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The Puppy Contract UK: What to Check Before You Buy

A puppy contract is a written agreement between a buyer and breeder that protects both parties and the puppy. Developed by the Animal Welfare Foundation with support from the BVA and Dogs Trust, the UK Puppy Contract sets a clear standard for responsible sales. Here's what to look for.

What Is the UK Puppy Contract?

The Puppy Contract was developed by the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF), the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the SSPCA as a free, standardised document that breeders can use when selling puppies. It covers the puppy's identity, health history, the breeder's responsibilities and the buyer's responsibilities.

The contract is freely available to download from the Puppy Contract website (puppycontract.rspca.org.uk) and is endorsed by the RSPCA, Dogs Trust, Kennel Club and most major UK animal welfare organisations. Using it is not a legal requirement, but its adoption by a breeder is a strong indicator of responsible practice.

A breeder who refuses to use or provide any written contract at all — preferring a handshake or verbal agreement — should prompt serious caution. The contract protects the buyer as much as the breeder.

Section 1: The Puppy's Identity and Origin

The contract should clearly record the puppy's microchip number, date of birth, breed, sex and colour. This information should match the physical puppy you're buying — discrepancies are a red flag suggesting the paperwork was prepared for a different animal.

Details of the breeding parents — both dam (mother) and sire (father) — should be recorded, including their names, registration numbers if KC registered, and any health test results. If the sire is not owned by the breeder, ask for his details and verify them independently.

The address where the puppy was born should be stated and match the address you visit. If these differ, something is wrong. This is the core 'see the puppy at home with its mother' principle encoded into the contract.

Section 2: Health History and Veterinary Care

The contract should document all veterinary care provided before sale: vaccinations (with dates and which vaccine used), worm and flea treatments (with product names and dates), any veterinary examinations and their outcomes, and whether the puppy has been health-screened for breed-relevant conditions.

For KC Assured Breeders, specific health tests are required for each breed — the contract should reference these. If the breeder claims health tests were done, request the actual certificates rather than taking their word for it. BVA hip scores, elbow scores and eye test certificates are verifiable documents.

Note whether the puppy has been cleared by a vet before sale. A pre-sale vet check (not a puppy party) by the breeder's own vet is standard for responsible breeders and provides an additional safeguard.

Section 3: The Puppy's Lifestyle and Socialisation

The contract should describe the environment in which the puppy has been raised — the home setting, time spent indoors with the family, early socialisation experiences, exposure to sounds, children, other animals and environmental stimuli.

Puppies raised in kennel environments without early socialisation are significantly more likely to develop anxiety and behavioural problems. The contract's socialisation section helps document what early experiences the puppy has had.

Ask the breeder to walk you through the socialisation protocol they use. Puppy Culture, the Avidog framework and the Kennel Club's Puppy Foundation are all evidence-based approaches. A breeder who can't articulate what socialisation they've provided is not prioritising it.

Section 4: Responsibilities of Buyer and Breeder

The contract should set out the breeder's ongoing commitments: to provide lifetime support and advice, to take the puppy back if you can no longer keep it, and to be honest about the breed's needs and the individual puppy's personality.

Your responsibilities as a buyer should also be documented: to provide appropriate care, to continue socialisation and training, to seek veterinary care when needed and to contact the breeder rather than pass the dog on to a third party if circumstances change.

These mutual commitments are not legally watertight in every respect, but they document the intent of both parties and provide a basis for recourse if something goes wrong — for example, if health problems emerge that the breeder failed to disclose.

Find a Vet Near You

After signing a puppy contract and bringing your puppy home, one of the first things to arrange is a health check with a vet. Use CompareMyVet at app.comparemyvet.uk to find and compare vet practices near you and ensure your puppy gets the best start.