Choosing a dog
Is it safe to buy a puppy from an online listing?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
An online listing can be the start of a legitimate purchase, but it should never be the whole process. Treat the listing as an introduction, then insist on a visit to where the puppy actually lives, ask for health testing documentation, and meet the mother before any money changes hands beyond a small, reasonable deposit. Listings that pressure a quick decision or ask for full payment before you have visited are the clearest signs of a scam or a poorly run operation.
Common patterns in risky listings
Watch for listings with only a handful of professional style photos and no video, prices noticeably below what health testing and responsible rearing typically cost for that breed, and a seller who avoids specific questions about the parents or the litter's living conditions. Listings that claim the puppy needs to be collected urgently, sometimes citing an unusual reason like relocation, often use urgency to prevent proper checks.
Payment and deposit safety
Be cautious of any request for full payment before you have visited in person or, at minimum, completed a genuine live video call. A modest, reasonable deposit to hold a puppy is normal once you have done real checks, but being asked to pay the full price upfront, especially through an untraceable payment method, is a serious warning sign.
Turning a listing into a safe purchase
Use the listing only as a starting point: follow up with the same questions and visit expectations you would apply to any breeder, regardless of how the initial contact happened. A legitimate seller will welcome this scrutiny, while one running a scam or a poor operation typically will not.
Verifying claims made in the listing
Ask for the parents' registered names so you can independently check health testing records where a public database exists, and search the listing's photos or phrasing to see if the same content appears on other unrelated adverts, which can indicate a copied or fraudulent listing rather than a genuine litter.
Key takeaways
- Treat an online listing as a starting point, never as the full vetting process.
- Unusually low prices and urgency to sell quickly are common scam and red flag signals.
- Avoid paying the full price before an in person visit or a genuine video call.
- Apply the same checks to an online seller that you would to any breeder.