verified in the Puppies.com Message Center.
If you have any doubts, do your due diligence. A quick review of public social media profiles or a simple Google search can help confirm that their name aligns with the city and state they claim to be from. Taking a few extra minutes to verify identity can help ensure a safe and confident transaction.
Always Communicate by Phone or Video Before Finalizing Details
Email and messaging are a good starting point, but they should never be your only form of contact with a potential buyer. Before committing to a sale, speak with the buyer by phone and offer a video call so they can see the puppy, the parents, and your facility. Buyers who refuse a phone call or video chat are a red flag.
Watch for Overpayment Scams
One of the most common scams targeting breeders involves a buyer sending a payment for more than the agreed price and then asking you to refund the difference. The original payment is often fraudulent or will bounce after you have already sent money back, leaving you responsible for the loss.
Never accept overpayments, and never issue a refund until a payment has fully cleared and been confirmed by your bank. If something feels off, trust your instincts and pause the transaction. A legitimate buyer will understand reasonable precautions.
Use Safe, Secure, Traceable Payment Methods
Avoid accepting payments through wire transfers, Western Union, MoneyGram, Zelle, Cash App, or Venmo from buyers you do not personally know. These services often provide limited seller protection, and funds may be difficult or impossible to recover if fraud occurs. Cashier’s checks can also be counterfeit and may take time for a bank to identify as fraudulent.
If using PayPal, only accept payments through the “Goods and Services” option, not “Friends and Family,” to ensure proper transaction protections.
Whenever possible, use secure, traceable payment methods that provide documented records and seller protection. Choosing the right payment method helps protect both you and the buyer and supports a safe, professional transaction.
Never Ship a Puppy Before Payment Clears
Always confirm that payment has fully cleared before a puppy leaves your care. Scammers may send fake payment confirmations or fraudulent receipts that appear legitimate. Contact your bank directly to confirm that the funds have cleared before releasing any puppy.
Put Everything in Writing
A clearly defined contract protects you just as much as it protects the buyer. Your contract should specify which puppy is being sold, the agreed price, payment terms, health guarantee details, registration paperwork timeline, and your return or refund policy. If you and a buyer agree to anything outside the written contract, confirm it in writing through email or text.
Trust Your Instincts
If something feels off about a buyer, trust that feeling. Legitimate buyers are excited, patient, and transparent. Buyers who pressure you to move quickly, ask unusual questions about payment, or seem more interested in logistics than in the puppy itself are worth approaching with caution. There are plenty of wonderful families looking for puppies on Puppies.com every day.
Report Suspicious Buyers
If you encounter a buyer who raises red flags, report them to the Puppies.com Support Team immediately. Your report helps protect other breeders in the community and keeps the platform safe for everyone.
Building a Trustworthy Listing That Attracts Serious Buyers
The best defense against bad actors is a strong, transparent listing that signals professionalism from the start. Here is what serious buyers look for and what helps Puppies.com breeders stand out:
- Complete your profile verification including email, phone, and ID
- Upload clear, recent photos of the puppy and the parents if available
- Be specific about what is included with the puppy, such as registration papers, vaccination records, health guarantees, microchipping, and vet records
- Respond promptly to inquiries through the Puppies.com messaging system
- Keep your listing details accurate and up to date
- List your puppies as sold once they have found their home
Frequently Asked Questions for Puppy Sellers
Q: What payment methods are safest when selling a puppy? Credit card payments and reputable payment platforms that offer buyer and seller protection are the safest options. Avoid wire transfers, Western Union, MoneyGram, and cash-only transactions. Always confirm that the payment has fully cleared your bank before releasing a puppy.
Q: What should I do if a buyer sends too much money and asks for a refund? Do not refund any amount under any circumstances until you have confirmed with your bank that the original payment has fully and permanently cleared. Overpayment scams are among the most common fraud tactics used against breeders. When in doubt, contact your bank directly and report the buyer to Puppies.com Support.
Q: Do I have to use a contract when selling a puppy? While Puppies.com does not legally require a contract, using one is strongly recommended. A signed contract protects you if a dispute arises and sets clear expectations for both parties. It should include the puppy’s identification, agreed price, payment terms, health guarantee, registration details, and your return policy.
Q: What should I do if a buyer refuses a phone or video call? Treat this as a red flag. Serious buyers are happy to speak by phone or video so they can see the puppy and ask questions. A buyer who avoids direct communication may not be who they claim to be. Do not proceed with a sale until you have spoken with the buyer directly.
Q: Can I list puppies that are not yet available? Yes. You can list upcoming litters on Puppies.com so that interested buyers can reach out early. Be transparent in your listing about expected availability dates and deposit requirements, and put any deposit agreements in writing.
Q: What information should I not share in my listing? Avoid including your full home address, personal bank details, or any financial information in your public listing. And don’t include any contact information like your email and phone number until you are comfortable with the person you are dealing with, or feel comfortable having this information available for anyone to view. When in doubt, it is wise to use Puppies.com’s messaging system for early communication with buyers.
Q: What happens if a buyer claims the puppy is sick after the sale? Your health guarantee and contract are your primary protection in this situation. Make sure your contract clearly outlines the process for health-related claims, the timeframe for reporting concerns, and whether you offer refunds, replacements, or reimbursements for veterinary costs. Always encourage buyers to have the puppy seen by a licensed veterinarian within the time frame specified in your contract.
Q: How do I report a suspicious buyer on Puppies.com? Contact the Puppies.com Support Team directly with the buyer’s profile information and details about the suspicious activity. There is also a Report Button in the message center at the bottom of the conversation to report suspicious buyers. Your report helps protect the entire breeder community on the platform.
Q: Does Puppies.com screen buyers before they contact me? Puppies.com provides profile verification tools, including mandatory email and phone verification and optional ID verification, to demonstrate trust and transparency. Always take your own steps to verify a buyer before completing a sale.
What should I do if a buyer asks me to ship a puppy before payment? Never ship a puppy before payment has fully cleared. Requests to ship before payment is confirmed are a common indicator of fraud. If a buyer insists on this arrangement, do not proceed, and report the account to Puppies.com Support.
Check out these other Breeder-focused blog articles from Puppies.com
Contract Components for Breeders
Offering Health Guarantees For Your Puppies
How to Sell a Puppy the Right Way
Helpful Tips on Licensing
At Puppies.com, we are proud to support breeders who lead with integrity and transparency. Have questions or need support? Our team is always here to help at [email protected].
