Unsere Standards
We believe in responsible breeding and honest, transparent matchmaking. We connect future dog owners with reputable breeders for a process you can trust from start to finish.
The HonestDog Difference
Find out what sets HonestDog apart from other platforms
Identity Verification
We verify names, phone numbers, and ID cards to confirm the identity of breeders.
Breeding Environment Check
Breeders submit photos of their breeding environment during sign-up, which we review. This gives us a better impression of the breeders, their dogs, and the breeding environment.
Responsible Breeding
Our standards for responsible breeding are part of admission – every breeder agrees to them as binding.
Health Test Transparency
We show you which breed-specific health tests matter for the parent dogs, and make breeder-uploaded certificates visible on the profile.
Transparency
We provide comprehensive information about the health status of parent dogs and puppies in each breeder's profile.
Dog Expert Support
Ask our dog experts anything and get real advice.
Health before looks
We don't list dogs carrying extreme-breeding traits – features bred to harmful extremes. Breeders who deliberately select for health and function have our active support.
HonestDog Compared
See how HonestDog stands out from other platforms
| Feature | HonestDog | Ebay, Facebook etc. |
|---|---|---|
| Identity Verification | ||
| Breeding Environment Check | ||
| Responsible Breeding | ||
| Health Test Transparency | ||
| Transparency | ||
| Dog Expert Support | ||
| Health before looks |
Breeder Admission Criteria - 3 Levels
We have strict criteria for breeders at HonestDog. The verification takes place in three steps. You can always see these next to the profile picture so you know how this breeder has been verified so far.
Level 1 - Approved by HonestDog
The breeder has registered on HonestDog and uploaded all documents required for admission (proof of identity, plus the German §11 breeding permit or breed-club membership where applicable) as well as photos of the breeding environment. Documents are checked with AI assistance, with our team reviewing anything inconclusive; every breeder also answers questions about their breeding practice. Only if all criteria are met is the breeder approved and awarded Level 1.
Level 2 - Community Feedback
Your feedback is another way we verify breeders. It confirms they keep meeting our strict criteria across repeat visits from different buyers. And if we hear something's wrong, we'll of course look into it.
Level 3 - Health Documents
Breeders can upload health test results for their parent dogs; we extract the results, check them for consistency with the dog's profile, and display them on the breeder profile. Breeders with complete documentation reach Level 3.
Progressive Verification System
Our multi-level verification ensures that every breeder on HonestDog meets the highest standards of quality and transparency.
HonestDog Solutions
For the current situation in dog purchases
How does HonestDog deal with unethical breeders and puppy mills?
Because puppy mills breed dogs purely for profit and don't properly care for them or their litters, they cause enormous animal suffering. The puppies are often sick, and many go on to develop behavioral problems.
HonestDog Solution
We verify our breeders during registration and only work with responsible breeders who meet strict quality and health standards.
How does HonestDog minimize the risk of hereditary diseases?
Many breeds have hereditary diseases that, in addition to causing great suffering for dogs and humans, often involve high veterinary costs.
HonestDog Solution
We don't allow any breeding dog on HonestDog without a minimum of testing for breed-specific hereditary diseases. We also flag breeders who go beyond that minimum, and we share detailed information about the tests done on parent dogs and puppies.
How does HonestDog handle extreme breeding?
Extreme-breeding traits – features bred to harmful extremes – can severely limit a dog's quality of life and cause high vet costs. That's exactly why the breeder matters most in affected breeds: someone who screens rigorously and selects for health is reducing those very risks.
HonestDog Solution
The higher a breed's inherited health risk, the more the breeder's choices matter. We don't list dogs that themselves carry extreme-breeding traits – features bred to harmful extremes. For a small number of breeds, assessing that reliably takes specialist veterinary diagnostics our verification process can't currently perform, so we don't place puppies of those breeds for now. That's a statement about what we can verify, not about the breeders of those breeds — it's precisely there that a careful breeder's work counts most. We're working with breeders and specialists to cover that testing in future.
How does HonestDog ensure transparency for buyers?
The lack of transparency from breeders can have significant disadvantages for buyers. Without clear information about the breeding and the health of the parent dogs and puppies, they cannot make informed decisions.
HonestDog Solution
We provide clear and comprehensive information about the breeding as well as the health of the parent dogs and puppies. This makes the decision for a puppy as easy as possible for you.
How does HonestDog prevent fraud attempts?
The insufficient verification of the identity of some breeders on online platforms can open the door to fraudulent activities. This has already caused significant financial damage to buyers.
HonestDog Solution
We conduct identity verifications for all breeders to ensure their identity. This reduces the risk of fraudulent activities.