Beware of a Dog Breeding Contract

If you decide that it is a registered puppy you want to purchase one thing you need to beware of is some of the unscrupulous puppy sellers out there. Beware especially if you are asked to sign a dog breeding contract. These are often, though not always, made to favor the person selling you the dog and may make unreasonable demands on your obligations when caring for the dog you have purchased.

Sometimes the dog breeding contract will not allow you to breed the female dog until she is at least two years old. This is not unreasonable because it is not healthy to breed a female dog before that time. Maybe they will request that before you breed your dog that, depending on the breed, you have their eyes and hips checked to verify they are healthy. Again this is not unreasonable. The breeder may at this point ask that unless you get a clear health check you should not breed your dog. If you are hoping to breed for good quality potential show puppies then this too is not a bad thing. If the health checks come back bad the breeder has probably even given the dog owner the choice to bring the dog back or get her spayed. This is where you need to decide if the breeding contract is too invasive. Does the breeder have the right to make you sign a dog breeding contract that decides for you if you can breed your dog.

There are sometimes when the dog breeding contract is even more invasive. Sometimes the breeder wants to co-own the dog with you. In these situations you pay full price for your dog. The breeder then is able to make certain demands on you including what training the dog must have and what tests you need to have done. All of these will be at your own expense. Then once your dog is of breeding age, as co-owners based on the dog breeding contract you signed, they can demand you give the dog to them for breeding. They then breed the dog and care for the puppies returning your dog to you when the puppies are weaned. Depending on the breeder you may get a puppy out of the deal or you may get nothing. So beware of the dog breeding contract you are asked to sign, you want to make sure that someone else does not own the rights to your pet.