Puppy-buying checklists

The breeder's online presence

• Transparency: Is the breeder open and does he or she tell you about themselves, their dogs and their breeding goals?

  On HonestDog, breeders can share a lot about themselves and their breeding. If you still miss something, you can message the breeder and ask.

• Puppies: Are the puppies described well, and is there a photo of each puppy that lets you clearly identify it later at the breeder's?

  For single-coloured breeds, breeders often use coloured collars to tell puppies apart. On HonestDog, every puppy has a short profile with details.

• Handover: Does the breeder state when the puppies are handed over and what medical treatment they will have had by then (age at handover, vaccinations, etc.)?

  Make sure puppies are only handed over vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped and with the blue EU pet passport. If this information is missing, ask.

• Parent dogs: Do you learn something about the parent dogs and their health tests in the listing?

  On HonestDog you can see the health tests for each parent dog (where uploaded). The breed pages tell you which health tests matter for a breed.

• Price: Is the price stated, and is it reasonable compared with similar offers on other platforms and from breed clubs for this breed?

  A reputable breeder has many expenses, so dogs from good breeders are not cheap. Extreme outliers in either direction can, however, be a sign of a disreputable breeder.

• Breed club: Does the breeder name a club or umbrella association they breed under? Check whether that association also lists this breeder on its website.

  There you will also find the rules under which breeding is allowed in that association, which gives you an idea of the minimum standard the breeder has to meet.

• Own website: If the breeder has a website, it must have a complete legal notice (Impressum) including name, address and contact options.

  A legal notice is required by law so that the provider can be clearly identified. On HonestDog, we verify breeders' identity before their profile goes online.

• Does the breeder's breeding philosophy match your expectations?

  If you are looking for a family dog, you will most likely not be happy with a puppy from a breeder who breeds for performance in sports and competitions.

• Read all the information carefully and take notes for the phone call later.

  If the breeder says, for example, that they work full time, you can ask on the phone whether they can take that much time off or whether knowledgeable people help them look after the puppies. Missing information can be clarified on the phone or during the visit. Keep in mind, though, that you may forget important things during a visit, because the puppies understandably take up much of your attention.

• Photos round out the picture, but be careful if you only find colourful pictures with little information.

• Is there information about this breeder from third parties, such as references or reviews on other sites?

  This gives you additional, independent information.

• Several websites: Do you find multiple websites by the same breeder with the same information or photos, or even identical websites that only list different breeds?

  That is not a good sign.

More tips

• Be careful with breeders located abroad.

  Special conditions apply to taking puppies across a border, so find out about them in advance. In addition, some countries are notorious for puppy farms, which sometimes try to pass themselves off as reputable breeders.

• On online platforms and social media, look at the rules a breeder has to meet to be admitted.

  Not everywhere are the rules as strict as on HonestDog.

Your message to the breeder

• A friendly greeting and sign-off

• Your contact details

• A short introduction of yourself, your living situation and your previous experience with dogs

• Your reason for applying and why you chose this breed

• Keep the first message short but meaningful.

  The first contact does not have to be long or detailed, but the breeder should be able to get a small picture of who is applying.

• Do not ask about the price or whether you can negotiate in your very first message.

  Breeders do not like that. If you have not seen a price for the puppies so far, you can of course ask carefully and politely.

Phone call with the breeder

Show interest in the breeder and their animals. We have listed a few questions you can ask. Be sure to ask any questions the online listing has not already answered. Take notes on the answers.

General information about the breeder and the breeding

• How long have you been breeding?

• Are you a member of a breeders' association or another organisation? If so, which one?

• What breeding goals do you pursue (health, temperament, appearance)?

  Health should always come first.

Information about the parent dogs

• Can you tell me something about the health and temperament of the parent dogs?

  Stay away from parent dogs described as incompatible, shy, “just a bit quirky” or similar!

• Which hereditary diseases have the parent dogs been examined or tested for?

  There is no good reason not to test for breed-typical conditions. Statements like “You also have to consider the anaesthetic risk”, “Other breeds have that too”, “They all get that in old age” or “That is normal for the breed” are warning signs and a reason to end the call politely but promptly.

