Selling Puppies: How to Advertise and Sell Responsibly

Set the Price. To determine an initial price, research the market price for the breed of dog you're selling. Then, factor in the cost of food and veterinary care for the puppies until they are handed over to their new owners, including health checks and vaccinations.

• In the U.S., the total cost, including vet visits, vaccinations, and food, could range from $425 to $880 (around 10 million to 20 million VND).
• Mixed breed dogs may not have a standard price. In this case, you will only account for veterinary and food costs.
• If your dog is purebred, you can visit the American Kennel Club dog breed web page to check whether your dog meets the breed's standards. If it does, your puppies are considered purebred and can be sold for a higher price.

Post Advertisements at Local Vet Clinics and Pet Stores. Ask your veterinarian if you can post an advertisement in their clinic's waiting area. You can also visit local pet stores and ask if they'd allow you to display your puppy ads. Your ad should include photos of the puppies, the price, and your contact information.

• Take good photos of your puppies. You'll want to make them look irresistibly cute to potential buyers!
• Consider including details about the breed, coat type, and gender of the puppies.

Contact Members of Dog Breeder Clubs (such as the American Kennel Club or the United Kennel Club in the U.S.). Reach out to your contacts within the club to see if they know any potential buyers. To stay connected, consider attending dog shows and events hosted by dog lover societies.

• If you are a registered breeder with the American Kennel Club, you can also list your puppies on the American Kennel Club Marketplace.

Create a Website to Advertise Your Puppies. Building a website can be an easy and low-cost way to reach potential customers. If you're a registered breeder or planning to sell more puppies in the future, this can be a great way to raise awareness about your program. Post beautiful photos of your puppies, create an 'About' page to share more about yourself, and a 'Contact' page with your contact details.

• Consider using website builders like WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix. These platforms offer free options and make formatting much easier.
• If you distribute flyers, include your website address in the contact information. This will help drive traffic to your site and make your puppies more visible to a wider audience!

Use a Puppy Sale Website, but Prioritize Local Buyers. Websites like these allow you to list puppies for sale. While they are convenient, they come with some risks. If the buyer is far away, you won’t be able to meet them in person, which is an essential part of finding a good home for your puppies. The travel and shipping process can also be stressful for the puppies. To screen potential buyers and keep the puppies safe, it's best to prioritize local buyers.

• Some of the top puppy sale websites in the U.S. include Puppies.com (formerly Puppy Find), Nextdaypets.com, and Puppyspot.com. Although posting ads is free, they charge a fee for contacting the buyers.
• You can also sell puppies on classified websites like Hoobly.com and Gumtree.com. Note that Craigslist.com does not allow pet sales.

Ask About the Buyer’s Lifestyle to Determine If They Are a Good Fit for Your Puppy. When a potential buyer contacts you, ask about their family, living situation, and daily activities. For example, a large breed dog may not be suitable for someone living in a small apartment and working all day. To gather this information, you can prepare a set of questions for them to fill out and return, or conduct an interview over the phone. Some questions you could ask include:

• Have you owned a dog before?
• Do you have other pets?
• Do you have a backyard?
• How many hours are you away from home each day?
• Can you afford veterinary and medical care for the dog?
• Do you have young children at home?
• Do you have time for training the dog to walk on a leash, go to the bathroom, and meet other essential needs?
• Are you familiar with the special needs of this breed?

Meet potential owners in person. If you think a potential buyer is a good fit, arrange an in-person meeting and invite their family to meet the puppy. During the meeting, ensure that you provide health details about the puppy, answer any questions, and give them time to interact with the puppies. For safety, verify the buyer's identity by asking to see their ID and avoid meeting them alone.

• If the buyer seems genuinely interested in the puppy's well-being, that’s a positive sign. A buyer who asks many questions and treats the puppy gently is likely a good match for your dog.
• Be cautious of buyers who show little interest or do not inquire about the puppy's health and lifestyle needs. This could indicate they are not truly invested in providing proper care for the dog.

Request a deposit from the buyer if they want to reserve a puppy. If the potential owner wants to reserve a specific puppy, ask for a refundable or non-refundable deposit to secure the spot.

• The deposit amount should be reasonable based on the puppy's sale price. Ensure it's enough to prevent you from losing a great future owner for the dog!

Offer to draft a contract to reassure the buyer. Once you agree to sell a puppy, consider creating a contract to formalize the transfer of ownership. If you're unfamiliar with drafting one, you can find sample contracts online. The contract can include assurances such as the dog’s purebred status, health guarantees, agreements on spaying/neutering, and the promise to take the dog back if it doesn’t work out with the new owner.

• If you guarantee the dog is purebred, provide registration papers to confirm its pedigree.
• The option to take back the dog can protect it from ending up in an unsuitable home or being surrendered to a shelter.
• A health guarantee ensures the buyer that the puppy will not develop issues like heart disease or hip dysplasia, and they can return it for a replacement if these problems arise. Every breed has its unique health risks, so be specific about those for your breed.

Wait until the puppies are at least 8 weeks old. Separating puppies from the litter too early can lead to long-term emotional issues. In many U.S. states, selling puppies younger than 8 weeks is prohibited.

• If puppies are separated from their littermates too soon, they might develop anxiety, fear, or aggression as they grow. They may also be more difficult to train.
• For poodles, you should wait until they are at least 15 weeks old to ensure their immune system is fully developed before selling them.

Ensure the health of the puppies. Before the puppies move to their new home, take them to a vet for a health check-up and to receive necessary vaccinations. Don’t forget to keep a medical record for the litter to hand over to the new owner.

Maintain a clean and safe environment at home. To keep your puppies healthy and comfortable, regularly clean their living space. Be sure to wash their bedding, sanitize their area, and clean up after them. Mother dogs take on the task of bathing their puppies when they are young. If you notice the puppies getting dirty or if the mother cannot clean them, use a warm damp cloth to wipe them down.

• Avoid bathing the puppies for at least the first 4 weeks. Immersing young puppies in water can be dangerous, so many people wait until they are several weeks to months old before bathing the puppies for the first time. First-time bathing for puppies.

Introduce the puppies to people and other dogs safely. Interacting with others helps the puppies become accustomed to their new environment and gain confidence. Once cleared by the vet (usually after they’ve received their vaccinations), give the puppies regular opportunities to socialize with both adults, children, and other dogs.

• Always supervise the puppies when they interact with children or other dogs.
• Expose the puppies to new sights and sounds to encourage their socialization. You can take them outside to meet neighbors or play music in their living space to help them adapt.

Invite the new owners to your home to pick up the puppy. Arrange for the new owners to come and pick up their puppy in person, ensuring a smooth and safe handover. If they are far away, consider meeting at a midway point to complete the transaction. For safety, make sure the buyer makes the payment in your preferred method before handing over the puppy.

• You may request the payment via secure online platforms like PayPal or suggest paying by debit or credit card.
• It is best to avoid using shipping services. While they may transport the puppy safely, the shipping process can still cause stress and even trauma for the puppies.

• Websites selling puppies may carry a higher risk of scams. Prioritize selling to buyers you can meet in person and assess in person.
• You are not allowed to sell puppies on Craigslist or eBay.

• Consider consulting a veterinarian to verify the buyer's identity and determine if they are a suitable match for the puppy.
• If you plan to sell more litters in the future, follow best practices to establish a responsible breeding program.