Buying a puppy: breeder, animal welfare, or private? What you should look out for!
Getting a →puppy is easier these days than you might think. Due to the high demand, the puppy trade is booming like never before. But how can you spot untrustworthy ads online? What is the difference between breeders and mass producers? And how can you identify a reputable animal welfare organization? Thanks to our checklists you’ll be well informed and won’t fall for any sales tricks!
Buying a puppy from a breeder
Most people get a puppy of a certain →dog breed from a breeder. The problem is: The term "breeder" is not protected. That means anyone can call themselves a breeder, even animal traders from abroad who sell puppies to Germany. For this reason, it’s very important that you thoroughly research the sellers before buying your puppy.
Hobby breeding, mass producers, or commercial breeding
A hobby breeder (often also referred to as a mass producer) is only allowed to keep one or two breeding females of a breed and expect one to a maximum of two litters per year. This means they are not subject to the legal requirements of commercial dog breeders.
The possibilities for control by lawmakers are limited for hobby breeders. So, in addition to responsible hobby breeders, there are also some "bad apples" who engage in shady puppy trading.
A commercial dog breeding operation is defined as breeders who own three or more breeding females or expect three or more litters per year (§11, 8a of the Animal Welfare Act). Such breeding requires approval from the relevant veterinary office. In addition, the person must be a member of a breeding club and thus meet certain requirements.
Checklist: How to recognize reputable breeders:
The puppies have a →vaccination card with initial mandatory vaccinations, a pedigree certificate, are microchipped, dewormed, have a health certificate and, if applicable, an EU pet passport.
The breeder keeps a kennel book/mating book. If there are more than two breeds and four litters per year, be cautious.
You receive a proper and complete purchase contract.
You are allowed to visit the breeder at home several times and see the animals’ living conditions.
The mother dog is present and can be met.
Both the puppies and the mother dog appear healthy and lively.
The mother dog treats the puppies with care and affection.
The puppies show a playful and adventurous spirit, are not underweight, fearful, or apathetic.
The environment appears clean, bright, and warm. Sufficient →toys and water are available for the puppies.
→The price is not dirt cheap or excessively expensive.
You are offered multiple visiting appointments.
The breeders are interested in you, ask questions and may want to conduct a pre-check.
When taking the puppy home, the puppies are at least 8 weeks old.
A little tip: Are you getting a puppy from a breeder? The little ones initially need →special puppy food. Ask the previous owners which food they gave the puppy and, for a stress-free →food transition at first, continue to feed the familiar food. Later, you can switch to other puppy food.
The tastiest for the little ones – our puppy food
Buying puppies from (foreign) animal welfare organizations
When it comes to animal welfare and puppies from abroad, some things are different due to certain circumstances. For example, if the puppy is still abroad, it’s harder to assess what the puppy is like and what the conditions are on site. If the puppy is already in a foster home or animal shelter in Germany, the adoption process is a bit easier.
Just like with breeders, buying a puppy from animal welfare organizations should not be rushed, should be well thought out, and even better researched! But here too, there are a few pointers to help you spot the "bad apples" among animal welfare organizations.
Checklist: How to recognize reputable animal welfare organizations:
The organization is registered and ideally non-profit. If so, you’ll find "e.V." at the end of the organization’s name, meaning "registered association". Also check the legal notice on the website. Here you’ll also find information about non-profit status. Usually, only German organizations active abroad are non-profit, as non-profit law applies in Germany and Austria.
A well-maintained website and Facebook page are available. Posts and job listings are up to date.
There are testimonials and reviews online and on social media.
The organization has animals of all ages, not just puppies. If puppies are up for adoption, you should always ask about the mother dog. The goal of reputable animal welfare organizations should always be to take in the puppies together with the mother and, at the right time, find a new home for the mother as well.
The organization is involved in other topics related to animal welfare and for example, collects donations, participates in projects, and provides educational work on the website.
Animals that are adopted should all be vaccinated, microchipped, and tested for Mediterranean diseases. →Other diseases should not be hidden, but openly discussed. While this is rare for puppies, looking at other ads from the organization can show how they handle the topic.
All information about the animal such as age, origin, character, and traits, records of medical history and vaccinations received should be included in the ad.
The puppy should when leaving the country not be younger than eight weeks, preferably not younger than 4 months. The reason is that animals from abroad are often weakened by malnutrition and health problems. In addition, the stress of traveling to Germany and the new germs for the dog’s body can be dangerous for most dogs, especially puppies.
A pre-check and, if necessary, a follow-up check are carried out. Reputable organizations take the time to get to know you and make sure what the potential new home for the animal looks like. For rental properties, some organizations even require written permission from the landlord to keep a pet.
The organization provides plenty of photos and videos of the animal. They are happy to answer all your questions and, if necessary, send you more recent and additional video material.
The animal comes with a vaccination card and, if applicable, an EU pet passport.
There is a protection or purchase contract. The required protection fee is reasonable and usually amounts to between 200 and 400 euros. Reputable organizations strive to be transparent about how the protection fee is calculated. In addition, a written adoption contract before taking in the animal is not uncommon to protect both sides.
Puppies from animal shelters or foreign animal welfare organizations also deserve a loving →starter kit. Spoil your new companion with a soft bed, delicious puppy food, and a nice collar!
Everything you need: Our starter kit for puppies
Buying puppies from private classified ads
The digital age makes it possible for you to buy a puppy online with a click. While this may sound macabre, it can also end badly, as there are some scammers and "bad apples" in the puppy trade online.
Of course, nowadays, there’s hardly any way around researching online when looking for a puppy. With just a few clicks, you’ll find countless online platforms with lots of cute puppy ads. "Dog to give away privately due to health reasons"—this should raise a red flag. Ask lots of questions and don’t let yourself be swayed by cute puppy pictures!
Checklist – How to recognize reputable private classified ads
The ad is posted on reputable platforms. Avoid sites where ads can be posted without prior review by professionals.
What is the reason for giving up the puppy? Statements like "sudden allergy", "bereavement", or "lack of time" are not sufficient reasons. Be sure to ask further questions here so you don’t fall for a trick.
The sellers give you time to get to know the puppy, ask questions and, ideally, visit several times before you have to make a purchase decision.
The sellers are interested in you, ask questions and, ideally, conduct a pre-check of the potential new home.
The puppy appears healthy, seems open and playful and does not fearful or apathetic.
You can visit the sellers at home several times and, if possible, even meet the mother dog. The environment appears clean, bright, and suitable for puppies.
The sellers willingly provide information about living together so far, the behavior and character of the puppy. The origin of the puppy is not concealed.
A vaccination card and EU pet passport are available and up to date. The puppy is microchipped, vaccinated, and dewormed. If applicable, there is a pedigree certificate and a health certificate.
The price for the puppy is not dirt cheap or totally overpriced.
The puppy comes with a reputable purchase contract, which is issued at the latest upon handover.
Also ask to see the previous purchase contract for the puppy and check it carefully.
Which documents must be handed over when buying a puppy?
Whether puppy or older dog, breeder or animal welfare— a purchase contract is mandatory and should be completed at the latest when the animal is handed over.
Look at the purchase contract carefully. It should always include:
Name, address, and contact details of the buyers and sellers
Name and breed of the dog
Date of birth (usually estimated for animal welfare cases)
Pedigree number (breeding only)
Microchip information
Date of transfer
Purchase price and payment method
Very important: Always read the fine print! If there’s something you don’t understand or that seems odd, ask before signing the contract!
