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Selling and buying puppies work hand in hand. If you’re planning to get a pup, expect breeders to ask you a lot of questions.
Responsible breeders would want to make sure that they find a good match for their puppies. Every puppy should have a home where they’ll be part of the family and a household where their specific breed is suitable.
We prepared this downloadable template for you, CLICK HERE to scroll down to the section where you’ll be able to download it
Contents & Quick Navigation
What breeders look for in buyers?
Breeders who’d be interviewing or asking puppy buyers to fill out a questionnaire is not meant to be judgemental at all. It will help them place the little fur angels in the right home.
As a buyer, feel free to answer all questions candidly. You might think it’s personal, but it’s all for the welfare of the puppy.
Questions that will help screen puppy buyers
With every questionnaires and forms, basic information is needed. Puppy buyers have to provide their complete name and address, contact numbers, as well as their email.
Other questions that seem basic but essential are your occupation, as well as your spouse or partner, the number of family members, and the ages of each.
Don’t forget references such as mutual acquaintances that currently own the breed that you like or dog trainers. They’d be kept confidential, but they’re needed for an additional background check.
We mentioned some sample questions that can be included in a puppy buyer questionnaire.
Breeders mostly have further questions that are related to the breed they’re selling, but these are the crucial ones.
Why choose this breed?
The first actual question that would concern breeders is the buyer’s purpose of choosing that specific kind of dog. Did they have this breed before, which means they already know what to expect?
It could fall into different categories. Is the buyer purchasing that puppy or breed as a family companion or for pet therapy? Is it for a dog show, obedience, or agility competitions? Maybe for hunting or fieldwork, or breeding purposes?
Whether it’s your first time getting a dog or not, here’s a video to help you know which breed suits your lifestyle:
Not only will the Breeder think of the current situation of the buyer and the puppy, but also the dog’s future.
What other pets do you currently have?
Some breeds are NOT suited for homes with other dogs or pets.
Others aren’t okay with having little dogs around, while some will get too scared if they live with a canine that is way bigger than them.
Puppy buyers would need to know how many pets you have in your house, what breed, and their ages. They’d also have to be informed if fellow dogs are spayed or neutered.
The concerns here are financial costs in having an addition to the family, accidental mating or avoiding injury to all the animals in their home.
Most people who get puppies either underestimate or forget the expenses that are involved aside from dog food. There’s annual license fees, veterinary costs, insurances, even dog boarding services whenever owners travel!
If ever you’ve encountered a puppy buyer questionnaire or application form, you would notice that some of them would only have a few slots for current pets.
Some breeders would prefer potential buyers who have only one pet, while others are okay if you have a maximum of three pets.
What will be the living condition of the dog?
Do you live somewhere that is warm or cold? Canines have different types of coating, and each has specific needs when it comes to location.
How about those high-energy breeds or diggers? Does the buyer already have a fenced yard, or will they be able to provide it? Do they live in a condo, apartment, mobile home, or a house with a pool?
It may seem over the top, but our little fur babies need to live in a comfortable home.
Who will primarily take care of the dog?
All pets need our care and attention every day. It’s our responsibility to fulfill their needs, even for an hour or so.
If you’re going to buy a puppy to lock them in a crate 24/7, then it’s best to forget about all this. Everyone must be on board in wanting and getting a dog. It should be clear that not only one person will look after the new pup.
The responsibilities of having a pet should be shared efficiently and promptly.
Having a puppy would also demand time, not just for playing, feeding, and cleaning, but also for exercise, training, health maintenance, and grooming.
Some breeds are more active, more stubborn, or just lazy. Potential buyers must know the kind of workload that comes with getting a pup. Knowing this would help breeders inform new and experienced dog owners what to expect even before they get overwhelmed and regret their decision.
If you have kids, are they aware of how to handle a puppy or how will they be instructed to care for it?
It may be cute to see babies or toddlers with their canine friends in pictures or videos, but it’s not always the case.
Caution is always needed for the safety of the children and the dog.
Little kiddos must be made aware of how to behave around their pets, while owners should know how to deal with any possible situation that may arise. What if the dog becomes aggressive towards the child?
Luckily, these questions would help the breeders pass their knowledge to potential buyers.
Is there anyone in your family with allergies?
If everyone in your home agrees on getting a dog, then you know who has allergies and who doesn’t. The good news is, there are a lot of breeds, both pure and mixed, who can live peacefully with those who suffer from allergies.
