Finding a Puppy Safely

Bringing a puppy home is exciting, and that excitement is exactly what puppy farmers and scammers rely on. This guide helps you slow down, ask the right questions and find a healthy, well-raised puppy, whether you buy from a breeder or adopt from a rescue.

Start With Your Home

Before you look at a single photo, be honest about:

• Time - puppies need company, training, house training and several meals a day. Long days alone are hard on them.
• Exercise - some breeds need an hour or more of exercise every day. Check the breed's needs on our Breeds pages.
• Space - think about the dog's adult size, not the puppy's.
• Money - food, vaccinations, flea and worm treatment, insurance or savings for vet bills, training classes and, for some breeds, regular grooming.
• The long term - many dogs live 10 to 15 years or more.
• Allergies - no dog breed is truly hypoallergenic. If anyone at home has allergies, spend time with the actual dog first and talk to your doctor.

If the honest answer is that a puppy doesn't fit right now, an adult rescue dog, or waiting a while, may be the kinder choice.

Adopt or Buy?

Both can be good choices, as long as the people involved are responsible.

Rescue or rehoming organization - a good option if you're open to a mixed breed or an adult dog. A good rescue will check you're suitable, usually use an adoption contract, help you choose the right dog and offer ongoing support. Expect questions and perhaps a home check. That's a good sign.

Breeder - if you want a particular breed, look for a breeder who health tests the parents, raises puppies in their home, welcomes questions and cares more about the right home than a quick sale. You should be able to meet the puppy with its mother and littermates where they were raised.

Questions to Ask

A good breeder or rescue will be happy to answer these. Vague or unclear answers are a red flag.

About the puppy

• How old is the puppy, and when will they be ready to leave?
• How has the puppy been socialized? Are they used to handling, household noises, children or other pets?
• Do they or their parents have any known health or behavior problems?

About health and paperwork

• Can I see the vaccination records and other vet history?
• Has the puppy been wormed and treated for fleas, and when?
• Is the puppy microchipped, and whose details are registered?
• What health tests have the parents had, and can I see the results? Each of our breed pages lists the tests to ask about.

About the breeder or rescue

• Can I visit, see where the puppies are raised and meet the mother?
• If they say they are a breeder or rescue, can they show credentials and references from previous buyers or adopters?
• Where has the puppy come from? Was the puppy born here or brought in from somewhere else?
• What happens if a health problem comes up after I take the puppy home? Do you take dogs back if things don't work out?

Expect them to ask you questions too. Someone who cares about their puppies will want to know about your home, routine and experience with dogs. Written puppy contracts, such as those promoted on the UK government's buying guidance, can help you get the right information before you agree to a sale.

Warning Signs of Puppy Farms and Scams

Walk away if you notice any of these:

• The seller offers to meet you somewhere neutral, such as a car park, or to ship the puppy, instead of letting you visit where the puppy lives.
• You can't meet the mother, or can't get information about the parents.
• You're asked to send money to another country.
• The seller asks for payment by gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency or wire transfer, which are very hard to get back.
• There's pressure to pay a deposit straight away before you've seen the puppy.
• The price is much lower than other sellers, especially for a sought-after breed.
• The seller has many different breeds available.
• The photos or customer reviews also appear on other websites.
• They don't ask anything about you or your lifestyle.
• There are no vet records, no health guarantee and no return policy.

Before you pay anything, search the seller's name with words like "review", "scam" or "complaint", ask for a live video call with the puppy, and visit in person whenever you can.

Puppies From Abroad

Some puppies sold or rehomed are imported from other countries. These dogs may have been exposed to diseases or parasites, may be too young to have been imported legally, or may have traveled in poor conditions. Ask exactly where the puppy was born and check the import paperwork carefully.

The Law in Different Places

Rules on selling puppies differ between countries, and often between states, provinces and local areas. These are some key points for the places we cover most. Check with your local or national authority for the full rules where you live.

