Buying a dog online is a complex process. However, adding a new member to your family is really adorable. Lots of sellers are available online. Therefore, you need to do lots of research before purchasing a puppy online. If you see red flags on the website of a potential breeder, stock photographs from another website, or obvious spelling errors, those breeders should be strictly avoided. 

It is also essential to speak with breeders over the phone or in person. If the breeder is a trusted person, he will be always interested to know more about you and your abilities to care for a dog. You should always find a reliable breeder, which is essential for avoiding puppy mill.

Find a Reliable Breeder

You should search online for finding a reliable breeder. If possible, you should visit the facility of the breeder, which is helpful for finding whether he is legitimate or not.

A trust breeder always likes to show their property. They will also have proper knowledge regarding the characteristics, developmental concerns, and history of the breed.

Make a Tele-Con

If the breeder is too far away to visit, you should talk to him over the phone. You can send an email to him, which is the primary means of communication to the breeder.

However, you should not buy a puppy if you cannot talk to the breeder directly. The breeder will be the most trustworthy person if he is ready to speak to you after the first few emails.

Ask for References

While contacting a potential breeder, you should ask for references. The testimonials or other credentials should also be considered. You can also check their social media page for getting more information about the breeder.

Contact vets and Shelters Nearby

You should also search online for finding the vet near the location of the breeder. You can also call them for knowing the practice of a particular breeder.

You can also contact the shelters or trainers nearby. The quality and reputability of a breeder can be determined in such a way.

When you speak to the breeder over the phone, you should pay attention the questions they ask. You should not trust a breeder if he is not interested to know more about you.

How to Avoid Problems while buying dog online?

The online purchasing decision should be taken very carefully, which is essential for avoiding online scam. The easiest way is purchasing a puppy from breed rescue club or local shelter. A puppy mill produces animals in poor living conditions, which should be strictly avoided.

You should be very careful while browsing free classified. When you search online, plenty of legitimate ads can be seen.

Typically, online scams copy and paste text from the website of legitimate breeders. They also take photographs from legitimate websites, but the caption will be incorrect.

Price of a dog

Do not be attracted by rock-bottom prices that fall below the standard of a breeder. You should check a variety of breeders online for knowing the price. Once you take the purchasing decision, you should sign a well-defined contract. If the breeder is good, he will return the dog if you are not able to care for it.

Avoiding middlemen is a growing trend among commercial puppy breeders. Online is the best option for getting puppies directly into your home. But, most of these puppies are bred in a facility called puppy mills.