Here are the top 20 dogs who are almost hypoallergenic or low-maintenance:
Bichon Frise | Afghan Hound |
| Schnauzer | Basenji |
Poodle | Cairn Terrier |
Bedlington Terrier | |
Shih Tzu | Coton de Tulear |
Maltese | Irish Water Spaniel |
Lagotto Romagnolo | |
Scottish Terrier | |
West Highland Terrier | Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier |
| Havanese | Italian Greyhound |
How many hours a day will the dog be left alone?
Again, these are just a few hypoallergenic dogs that will help widen your search if it’s a major concern for choosing a puppy.
Breeders are looking for potential owners who will be the best friend of the dog. If you haven’t heard of it before, some breeds suffer from separation anxiety.
Understandably, we have to go to work or school, but being a responsible paw parent means you can devote a part of your day to your fur baby. Make sure that he or she will get enough love, attention, and quality time every day.
There are new dog owners that don’t notice how negative they react when they get a new pup. They unknowingly give their pet non-stop attention in its first few weeks, then the poor doggo gets ignored or left alone for more than 10 hours a day.
Puppy sale application forms and contracts
Now that you have an idea of what questions to ask (if you’re a breeder) or answer (if you’re a buyer), you should also know that there are different forms involved when puppies are sold and bought.
Aside from the questionnaire that serves as a puppy application form (buying or adopting), there would also be a puppy contract. If needed, there can be a return puppy to the breeder contract.
All the questions included in the Puppy Application Form
An application form or questionnaire can look like this:
The following questions will help us find the right puppy for you. Our goal is to find each puppy a loving home where they can be part of the family. The dog’s welfare must be our foremost consideration before a choice is made for placement.
Please complete the questionnaire below and send it to (e-mail address). You can also mail it to (street address of breeder or kennel).
Personal Information
Name:
Home Address:
Contact Number/s:
E-mail address:
Occupation:
Referred by:
Family Information
- Spouse Name:
- Occupation of spouse:
- Number of family members:
- Do you have any children? ( )Yes ( )No
- If yes, what is/are their ages:
- Does everyone in the family agree on getting a dog? ( )Yes ( )No
- Does anyone in your household have allergies to animals/pets? ( )Yes ( )No
- If yes, to what and how severe?
- Who will be the primary caregiver of the puppy?
- Have you ever owned a dog before? ( )Yes ( )No
- If yes, what breed/s?
- How long did your last pet live?
- What were the circumstances of its death?
- Do you currently have other pets/animals? ( )Yes ( )No
- If yes, please specify:
- Do you already have a trusted veterinarian? ( )Yes ( )No
- If yes, please provide the vet’s name, clinic address, and contact number/s.
- If there would be changes in your family’s situation such as a change in occupation or residence, or having a new baby, what will happen to the dog?
- Have you ever returned a pet to the breeder? ( )Yes ( )No
- If so, what were the circumstances:
- Have you ever given a pet away? ( )Yes ( )No
- If so, what were the circumstances:
- Have you ever taken a pet to a pound or shelter? ( )Yes ( )No
- If so, what were the circumstances:
Housing Information
- Type of Dwelling:
( ) House
( ) Condo
( ) Apartment
( ) Mobile Home - How long have you lived at this address/home?
- If you’re renting, are you allowed to have a dog or pets?
- Please provide the name, address, and contact number/s of your landlord:
- What kind of floor surfaces will the dog be on in the house?
- Do you have a yard? ( )Yes ( )No
- If yes, is it fenced? ( )Yes ( )No
- If yes, how high is the fence?
- If not, how will the dog exercise?
- Will you be willing to build a secure space or suitable pen for the dog so it can burn off energy without being supervised? ( )Yes ( )No
- Will the dog receive crate training? ( )Yes ( )No
Puppy-related Information
- Why do you want this specific breed?
- What reference materials have you read about this breed?
- How many individuals of this breed are you acquainted with?
- How did you bear about this breed?
- What do you expect the activity level of this breed?
( ) Very High
( ) High
( ) Moderate
( ) Below average - Are you aware of the health issues that may affect this breed? ( )Yes ( )No
- Are you interested in a ( )Male or ( ) Female puppy?
- What age do you wish to get the puppy?
