Dog Breeder Red Flags: Warning Signs to Avoid
The following are key red flags to identify unethical dog breeders, particularly those selling puppies online and through online puppy broker websites. Responsible dog breeders prioritize the welfare of their dogs and are transparent with buyers.
- Lack of Personal Interaction:
- Breeder is willing to sell you a puppy without meeting you in person. Red Flag.
Breeder insists on meeting in a neutral locations like hotel, rest areas, or parking lots rather than their facilities.
2. Restricted Access to the Breeding Facility:
- Breeder refuses to let you meet the breeding parents or view the property.
- Claims about maintaining “clean kennels” as a reason to deny visits are often excuses to hide poor conditions.
3. High-Volume Breeding:
- Breeder consistently has multiple litters available.
- Breeder offers several different breeds for sale at the same time.
- Breeder appears more focused on payment arrangements than ensuring the puppies go to good homes.
4. Shipping Puppies Sigh Unseen:
- Is the breeder willing to ship a puppy without meeting you in person.
- Is the online breeder offering to ship the dog? Puppies are usually transported via routes involving distribution centers, warehousing and long trucking journeys. Puppies often get sick and develop severe anxiety issues due to the stress in transport.
- Breeders or websites willing to fly the puppy to you usually charge excessive fees. It is a huge money maker. Pick your puppy up in person.
5. Selling Puppies Under 8 Weeks Old:
- Puppies offered for sale and shipped before they are 8 weeks of age is unethical, illegal and harmful to the development of the puppy.
6. Puppies For Sale On Puppy Broker Websites:
- Websites listing hundreds or even thousands of puppies for sale act as middlemen for puppy mills. The websites charge fees for the listings.
7. Multiple Breeds Available:
- Does the breeder offer multiple breeds or has a continuous supply of puppies. This is a red flag.
8. Payment Methods and Focus:
- Is the online breeder asking for payment via a credit card, cash or an online service such as Paypal, Western Union or their own exclusive payment system?
- Does the website want payment before you can know who the breeder is?
8. Lack of Online Transparency:
- Phone numbers, emails or images show up in multiple online listings with the puppy having different names and prices.
- Websites will not disclose who the breeder is until payment is made and the puppy is delivered.
- All puppies being sold are the same age and price.
- Communication by text or email, no phone calls.
- Delays and poor communication.
- Extra fees for crates.
- Request for full payment
Beware of fake Venmo and easy pay accounts, If your bank denies the transaction that is a red flag.
Listen to your instincts!