Selling Puppies Safely – Safety Tips When Advertising Puppies For Sale.
One of our Holidays4Dogs followers recently asked if we could write an article on safety tips when selling puppies. This was after she had read a news story about the theft of a pregnant bitch. Read on for tips on selling puppies safely.
Dog theft has been on the increase in recent years. In the last few years the purchase cost of pedigree – and cross-breed dogs – has sky rocketed. As a result, thieves will go to extreme lengths to target breeders of puppies. Pregnant females, or even whole litters of puppies, are being stolen.
There are a few precautions that owners can take to ensure that, they too, don’t become victim to dog theft.
Never give out your address until you know that someone genuinely wants to visit. In addition, don’t advertise pups with photographs that might provide clues about your address.
Take details of any prospective purchaser before they come to visit, including their telephone number and address.
Make sure someone is with you when people come to view the puppies.
It’s always good practice to communicate with prospective purchasers either on the telephone, or via e-mail. This way you can establish what sort of dog they are looking for and what type of home life they can offer.
Take lots of information from prospective purchasers.
This is important, since you will want to establish that your puppies are going to a good home. You can get a feel for a person if you speak to them a couple of times prior to their visit. You could even consider putting up a questionnaire on your advert, stating you will only answer inquires from people who have responded fully. This will help to put less genuine people off.
Selling, or purchasing puppies, should be something that involves a two way discussion over a period of time and not a snap decision on either side. If you are in any way suspicious of a prospective purchaser simply ask them to leave the premises.
For added security, you may wish to consider installing security cameras. This could be as simple as something as a doorbell camera. You can can also buy cameras very cheaply these days for indoor use. These simply plug in and can be linked to your phone. This will provide playback and you can also keep an eye on your puppies when you are in another part of the house, or away from home.
As a precaution, it’s a good idea to take detailed photographs of the adult dogs and puppies you own. Take pictures of your dog, (and any puppies) from front, rear and side angles. Include pictures of any particular markings.
Also, bear in mind, if you sell more than three litters per year you must be registered with your local council under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals)( England) Regulations 2018.
Conclusion.
It can be an emotional and worrying time when selling a much-loved litter of puppies. However, by following our tips it’s possible to embark on selling puppies safely.
It’s a good idea to consider to insuring your dog. In the event of theft, the insurance company will cover the cost of advertising to find your pet. If your dog is stolen you can report this to the police as well as the National Pet Register and Animal Search UK.
If you are thinking about having a litter of puppies from your dog – please read our other article; ‘Should my dog have puppies before being spayed?’
