Buying a puppy safely

Nothing here guarantees a seller is genuine — we can't promise that, and anyone who tells you they can is worth being wary of in itself. These are the checks that catch most problems.

Before you pay anything

• See the puppy in person, at the breeder's own home or premises, before any money changes hands.
• See the puppy with its mother. A breeder who can't or won't show you this is a reason to stop, not a detail to let go.
• If the breeder claims a licence number, check it yourself with their local authority rather than taking the number on trust — most councils keep a public register, and the licensing or environmental health team can confirm it by phone or email.
• Be cautious of being asked to pay a deposit by bank transfer before you've seen the puppy, especially under time pressure ("someone else is interested").

Patterns worth knowing

A common pattern: a low price for a popular breed, a seller who won't meet in person or arrange a video call showing the actual puppy and its mother together, and a request to pay a "delivery" or "transport" fee after an initial deposit, for a puppy that doesn't exist. None of these alone proves a scam, but together they're worth stopping for.

If something feels wrong

If you think you've been scammed, or a listing looks fraudulent, report it to Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre. If you're worried about a specific breeder's welfare standards rather than fraud, that's a different report to a different body — see how we vet breeders for the licensing authority that applies.