Writing Contracts For The Sale Of Your Puppies

One of the biggest mistakes new breeders make is either not having new buyers sign contracts when they purchase a puppy or having a contract that is not extensive enough to cover all of the problems that may occur after the purchase of the puppy. In most cases there will be no problems. However, having a well written contract can really save the breeder a great deal of trouble later on if problems do arise. The contract will not only serve to protect both the breeder and the buyer in a variety of situations but will also serve to clearly outline the expectations and responsibilities of both parties so disputes can be settled quickly, fairly and amicably. This article will offer some advice for writing contracts for the sale of your puppies but breeders should also consult with a lawyer before finalizing these contracts.

The first step in writing contracts for the sale of your puppies is to speak with more experienced breeders about what terms they typically include in their contracts. It can be very difficult to think of all of the situations and disputes which may arise over the sale of a puppy. However, breeders with considerably more experience may have already encountered a number of different situations from which they have learned a great deal about the need for a well written contract. They can also assist you in determining which health concerns are most common in your particular breed.

While speaking to other breeders, especially those who breed the same type of dog as you, is very important, the contract should be reviewed by a lawyer before it is finalized. This is important because the lawyer can view your contract objectively to determine whether or not the language being used is clear and is not open to alternative interpretations. A lawyer can also review the contract in comparison to state and county laws relevant to the sale of puppies. This is important because states and counties may have their own governing laws pertaining to the sale of puppies and these laws will supersede your contract language. For this reason it is important to ensure the language in your contract is not contradictory to state and county laws.

One important part of all puppy contracts should be health concerns. A reputable breeder puts the health and well being of the puppies as well as the dogs and bitches in the breeding program ahead of other concerns. For this reason the breeder should always be willing to take back a puppy if it deemed to be unfit for sale. The contract should carefully detail how these cases will be handled. Some breeders wish to offer a full refund while others prefer to take the puppy back with the promise of replacing the puppy with one from a future litter.

Another stipulation many responsible breeders like to include in puppy contracts is an item stating the puppy cannot be surrendered to a shelter or rescue group. There may be a number of different reasons why a puppy does not work out in his new home. There may be conflicts with existing dogs, family members may develop allergies or loss of a job may make caring for the puppy a hardship. A responsible breeder would rather see the puppy returned than surrendered to a shelter group in these cases so they often include this item in contracts.