US

• Federal rules say a dog must be at least 8 weeks old and weaned before it can be transported in commerce, except to a registered research facility. Check your state and local rules as well.
• Dogs entering the US must meet CDC requirements, which depend on where the dog has been in the previous 6 months, plus USDA and state rules. Dogs imported for resale have extra USDA requirements.
• If you think you've seen a pet scam, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

England

• A responsible seller will never sell a puppy younger than 8 weeks old.
• All dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered by 8 weeks old, so a puppy should already be microchipped when you collect them. Owners can be fined up to £500 if a dog is not microchipped when it should be.
• You must deal directly with the breeder or a rehoming center. Licensed sellers cannot sell puppies they haven't bred themselves, and animals cannot be sold as pets in public places such as market stalls.
• A responsible dog breeder or pet seller will display their local council animal activity license number online, and you can check it with the council. People selling a small number of puppies bred from their own pets, for example as a hobby, may not need a license.
• Imported puppies must be at least 15 weeks old if they come from the EU and certain other listed countries, and at least 7 months old if they come from other countries. The government advises that all imported dogs are tested for Brucella canis.
• Tail docking and ear cropping are illegal in England and Wales unless specifically exempted for medical or welfare reasons.
• Report concerns about puppies advertised for sale, or a puppy you think was imported illegally, to your local Trading Standards.

Canada

• Since September 28, 2022, commercial dogs from countries at high risk for dog rabies have not been allowed into Canada. Commercial dogs include those intended for resale, adoption, fostering or breeding, or being given to another person.
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency notes that dogs cannot be effectively vaccinated against rabies before 12 weeks of age, so check the age on any rabies certificate.
• Check with your province or municipality for any local rules on breeders and sales.

Australia

• Check the rules in your state or territory. In New South Wales, breeders must have a breeder identification number, mandatory for all breeders from December 1, 2025, which you can check on the NSW Pet Registry.
• Under Australian Consumer Law, buying a pet from a business comes with automatic consumer guarantees. A pet sold with a specific description, such as breed or vaccinations, must match that description.
• Scamwatch advises seeing the pet in person, or at least on a video call, checking the breeder is legitimate, and being wary of very cheap prices.

EU

• New EU rules on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats, Regulation (EU) 2026/1818, will apply from August 31, 2028, with some parts applying later. They cover breeding, keeping and selling dogs and cats, identification and registration, and online advertisements. Until then, national rules apply, so check with the authority in your country.

On tail docking and ear cropping more widely, the American Veterinary Medical Association opposes both when done for cosmetic reasons, and rules differ from place to place.

Your Puppy's First Week

Have these ready before your puppy arrives:

1. A quiet, safe space with a bed, water and a few chew toys.
2. The same food the puppy has been eating, so their stomach can settle. Change food gradually later if you want to.
3. A vet appointment booked for a health check and to plan vaccinations and parasite treatment.
4. A house training routine. See House Training.
5. A plan for gentle socialization and short training sessions. See Puppy Training Basics.
6. Microchip registration updated to your name and contact details.

See also Dog Breeds, Vaccinations and Feeding Puppies and Dogs by Age.

Sources

• GOV.UK, Buying a Cat or Dog
• GOV.UK, Selling Animals as Pets Licence (England)
• GOV.UK, Get Your Dog or Cat Microchipped
• eCFR, 9 CFR 2.130 Minimum Age Requirements
• CDC, Bringing a Dog into the U.S.
• Federal Trade Commission, Getting a Pet? Avoid Scams
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ask Questions Before You Buy or Adopt a Dog
• NSW Government, Buying a Pet
• Scamwatch, Buying and Selling Scams
• European Commission, Protecting the Welfare of Dogs and Cats
• American Veterinary Medical Association, Ear Cropping and Tail Docking of Dogs
• American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Pet Allergies
• PDSA, Your Dog's Diet

Last reviewed October 15, 2026