10 questions you should ask a puppy breeder as scams on the rise during lockdown

Puppy scams and the sale of illegal puppies has skyrocketed during lockdown due to a surge in demand for pets.

But sadly, competition for ‘pandemic puppies’ has created the perfect environment for unscrupulous breeders to benefit, with many would-be dog owners not doing their research before making a purchase.

So how do you spot a puppy scam? Here are the warning signs to look out for - and the questions you should ask before buying a dog.

Why are more people buying puppies?

With people being forced to spend more time at home during the coronavirus lockdown, demand for puppies has sharply increased.

There was reportedly a 168 per cent increase in people searching for puppies using the Kennel Club’s “find a puppy” online tool, according to the dog welfare organisation.

This in turn has created the perfect situation for puppy farm breeders to take advantage of increased competition.

What are puppy scams?

With demand for puppies on the rise, prospective owners have not been doing the required research before buying a puppy, leaving them vulnerable to scammers and rogue breeders.

In response to rise in puppy demand - and scams - the Kennel Club has launched the #BePuppyWise campaign to urge prospective owners to do the necessary research before committing to a puppy.

The Kennel Club revealed that 27 per cent of people who bought a puppy said they paid money before actually seeing their puppy, and 42 per cent did not see the puppy’s breeding environment beforehand.

Not meeting a puppy before putting down money could lead to a lot of problems - like the fact that there might not even be a puppy at all.