Selling your puppies online can be a convenient way to find them loving homes. However, some preparation is required to list your puppies for the first time. Puppies.com is here to help. Our goal is to make it safe, secure, and easy for you to match your puppies with the right buyers.
Here are some steps to help you sell your puppies on Puppies.com:
Research & Preparation:
- Follow local regulations. Be aware of any laws or regulations regarding pet sales and breeding in your area. Requirements may include licensing, health requirements, and documentation.
- The welfare of the puppies should always be the top priority. Ensure that they are ready to be separated from their mother and littermates. If you are a new seller, it is important to ensure that the puppies are of legal age to sell in your state.
- Ensure that the puppies are healthy, have received necessary vaccinations and deworming, and have received a veterinarian exam before listing them.
- Consider what makes your puppies stand out, and prepare to talk about these points in your listing. You may wish to review other listings of the same breed in your locale to get an idea of what prices other breeders are currently asking for similar dogs.
- Refresh yourself about your breed’s particular lifestyle needs to help with screening and ensure a positive match with a potential buyer.
Create a Detailed Listing:
- Create a comprehensive and accurate listing for each puppy. Include details about their breed, age, color, temperament, health status, and any training or socialization they’ve received.
- Listing characteristics such as Health Guarantee, Current Vaccinations, Registered, Pedigree, Certified, or other can help your listing stand out to a potential buyer.
- Take high-quality photos of each puppy. We recommend not reusing former puppy photos or using the same generic one for each puppy in your listings. Using a customized image will give buyers a good idea of the puppy’s actual appearance, size, and personality. To help buyers visualize the size of your puppy, you may wish to use a common household item in your photos for scale–such as a coffee cup, a ruler, or a yardstick. These steps can help reduce misunderstandings and disputed transactions.
- How much does it cost to list a puppy? Getting started is free, and we’ll give you a 3-day trial!
- Please understand that Puppies.com has no control over a potential buyer choosing to contact you versus another Breeder. Choosing a puppy and a Breeder is a personal decision, and there is no way of knowing why a Buyer picks one listing over another. By following these tips, you will place your puppies in their forever home!
Screen Potential Buyers:
- Look for responsible and committed buyers who understand the responsibilities of pet ownership.
- Screen potential buyers carefully. Ask questions about their experience with puppies and other pets to determine if they will make good puppy parents for your breed. Some sample questions might include:
- Why are you considering this breed?
- What will the puppy’s home life be like?
- Do you have a fenced yard?
- What other pets do you have? Breed/s? How many?
- Who will be the primary caretaker of the puppy?
- How many hours a day will the puppy be left alone?
- Are there any children in the household? How do they get along with animals?
- Selling your puppies comes with many responsibilities, and we understand your goal is to locate loving homes for your puppies within a desirable amount of time. However, it’s ok to remember that if at any point you feel uncomfortable or have any doubt about a potential buyer, you can always decline the sale and continue your search for the right buyer.
Meet in Person If Possible:
- When possible, arrange to meet potential buyers in person. Meeting face-to-face allows you to assess the buyer’s compatibility with the puppy to ensure a good match.
- Meeting in person also helps you gauge the buyer’s sincerity and commitment. Trust your instincts if a potential buyer seems “off.”
- If you cannot meet in person, meeting by video chat is an option.
Provide Information and Documentation:
- Provide accurate records of the puppy’s health, vaccinations, and other relevant information.
- Offer guidance on puppy care, including feeding, training, and socialization. Share details on the puppy’s routine while in your care, such as waking, playing, potty training, socialization, and feeding schedule.
Use Secure Payment Methods:
- If you accept payment online, use secure and reputable payment methods to protect both parties.
- Here are a few tips on conducting a safe transaction:
- When possible, sell your puppy in person.
- Cash is king. Do not accept checks or cashier’s checks.
- Do not accept online payment through unknown apps.
- Be cautious of potential fraud and scams. Even as the seller, you are not immune to potential scammers. Please learn how to identify scams/fraud at the Puppies.com Help Center
Contract and Agreement:
- Draft a clear and concise sales contract, including the terms, applicable health guarantees, spay/neuter policies, return policies, and any other relevant information.
- Consider what, if any, guarantees you will offer with your puppies. Some breeders require a spay/neuter contract. While other breeders have a first right of refusal return policy in the event a purchaser is unable to keep the new puppy, for any reason.
- Many buyers will ask for documentation in writing before making a purchase. Always give a payment receipt with your contact information.
- Have both parties review and sign the contract to ensure transparency.
- Recommend that the purchaser consider pet insurance to protect their new puppy after it leaves your doorstep. With a 4.9 star rating, Lemonade offers pet insurance to cover everything from illness to wellness and preventative care.
- If a buyer is located outside of your state, or they cannot meet you in person, consider using a service like CtizenShipper or other trusted courier services.
Stay Involved:
- Maintain open communication with the buyer after the sale of your puppy. Offer support and guidance as needed, especially during the initial transaction period.
- If you find yourself in a situation where you’ve sold a dog to someone who can no longer keep it, there are positive steps you can take to ensure its well-being. Here are some tips you can take to rehome the dog:
- Offer assistance: express your willingness to help find a new home for the dog. Assure the buyer that you understand that circumstances can change and that your priority is the dog’s welfare.
- Ask for the dog back: If the buyer is open to it, you may ask to take the dog back into your care, even if only temporarily, while you work together to find a suitable home.
- Network and Collaborate: Utilize your network of contacts, friends, and social media to spread the word about the dog needing a new home. You can also “re-list” the dog with your account at Puppies.com to give the dog the best chance at a new forever home.
- Note: Rehoming a dog can be an emotional process for the previous owner, and for you too. Your willingness to help find a new loving home demonstrates your commitment to the dog’s well-being and is an important part of being a breeder.
Puppies.com is your trusted puppy platform for Paws-itive Puppy Love! Since 2003, Puppies.com has helped millions of puppies find their fur-ever homes from sellers nationwide. Finding your perfect pup is free and easy–and signing up only takes a few minutes. Add a little wiggle to your life!®
