Guide: puppy contract
Puppy Contract: What Should Be in It Before You Sign
A puppy contract is the written agreement between you and a breeder. A good one names the puppy and its parents, sets out the price and any deposit, explains the health guarantee and says what happens if you can no longer keep the dog. If a seller will not put the sale in writing, treat that as a warning sign.
What a puppy contract usually covers
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), a breeder contract typically includes (AKC):
- The puppy and its parents, identified by name
- Price and fees, including any deposit
- A health guarantee, and the conditions attached to it
- A vet check window. Buyers are often asked to see their own vet within a few days, with a period in which the puppy can be returned if a problem is found.
- Spay or neuter terms, sometimes with a minimum age
- Breeding restrictions
- A return clause. Most responsible breeders insist the dog comes back to them if it does not work out.
Clauses worth reading twice
- The health guarantee. Some cover all genetic defects up to a certain age. Others cover named conditions only. In addition, the AKC notes that hip guarantees often require you to limit hard exercise while the puppy grows.
- Spay and neuter timing. Some contracts ask you to wait until the dog has finished growing. Discuss the timing with your vet as well.
- Refund or replacement. Check whether a claim brings your money back or the offer of another puppy.
- Conditions that void the guarantee. Be cautious if a guarantee depends on buying a particular food or supplement.
Red flags
- There is no contract at all
- The seller will not take the dog back under any circumstances
- The contract promises perfect health for life. No one can promise that, because testing lowers risk but does not remove it.
- You are pushed to sign and pay on the spot
The AKC’s advice is simple: if anything is unclear or makes you uncomfortable, ask before you sign.
Questions to ask before you sign a puppy contract
- What exactly does the health guarantee cover, and for how long?
- What must I do to keep it valid?
- If my vet finds a problem in the first week, what happens?
- Do you require spaying or neutering, and by what age?
- Will you take the dog back at any age if I cannot keep it?
- Is the registration full or limited, if the puppy is registered?
Deposits and the puppy contract
A deposit is part of the agreement, so its terms belong in writing too. Before you pay, confirm whether it is refundable and whether it is taken off the price. Our guide to the puppy deposit lists what to ask.
A contract does not replace your own checks
Paper is only as good as the person behind it. So meet the breeder, see the puppy with its mother and ask for the parents’ health results. Our guide on how to choose a puppy breeder covers 12 checks.
Ask any breeder, including us, for the full terms in writing before you pay a deposit. See how we health test for what stands behind our puppies.
Related guides
- How to Choose a Puppy Breeder: 12 Things to Check Before You Pay a Deposit
- What Age Can Puppies Leave Their Mother? Why 8 Weeks Matters
- What Is a Puppy Mill? Signs and How to Avoid One
- Littermate Syndrome: Should You Get Two Puppies at Once?
- Puppy Scams: 9 Warning Signs and What to Do If You Have Paid
See all our puppy guides, or meet our Havapoo puppies for sale and Goldendoodle puppies for sale.
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Our puppies are born and raised inside our family home in Eagle Mountain, Utah, from health-tested parents. See who is available now, or ask us a question.