How to sell puppies safely and responsibly

After weeks of nurturing and care, ensuring your precious bundles get to the right home is crucial for their long term security, and to propel your reputation as a responsible breeder. 

The right puppy in the right home is a match made in heaven, for both the puppy and their new owners. However if you get that match wrong, then it can be stressful for all concerned and can end in the puppy landing in a rescue centre. Not only is this tragic, but it could harm your reputation as an ethical and responsible breeder. 

Matching puppies with the right homes for them

When placing puppies with people it’s vital to understand their requirements as new dog owners. What do they dream of when they visualise themselves with their canine friend?

Do they want to walk for hours on end? In any weather? Or is a trip to the coffee shop more up their street? 

Do they want a dog for a job, for example an assistance role, or a working role? 

Each home is individual and so are the puppies themselves. 

In each litter you will observe the bold puppy, the quiet puppy, the cuddly puppy, and the playful puppy. 

When advising your potential new owners on the litter, discuss the individual traits of each puppy, and consider how that puppy is likely to grow and develop over time. Does that fit the requirements of the family who are enquiring about that puppy? 

Puppy choices based on colour and gender alone are not a good foundation for long term success. You need to truly understand your puppies, and then compare them to the homes on offer. 

Here is a free tool you can use to ensure your owners are clear on their dog owning expectations:
www.pupstartsbreeders.com/the-puppy-pie 

Matching puppies with the right people is crucial to them landing in happy forever homes and keeping them out of rescue. If you want to learn more on how to observe your puppies and understand them, and how to ensure you are matching the right puppy to the right home then check out this free workshop to help breeders. 

www.pupstartsbreeders.com/free-workshop 

Selling puppies - the UK Law

There are laws in the UK around the sale of puppies and in order to keep on the correct side of the law you may need to apply for a breeders licence before undertaking your breeding plans. 

Lucy's Law in particular states that anyone wanting to get a new puppy must now buy direct from a breeder. Third party sales are banned

This means licensed and un-licensed breeders must always be able to show the puppies interacting with their mothers in their place of birth. And any business selling puppies or kittens without a licence face receiving an unlimited fine or being sent to prison for up to six months.

Where to advertise your puppies

There are various options when it comes to advertising. Ensuring that you are using an ethical and well known platform is important to ensure your safety as a seller. Pets4homes offers an ID verification service, ensuring that the people who are enquiring after your puppies are who they say they are! After all, you are inviting complete strangers into your homes to view your litters. It is good practice to be cautious for your own well being. You can also verify your own ID to show that you, as the breeder, are who you say you are too. 

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However getting the enquiries is just the start. You shouldn't just hand your puppies to whoever will pay a pretty penny, you need to find the right owners for your pups. 

Using this free tool you can help to ensure that prospective puppy owners evaluate what they’re looking for in dog ownership. Having them go through this before you interview them or ask them to fill in an application form will mean they’re better prepared and have clear expectations vs a dream ideology on their future dog life. 

Building your reputation as a responsible dog breeder

Being bold and matching people with puppies will cement your reputation and enable you to build waiting lists so you have your pick when it comes to re-homing your puppies. 

Unhappy, unfulfilled puppies in the wrong homes often develop behavioural issues that result in them being sent to rescue centres. No one wants this to be the reality, so be brave and stand up for your puppies. Ensure they find their perfect match by guiding and informing the potential owners on which puppy is best for them. 

You are your puppies’ voice, and their advocate and when puppies are happy in their homes they thrive. Their owners have the puppy owning experience they dreamed of, they will recommend you as a breeder, and as a result your reputation will flourish. 

If you want to learn more about matching people and puppies check out our free workshop. www.pupstartsbreeders.com/free-workshop 

This article is a guest post kindly contributed by Rebecca Walters of Pupstarts Breeders. Pupstarts Breeders offer dog breeding courses to help you breed, whelp, and raise puppies responsibly, safely and with confidence. Their puppy profiling course sets you up to match your litters with their perfect forever homes. 
Learn more at www.pupstartsbreeders.com/dog-breeding-courses/

Ready to start selling? Create an advert on Pets4Homes