- Have you considered an older dog instead of a puppy? ( )Yes ( )No
- What are the important factors for you? Rank the following with 1 being the highest priority:
( ) Conformation (looks)
( ) Breeding potential
( ) Temperament
( ) Fieldwork or hunting ability
( ) Gender
( ) Pet Therapy
( ) Search and rescue
( ) Family Companion
( ) Ability to compete in obedience or agility
( ) Show dog quality
( ) Others: - Where will the dog live? Inside, outside, or both?
- Where will the puppy be kept during the day?
- Where will the puppy be kept during the night?
- How many hours a day will the puppy be kept outside?
- How will the puppy be confined when outside?
- Is anyone going to be at home throughout the day? ( )Yes ( )No
- How many hours will the dog be left alone?
- Will there be someone available to feed and exercise the puppy during the day? ( )Yes ( )No
- Are you interested in showing the dog in the conformation ring? ( )Yes ( )No
- Have you ever shown a dog to its championship? ( )Yes ( )No
- Do you have dogs that completed AKC titles? Please specify:
- Have you had experience breeding dogs? ( )Yes ( )No
- Do you intend to breed this dog? ( )Yes ( )No
- Have you ever house-trained a dog before? ( )Yes ( )No
- Will you be attending any training classes with the puppy? ( )Yes ( )No
- If yes, what age will you start?
- Do you plan on having the dog spayed or neutered? ( )Yes ( )No
- Are you interested in competition in performance events such as obedience, agility, hunting, herding, etc.? ( )Yes ( )No
- Have you shown a dog to any performance titles? ( )Yes ( )No
- Please specify:
- Which activities or competitions are you interested in?
- Who will be the trainer?
- If you’re planning to have this puppy join dog shows or performance events, please provide references (breeders, trainers, etc.).
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________ - Do you understand the difference between a limited registration and full registration?
( )Yes ( )No
Do you have any questions or other information you want to share? Feel free to let us know!
Thank you for your time in answering our questions candidly. Your answers won’t be the only factor in determining whether any of our puppies should go home with you. We’ll reach out to you about how we’ll move on with the process of your search for a dog as an addition to your family.
The Puppy Buyer Questionnaire Template
If you print it, the form will look like this image. Feel free to download this Puppy Buyer Questionnaire template in PDF or Doc format, and even tweak it to be specific for your breed or kennel business!
Puppy Sale Contract
There are several puppy contracts that you can easily find online. In fact, we have a few forms that you can check out and download as well.
Some of the most common contracts when selling or buying puppies are:
- General buyer/seller contract
- Show dog contract
- Breeding contract or use of stud
- Co-ownership contract
- Adoption contract
- Puppy Contract for Child
Return to Breeder Contract
Most contracts would include information about the buyer of the puppy or dog shouldn’t be sold or transferred. Also, they shouldn’t be given to anyone, whether an individual or establishment who would resell the canine. That includes institutions that practice or experiment on animals.
If the new owner of the puppy can’t keep it for any reason, the Breeder should be notified right away.
Buyers would usually be given several months from the date the Puppy Sale Contract was signed to return the dog with a refund. After that, the dog can still be returned anytime, no matter the reason.
Once returned, the buyer should sign the contract that the Breeder would be the sole owner of the puppy or dog.
So whenever you’re in the breeding business, this is an aspect that you shouldn’t forget to have.
Pet Registration Form
Before getting a puppy, all dog owners should know the difference between a limited and full registration.
Registering puppies covers a lot. Having your dogs registered with clubs, such as the American Kennel Club (AKC), would help promote responsible canine ownership, ensure their health, and make sure good breeding practices are followed.
Limited Registration VS Full Registration
Only professional breeders and those who actively have their dogs participate in conformation events are required to apply for full registration. It’s also available for the entire litter and approved breeding homes.
Limited registration is for non-breeders, and are only applicable for individual pups who are accepted more like a family companion.
The verdict: Forms and contracts are for the welfare of the dogs
Asking questions and honestly answering them is always a good thing. Any additional information that is not included in the questionnaires is welcome.
If things don’t work out, breeders would either recommend a breed that’s more suitable for the buyer’s home or refer them to another breeder.
Aside from the red flags that breeders consider, they can keep the buyer on a list and see how involved they are in wanting the dog.
Whether you’re buying puppies or selling them, the main priority here is the dogs.
Do you have questions that you think should be included on Puppy Buyer Questionnaires? Let us know in the comments below!
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