• Can the test results be seen on site?

  Not every breeder puts the original test results online. You should be able to inspect the documents on site.

Conditions at the breeding site

• How are the dogs and their puppies kept (in the home, kennel, etc.)?

  It is an advantage if family dogs also grow up in a home environment with plenty of contact with their people.

• How are the puppies socialised and accustomed to different environments and stimuli?

  Even winter puppies should experience more than the inside of their own four walls, depending on their age and health, of course (also keep vaccination status and the weather in mind).

Puppies and handover

• At what age are the puppies handed over?

  Puppies may only be handed over once they are more than eight weeks old. Breeders usually hand them over between the 8th and 12th week.

• Are the puppies vaccinated and dewormed appropriately for their age at handover?

  Puppies receive their first vaccinations from about 8 weeks. Rabies vaccination must not be given before the 12th week. Stay away from breeders who do not deworm or vaccinate their puppies.

• Are the puppies handed over microchipped and with the blue EU pet passport?

  Every reputable breeder hands puppies over microchipped and with the blue EU pet passport.

• Which health certificates do the puppies come with?

  Many breeders have their puppies checked by a vet. For some breeds, special examinations are mandatory before handover, such as hearing tests for deafness in Dalmatians.

• Is there a purchase contract?

  A purchase contract is an absolute must! It should also be possible to return the puppy in an emergency.

• Do the puppies get a pedigree?

  Not every breeder provides a pedigree. If the puppies do not get one, take a close look at the parents' pedigrees on site. A reputable breeder has no problem with that. Poor test results of the parents or identical dog names appearing in both pedigrees can be warning signs. If the breeder has no pedigree at all, there should be an inbreeding test (genetic test).

• Is there anything else you offer?

  Many breeders offer support and advice after the purchase or include a so-called puppy pack. That is a great thing and shows their connection to their dogs, but it is not a must for a reputable breeder.

Arranging the visit

• Can I visit the breeding site to see the puppies and their living conditions?

  Reputable breeders insist on a visit at their home. If the breeder makes excuses why that is not possible and suggests other meeting places, you should not buy from this breeder.

• What should I bring to the visit (for example identification documents)?

Costs and payment terms

Please remember how much love, energy and money good breeders put into raising their puppies. Haggling over the price is therefore not welcome.

• Are deposits or reservation fees required?

• What is the price of a puppy?

More tips

• The breeder's openness

  A good breeder is open and willing to answer detailed questions and lets you see the breeding site, so you can see the puppies and their parent dogs on site.

• Depth of knowledge

  Pay attention to how detailed and knowledgeable the breeder's answers to your questions are.

• The breeder's attitude

  Notice how passionately and committed the breeder talks about their work. A good breeder shows genuine interest in the well-being of the dogs.

• Expectations of you as a buyer

  A good breeder will also have questions for you, to make sure their dogs go to good hands. They might ask about your living situation or your experience with dogs. Do not buy a puppy from a breeder who is not also interested in you and therefore in the puppy's future life.

• How the conversation feels

  Trust your gut feeling. If anything about the breeder's behaviour or answers seems doubtful or uncertain, it may be a warning sign.

• Kennel housing

  Be especially careful here. Are the puppies mostly kept in a kennel with relatively little contact with people? Or do the older puppies move into a puppy room but spend a large part of the day with the breeder? It pays to ask precisely.

Cleanliness and organisation of the breeding site

• The breeding site should be clean.

  Overall you should get the impression of a well-kept, clean environment (including the smell), even if something is left lying around for the puppies' sake or a puppy has just done a small poo.

• There should be enough space for all animals, indoors and outdoors.

• The puppies should be part of the daily routine and have a lot of contact with people.

  Depending on their age, the puppies may already be in their own “puppy room”, as long as contact with the mother and with people is ensured.

Health and behaviour of the puppies

• The puppies should be active in phases.

  Active, friendly, curious and alert is a good sign. If the puppies are only active, almost hyperactive, and are never calmer or asleep, that is a warning sign.

• Do the puppies also settle down and sleep at times?

