Buy your next dog with care.

Before you contact a seller

• Research the breed’s exercise, temperament, grooming, health risks and lifetime costs.
• Read the entire advert and compare photographs, dates, location and seller history for inconsistencies.
• Check whether the seller appears commercial and, if so, whether licensing may be required.
• Ask why the dog is being sold or rehomed and who bred it.
• Do not rely on a badge, Trust Score or verification indicator as a substitute for your own checks.

Meet the dog in person

• Visit the dog where it normally lives or, for a licensed business, at the lawful premises.
• For a puppy, ask to see it naturally interacting with its biological mother and littermates.
• Avoid sellers who insist on car parks, roadside handovers, courier-only delivery or changing addresses.
• Observe the dog’s health, breathing, eyes, movement, coat, behaviour and living conditions.
• Consider taking another adult and tell someone where you are going.

Check the paperwork

• Confirm the microchip number and keeper details.
• Review vaccination, worming, flea-treatment and veterinary records.
• Check breed-relevant health-test results and the identity of the tested parents.
• Verify a commercial breeder or seller’s licence directly with the issuing local authority where licensing applies.
• Use a written receipt or agreement recording the parties, dog, price, microchip and material terms.

Payments and deposits

• Do not send money merely because a seller says another buyer is waiting.
• Be especially cautious of gift cards, cryptocurrency, unfamiliar payment links, fake escrow, courier or insurance demands.
• Never believe claims that ePuP holds, guarantees or insures your money unless the official ePuP product expressly says so.
• If payment details suddenly change, independently confirm why before sending money.
• If you believe you have been defrauded, contact your bank promptly and use the appropriate official fraud-reporting channel.

Minimum age and responsible sale

Official guidance says responsible sellers should not sell a puppy younger than eight weeks. In England, licensed pet-selling businesses are prohibited from selling puppies under eight weeks and commercial third-party puppy sales are restricted.

Buyers should deal directly with the breeder or a reputable rehoming organisation where required by law and should verify licensing independently.

Official buyer guidance: GOV.UK – buying a cat or dog.