How to Sell a Puppy You Just Bought

Raising a puppy is a huge responsibility that some people tend to underestimate. As a result, they’ll find themselves unable to keep up with the pup’s physical and emotional demands, so reselling him will be the only option left.

The question of how to sell a puppy you just bought has a five-step answer. You first need to contact the breeder as well as the vet for guidance and advice on the sale process and the price.

Then, after determining the right price, you can either reach out to a seller or sell your puppy on your own on the internet. Plus, you can always check with family members or friends to see if anyone wants to buy him.

Below, we discuss each step in more detail.

Step 1: Meet With the Puppy’s Breeder and the Vet

Without a doubt, any responsible puppy owner should first pay the breeder a visit before attempting to sell their dog for the following reasons:

• You’ll get to learn more about the puppy’s family’s medical history (which the buyer will want to know)
• The breeder will know a lot more than you when it comes to market demands and the right sale price
• They might simply offer to buy the pup from you
• They may already have a list of other people interested in a pup like yours

Once you check this visit off your list, it’ll be time to head over to the vet. Here’s why it’s a good idea to do that:

• A vet will also let you know their opinion on the reasonable sale price
• They’ll give you all the documents associated with your puppy’s health like vaccinations, concerns, etc. (many sellers, selling services, and individual buyers will ask for those)
• They might direct you to a client of theirs who could be interested in purchasing your pet

Step 2: Set the Puppy’s Price

If you haven’t already managed to sell your puppy after going to the breeder and the vet, there’s nothing to worry about. At this point, you’ll have collected a lot of data from your visits to determine the price of your puppy.

In addition to that, it won’t hurt to spend a few hours on the internet to research a suitable price for your pup. Here are a few places to ask questions and find information in:

• Dog-related Facebook groups in your region
• Dog forums
• Reputable online sellers

After you’re done with your research, you’ll need to pick a paper and a pen, settle at your desk, and consider the following factors before setting a price:

• The puppy’s age and breed
• Any health concerns associated with the dog’s breed
• Any veterinary care your pup has received (vaccinations, checkups, tests, etc.)
• How long he’s been with you since you first bought him
• The average market price for puppies like yours
• The pup’s main quality (Is he primed for dog shows, breeding, as a pet, or others?)

Before you set the final price, remember that your primary focus is to find a new home for the pup where his new family will love and take care of him. You should make this transaction as easy as possible to be fair to the puppy; so try your best not to ask for a too-high price.

Step 3: Find a Reputable Seller (Or Selling Service)

Now that you’ve settled on a price, you may prefer to contact a reputable dog seller or selling service if you want the entire process to go smoothly. 

A lot of people don’t like to take chances selling their puppies on their own, so reaching out to a professional may be the best course of action here.

Once you do, the seller will sit down with you to find out about your sale requirements and discuss the next steps with you. You’ll likely cover these points:

• All the information about your puppy
• The selling service’s charges, sale details, etc.
• Any legal issues you should be prepared for
• Advice on the price (if it isn’t already suitable)

When you’ve agreed on everything, you’ll most certainly face one of two scenarios afterward:

• You’ll have to wait a few days before the sale is complete
• The seller will take your pup straightaway in exchange for money (they’ll probably charge you a small fee in return for the quick transaction)

Step 4: Consider Selling Your Pup Online

Another way to sell a puppy you just bought is to do it online. This method has more flexibility and it’s much more convenient for a busy person who doesn’t have time to drive around to meet with a seller or something.

Here are a few virtual markets where you can post sale advertisements and contact potential buyers:

• Social media platforms (Facebook groups, your personal profile on Facebook, Instagram, or even TikTok)
• Pet classified websites that allow you to post ads (Craigslist, Hoobly, and the like)
• Google Ads

Whatever method you choose, make sure to add a phone number or encourage people to contact you via DM if they’re interested. Then, it’ll just be as easy as letting whoever wants the pup know about all the details concerning the transaction.

Also, remember to include the following in your ads:

• A clear photo of your puppy (it’s better to post more than one from several angles)
• His breed and age
• The area where you live and where the transaction will likely take place

Pro tip: Consider asking for a fixed amount of money upfront before the sale. This helps flush out people who aren’t serious about the pup or individuals who may be looking for a candidate for dogfighting and such.

Step 5: Contact Friends, Co-Workers, or Relatives That Might Be Interested

One of the easiest methods to sell a puppy you just bought is to get in touch with your friends, relatives, and co-workers.

Any one of them might be looking for a good boy to fill their days with joy, not knowing that you’re ready to sell yours!

If not, they might be able to direct you to someone that they know or a distant cousin somewhere who’d be willing to take in your pup.

The advantage of this method is that you’ll know that your pup will be in safe hands. Plus, you can even check on him every once in a while.

Paul S.

Paul has been creating content for the dog niche for many years. The information he shares comes his first hand experience growing up in dog lovers household and then owning multiple dog breeds of his own as an adult. Paul enjoys doing the hard research to collect, analyze and present our dogtemperament.com readers with the best answers to their questions.