5 Things to Never Forget When You’re Selling a Puppy

Do you have one or multiple puppies that you’re trying to find loving homes for? Finding the right home for these fluffy pups isn’t as easy as it sounds. Everyone loves puppies, but finding someone who can keep one (and who’s also going to be a good and loving owner) is difficult.

How can you know that your puppy is going to a good home?

Whether you’re an ethical breeder, your dog is pregnant with puppies, or you’ve found strays, selling a puppy the right way is essential if you want these furry friends to have good homes.

Keep reading to learn a few things that you should always keep in mind when you’re trying to figure out how to find the right home for your puppy.

1. Pick the Right Platform

When you’re trying to figure out how to sell puppies online, the platform that you’re using to sell them matters. Different platforms attract different people, and some are more impersonal than others.

Many people opt for sites like Craigslist. While this is an easy enough place to start, the site is less popular than it once was, and it’s hard to determine whether or not the person inquiring about the puppy is going to be a good owner (more on that later).

Because there are so many puppies on there, you might have trouble standing out. You also risk bargain hunters. Choosing beggars are everywhere.

Local marketplaces on Facebook are great for posting your puppies as you have easier access to the potential owners and communication is easier than ever.

If you sell puppies often, consider making your own website or including yourself in a puppy directory. This way, people looking for puppies in your local area will find you when they search for puppies in search engines.

2. You Should Vet the Potential Owners

Not everyone is cut out to own a puppy. It’s your job to make sure that your sweet little dogs make their way to a safe and happy forever home, so you need to vet the owners.

There are people out there who want to use baby animals for nefarious purposes, like bait or dogfighting. While this is less common for puppies, it’s something that you need to watch out for.

Be cautious when someone is buying a puppy around the holidays or as a birthday present for someone who lives outside of their home. Puppies that are given as gifts are sometimes left homeless when the novelty wears off.

Talk to owners about their experience with dogs (if any) and what conditions the dog will live in. New dog owners aren’t bad, but you want to make sure that they’re ready for the responsibility.

Talk to them about getting puppies fixed, the proper vaccines (consider offering the vaccines before they buy the puppy to make sure), and proper overall puppy care.

3. Take Good Pictures

Are you having trouble selling your puppies? Your pictures might be part of the problem.

With so many puppies available online, you need to stand out amongst the crowd. You know that your puppies are adorable, but a grainy and dark photo won’t attract new owners.

Most modern cell phones have high-quality cameras that are good enough to take clear pictures of puppies in good light. Try to catch your puppies sitting still. We know how hard that is!

Make sure that your photos clearly show the color, size, and fur texture of the puppies. You should also try to show their personalities if possible.

If you sell puppies often, it might benefit you to invest in a good camera and some cute set-ups for photos. These things can be expensive, but they’re worth it.

4. Price Your Puppies Right

Your puppies are valuable. Make sure that you price them as such.

Never offer free puppies online. Even if the dogs aren’t purebred or popular breeds, marking puppies as “free” can attract lower-quality buyers.

For purebred or sought-after dogs, set a price higher than you think is appropriate. You can look at local listings for dogs that are the same breed. A higher price means that anyone who chooses to inquire about the puppies will have more interest and they’re less likely to harm the puppy. After all, it’s an investment.

Even if you have puppies that are “mutts,” don’t price them as free online. If you choose to give the puppies away once you talk to potential buyers, that’s your decision.

This means that you can attract buyers with moderate prices and then use your judgment once you talk to them.

5. Your Puppy’s Age Matters

On a more basic level, you need to remember the appropriate time to sell a puppy in the first place.

Professional ethical breeders already know this, but if you’re new to selling puppies, you might be unaware.

Puppies that are too young aren’t yet ready to be separated from their mothers. Even puppies who have already weaned still need family time if you want them to be healthy and well-behaved in the future. Puppies should be at least 8 weeks old.

You also shouldn’t wait too long. Younger puppies (closer to the 8-week mark), are often more popular than older puppies. People see them as more trainable, and they’re undeniably cute.

Selling a Puppy? Do It the Right Way

When you’re selling a puppy, you’re responsible for finding it a safe and happy home. Puppies depend on you until they find their new owners.

Use great photos, proper pricing, and good vetting practices to make sure that your puppies find their perfect forever homes. It’s time to give someone the gift of a lifelong companion.

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