  Of course a visit is exciting. But especially if you stay a while, the puppies should also find peace and sleep. Puppies that only sleep and never really come out of their drowsiness are a warning sign.

• Do the puppies look healthy and well nourished?

  Puppies should be neither too fat nor too thin. Eyes and coat should shine, noses should be moist and cool, and eyes, eye rims and ears should be clean. If light-coloured puppies already have dark (usually reddish) streaks under their eyes, it can point to a problem with tear drainage, for example. Unfortunately this is often dismissed as breed-typical.

• Do the puppies react positively to people and come over to you?

  There are differences within a litter here, too. Overall, all puppies should be curious and open towards people.

• What does the breeder do to prepare the puppies well for later life?

  Including them in everyday life, the vacuum cleaner, trips to the hardware store, visits to a care home: there is a lot you can do with puppies, and every breeder has their own preferences. Depending on the puppies' immunisation status you of course have to be careful, but that must not be an excuse for doing nothing.

Interaction with the parent dogs

• Is the mother on site, and can you get to know her?

  This is a very important criterion for a good breeder. If she is not there, you should leave quickly. If she is out even though your visit was announced, you should be able to wait to meet her later.

• Do you like the mother and how she behaves?

  Puppies learn a lot from their mother. Look closely at how she deals with her surroundings and the people around her. The breeder should let you see the parent dogs, and they should look healthy and well cared for.

• Does the mother look healthy?

  Many things are hereditary. If the mother already moves badly, has trouble breathing or has had three slipped discs, you should not buy these puppies.

• The parent dogs should show a good relationship with the breeder.

  The dogs should be friendly and open with their owners, well trained and not shy away from them in fear.

Questions for the breeder

• Ask about feeding and the medical treatment so far.

  It can make sense to give your puppy the food it knows from the breeder for the first while. You should also know about any treatments already carried out.

• Ask to see the health certificates and vaccination records of the parent dogs and the puppies.

  Even if you have already checked the website or talked to the breeder on the phone about the health of the puppies and parent dogs, ask to see all health certificates and have them explained if necessary. Good breeders are happy about your interest.

Commitment to the animals' well-being

• A reputable breeder cares about their dogs beyond the handover.

  Message groups, get-togethers and walks are just a few examples of how breeders stay in touch with the dogs from their breeding and their owners. It is also great for dog owners to hear how the siblings are developing.

• Does the breeder keep offering support after the purchase, for example with training and health care?

  This is not a must for a reputable breeder, but it is definitely a good sign.

Contract terms

• Are the terms of sale worded clearly, fairly and understandably?

  Never sign a contract you do not understand! If in doubt, the breeder should be willing to let you take the contract with you so you can review it before signing (and thus before the puppy is handed over).

• Are all rights and obligations of both parties clearly set out?

  Breeders have obligations too, and these should be clearly stated in the contract.

• Does the breeder also offer to take the puppy back in an emergency?

  Reputable breeders offer to take puppies back in an emergency. Some also do so for older dogs from their own breeding or help with rehoming.

More tips

• Listen to your gut feeling, especially if it tells you that something is not right.

• Take someone you trust along who will not be living with the dog.

  Full of anticipation and “puppy happiness hormones”, you will understandably not be entirely neutral. An additional and (hopefully) somewhat more objective opinion helps then.

• If possible, visit the breeder for the first time while the puppies are still too young to be handed over.

  That way you will go home without a dog in any case and can sleep on it first. Do not sign a contract yet and do not let the breeder pressure you. Good breeders give you time.

• If you already have a dog of your own, do not be disappointed if you cannot bring it along.

  Depending on the puppies' age, it can be a source of infection. In addition, the breeder's dogs may tolerate other dogs less than usual when small puppies are around.

After the visit: reflection and decision

• Take time to think about your impression.

  Do you have any concerns? If so, you should not buy from this breeder. Talk through your impressions with others before you decide.

• If possible, talk to other buyers.

  Talk to people who have already bought puppies from the same breeder to learn about their experiences.

• Keep researching.

  Keep researching online even if you were enthusiastic during the visit.