How to spot a puppy dealer?
Anna Stamm
2025-08-23 13:21:42
Count answers
: 15
Same contact number on more than one advert. Try Googling the number to see if it's been used on any other puppy adverts. Descriptions may have been copied and pasted and used on more than one advert. Try Googling the text and see if it's been used before, word-for-word. Words like 'miniature' and 'teacup' can be a sign of dealers trying to capitalise on popular terms. Photos of the puppies may have been used in other adverts. Right-click on the photo, select 'search Google for image' and see if it's been used on other ads. Vaccinated early. If the advert says a puppy has been vaccinated, check how old he or she is. A puppy cannot be vaccinated before they're four to six weeks old. If someone's advertising a three-week-old vaccinated puppy, they're lying. Pet passport, if the puppy is advertised as having a passport, it has most probably been imported. Are they really Kennel Club registered, we've seen dealers claim they're Kennel Club registered to help them look legitimate, but be wary of this. Ask for original documents and check with the Kennel Club before buying a puppy. Promises of 'free insurance' and 'puppy packs' don't mean the advert is from a legitimate breeder.
Mariam Schuppe
2025-08-16 10:50:37
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: 14
Many of these puppies are sold online and dealers may create many adverts providing the same mobile contact number. Try googling the contact number they give to see if it is being used on numerous puppy adverts. Descriptions for puppies may also have been used multiple times. Copy and paste them into Google to again see if they have been used on other adverts. Always visit the puppy in the place where they’ve been bred and reared - don’t agree to meet in a car park, lay-by or any other unusual place. If the puppy is advertised as having a passport, the chances are it has been imported. If the puppy has been advertised as being vaccinated, check the age of the puppy. A puppy cannot be vaccinated before the age of 4 weeks. Be prepared to walk away if: The mum isn’t present. You’re not invited past the doorway. The seller makes you feel uncomfortable for asking questions or tries to pressure you. The seller asks you which puppy you have come to see. This can indicate that they have different breeds available and the home is just a front. The sex of the dog is different to your previous enquiries.
Erik Gaylord
2025-08-09 09:40:02
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: 28
If you're unsure about a breeder, don't buy. If you have any reservations about a breeder then it is best to trust your instincts and walk away. The breeder should give you the opportunity to see and handle all of the puppies in the litter, rather than just the puppy you’re thinking of buying. The breeder should not be selling puppies that are unwell or show signs of illness. The breeder should be willing and able to show you the puppy interacting with its mother and siblings. If you are not able to see the puppies’ mother you should consider walking away, even if an apparently good reason has been provided. The breeder should be happy to provide you with details of their vet, so you can check on the health of their puppies and breeding dogs. Any breeder that pressurises you into buying a puppy may be looking to make a quick profit and should be avoided at all costs.
Emanuel Erdman
2025-08-09 09:08:17
Count answers
: 13
Sellers offering multiple breeds or types of puppies for sale simultaneously.
No formal breed paperwork or certification, or suspicious use of Kennel Club papers without genuine registration.
Premises with many outbuildings, caravans, or isolated rooms housing dogs.
Being shown puppies singly, often without the mother or siblings present.
Young dams with little knowledge or bond to the puppies or the seller.
The seller is uninterested in assessing your suitability as a new pet owner.
Puppies caged or crated during viewing.
The seller quickly offering alternative puppies or litters if the one you came to see is unsuitable.
Always view puppies with their dam and littermates at the place where they were raised.
Ask for valid identification and registration documents and verify they correspond to the premises.
Never buy puppies in unsuitable public locations such as pubs, markets or from car boots.
Be prepared to walk away if anything feels suspicious or uncomfortable.
If a breeder cannot provide a valid licence or registration proof, it should be regarded as a red flag, and the breeder avoided.
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