{This post may contain affiliate links. This means we may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We only recommend products that we believe will be of value to our followers. Click HERE to see our disclosure for details.}
Many books and articles have been written regarding the art of finding a puppy that is a good fit for your family (i.e. performing puppy temperament testing, structural evaluations, looking for parental OFA certifications, and so on…). But few, if any, discuss the contractual end of purchasing a puppy. Responsible dog breeders sell their puppies, whether they be show, performance or pet puppies, with a contract and a guarantee to protect their puppies. In this article, we are going to take a look at understanding a dog breeder contract.
Types Of Dog Breeder Contracts
Co-Ownership Dog Breeder Contract
Sometimes the breeder may want to stay as a part owner of the puppy. This enables the breeder to keep the puppy in their breeding program but the puppy will live with you. This is a type of contract that you should really think over before entering into. If your puppy is a female, it means that the breeder will need to take the puppy back for 6 to 8 weeks once she’s grown up and has her championship, health clearances, etc so that the dog can raise her litter with the breeder. This means that for 6 to 8 weeks you won’t have your dog. The breeder may also need to take the dog from time to time to show her at dog shows to earn her championship.
If your puppy is a male, it can be a bit easier. Of course, owning an intact male is a huge responsibility. You don’t want him to accidentally breed a female dog when you are out for an off leash adventure. But with co-owning a male dog, you may have to send him back to the breeder for breeding. This would be once in a while for a week or so at a time. But he shouldn’t have to be gone as long as a female dog would be.
Co-ownership contracts can vary from breeder to breeder. Read the contract over carefully and always ask the breeder if you have any questions or need clarification. It’s important to totally understand what you are committing to before entering any type of contract.
Pet Puppy Contract
If you are buying your puppy as a pet, most times the breeder will not want to stay on the puppy’s registration certificate. Although, I have seen contracts where the breeder will stay on the puppy’s registration papers until proof of spay or neuter is provided. Then the breeder will have themselves removed and you will be the sole owner of the puppy. Some breeders may also withhold registration papers until they have proof that the puppy has been spayed or neutered.
A pet puppy contract will act as your bill of sale, your guarantee and will also list the expectations for care of the puppy. I always advise people to read the contract over carefully before they commit to buying the puppy. Contracts will vary from breeder to breeder. So if there is a clause in the contract that you are not comfortable with, discuss it with the breeder. Sometimes the breeder may compromise and change or reword the clause that you aren’t comfortable with. If it’s something that the breeder won’t change and you aren’t comfortable with it, it’s time to move on and search for another breeder.
Click on the images below to check out our favorite dog training supplies on Amazon.
Performance Puppy Contract
A performance puppy contract is typically very similar to a pet puppy contract. Some breeders may include a clause in the contract requiring the puppy to have their hips and elbows evaluated before being used for performance events. You may also find that the breeder will want to be notified if the dog earns any new titles throughout his life.
Once again, read over the contract carefully to make sure that you are ok with all of the clauses. Never agree to a contract if there’s something in it that you do not intend to follow through with.
Show Puppy Contract
A show puppy contract may or may not include breeding rights. If breeding rights are involved many clauses from the “Breeding Contract” section of this article may be included in your show puppy contract. Typically, the show puppy contract will include clauses about the expectations of care for the puppy.
It will generally include a clause stating that even though the puppy is sold as a show puppy, that there is no guarantee that the puppy will earn a championship. Breeders include this clause for many reasons. A novice handler may have a harder time showing and winning with a dog when up against more experienced handlers. If the puppy isn’t trained properly or groomed properly, he won’t have as good of a chance at winning against dogs that are trained and groomed properly. There are many factors at play when it comes to showing your dog.
Breeding Contract
A breeding contract will often include the same clauses as the show contract. Most breeders will expect the dog to earn a championship before being bred. This contract will also include a clause about only breeding the dog once the breed required health testing is complete and results provided to the breeder. Most breeding contracts will include clauses of the requirements that must be completed before the dog is used for breeding.
It’s quite common for a breeder to want to stay on their puppy’s registration certificate as an owner when they are selling breeding puppies. Sometimes they will sign the puppy over to the buyer once the requirements for breeding have been met. But sometimes they will want to stay on the puppy’s papers as an owner until the puppy is spayed and retired from breeding.
Find a breeder that you are comfortable working with. Someone who will provide you with some sort of mentorship if you are new to breeding. Make sure that you are ok with the contract. Ask any questions that you may have to clarify anything that you are not certain about in the contract.
Click on the images below to check out our favorite interactive dog toys on Amazon.
Health Guarantee
A reputable breeder will include a health guarantee with their puppies. This guarantee will differ from breeder to breeder. Most times the breeder will guarantee the puppy from life threatening genetic diseases for 2 to 3 years. I have seen guarantees up to 10 years, though! Most breeders will not offer a money back guarantee. Instead, they will offer a replacement puppy of equal or greater value than the one you originally purchased.
The important thing to remember about a dog breeder contract is that you need to make sure that you are ok with it. Always read it over very carefully. And only sign a contract that you are comfortable with…no matter how cute the puppies are. A dog breeder contract is enforceable in court depending on the contract and how well it is worded.
