Table of Contents

• Important topics & sample questions
• How to customize your puppy buyer application on Good Dog

Good Dog Breeders work hard to match each of their puppies with the best Good Dog applicants possible, and get them one step closer to their forever homes.

Matchmaking decisions can be easier when you tailor your puppy buyer application on your Good Dog profile to add questions that are important to you and your breeding program. This is a tremendous time saver and can help you quickly and easily identify puppy buyers who might be right for your dogs.

Your application already covers basic information, such as the buyer’s contact information, family, current pets, history with dogs, the home environment, and what they are looking for in a new puppy.

While we understand each breeder has their unique vetting process that involves numerous conversations with potential applicants, a well-designed application will save you time and will help you avoid any misunderstandings during the matchmaking process. Here are some important topics that you may want to touch on in your application.

Important Topics and Sample Questions

Living Environment

You may want details about where a buyer plans to house their puppy. Will the dog live in the house? In a kennel? Do they plan to crate train the puppy, and if so, how many hours a day will the puppy stay in a crate? How many people visit regularly? This information can be used to determine if your breed is a good fit to how much attention or what kind of environment would best suit this puppy. 

Some breeders ask their puppy buyers if they have permission from their landlord or HOA if applicable, as you want to be sure that your breed is allowed, and that the buyer is allowed to have pets if they rent.

Sample Questions: 

• How many hours a day will your puppy be living indoors?
• Will the puppy spend unsupervised time outdoors in a yard or kennel?
• Do you have a fenced-in yard? If so, how tall is your fence?
• If you work full-time, where will your dog be when you are at work?

Previous and Current Pets

As breeders, knowing an applicant’s history with their previous pet is important. This information can often be a good indication for how they’ll care for one of your pups. 

Sample Questions: 

• If you ever had to rehome a dog, what were the circumstances in that situation? 
• Have your existing pets lived with dogs before?
• How do you plan to introduce your new puppy to your existing pets?
• Do you already have a relationship with a veterinarian?

Ability to Care for a Dog

You are looking for life-long homes for your puppy! Although it can be uncomfortable to discuss, it is okay to ask general questions of your buyers to get a better idea about their ability to financially care for their new puppy, especially in the case of both routine care and emergencies. Good Dog also has a webinar on estate planning, that you may want to share with your puppy buyers.

Sample Questions:

• Are you financially ready to take on the responsibility of a puppy?
• Are you financially able to handle any emergency veterinary care?
• How much have you budgeted monthly to care for your new puppy (food, toys, routine medical care, etc.)?
• What will happen to your dog if you lose your job or have to move?
• What plan do you have in place for your dog if something were to happen to you?

Breed Specific Questions

Every dog breed has different needs when it comes to attention, exercise, and care. You want to make sure that your applicants are familiar with the unique needs of the breed, and understand what it means to provide a good home for them. This is your opportunity to make sure that your potential buyer is not only a good match for your puppy, but for your breed. We also encourage you to share your knowledge about your breed with your buyer, such as what kind of grooming and exercise their new puppy will need.

Sample questions: 

• Why did you choose this breed?
• Have you ever owned a (insert your breed name here) before?
• How much and what type of exercise do you expect this dog will need and get each day?
• Are you familiar with the grooming needs of a (insert your breed name here)?

Setting Expectations

You may want to discuss what will be included in the sale agreement. This helps set expectations with the buyer and gives you the opportunity to clearly set out your priorities with regard to spay/neuter timing, health testing, training, and more.

Sample Questions: 

• Our health guarantee requires that your new puppy sees a veterinarian within 72 hours of purchase. Are you planning to schedule that appointment before you bring your puppy home?
• We expect and encourage our new owners to work with a qualified trainer for basic manners. Are you willing to do this with your new puppy?
• The sales agreement that you will be signing for your new puppy requires you to delay spay/neuter surgery until 18 - 24 months of age, are you willing to follow this process?
• Are you aware that we only sell puppies as pets?

How to customize your puppy buyer application on Good Dog

To add custom questions to your puppy buyer application, follow these simple steps:

• Login to your profile using your email address and the password you created
• Select "Edit profile" from the dropdown in the upper right hand corner of your screen
• Click on "Application" on the left side of your Good Breeder Dashboard
• Here you can view the standard questions, which are included in every application, and at the bottom you can add questions specific to you and your program
• Hit “Save” when you’re all finished
  
  
  
  

Balancing Act

While your puppy applications get you basic information in advance, nothing can replace an actual conversation, ideally many conversations, with your potential puppy families. Don’t forget that the Good Dog platform provides for easy messaging whether you and the buyer are using a desktop computer or the Good Dog app, giving you a record of your online conversation.

And don’t forget that this process is also a chance for your prospective buyer to ask YOU questions! Encourage them to ask you any questions about your program and breeding dogs, as well as how you’ve been raising the puppies - after all, no one knows your program better than you do!