Is it safe to buy a puppy on DogPed?

Every breeder passes a kennel-document or proof-of-ownership check before they can publish a listing, and their profile shows exactly which checks they cleared. DogPed does not process the payment for the puppy, though: the money goes straight to the breeder, so a kennel visit or a video call before you pay remains your strongest protection.

What does DogPed cost me as a buyer?

Nothing. Searching, messaging and contacting breeders are all free for buyers. DogPed is paid by breeders, through a subscription or a per-litter listing fee.

How do you verify breeders?

We manually review the kennel documents or proof of ownership and the breeder's location before their first listing. Identity verification with a government ID, pedigrees on file, health tests and an on-site inspection are additional checks, each shown separately on the profile. As breeders collect them they move up through the Verified, Trusted and Certified levels.

What happens to my money during a purchase?

DogPed neither collects nor holds money for a puppy purchase — there is no buyer payment flow on the platform. Payment happens directly between you and the breeder. Do not pay in full before seeing the puppy, and avoid deposits sent by methods you cannot claw back, such as gift cards or cryptocurrency.

What paperwork should I receive with the puppy?

An A.Ch.R. pedigree if the dog is a registered purebred, proof of microchipping and national registration, the health record listing vaccinations and deworming, and a written sales contract.

What does a pedigree actually mean?

A pedigree is the certificate of origin issued by the Romanian Kennel Club (A.Ch.R.), a member of the FCI. It traces the puppy's ancestry across several generations and confirms that both parents are registered purebred dogs. Without one, a puppy may be perfectly healthy but is not an officially registered purebred.

How do I become a breeder on DogPed?

Create a breeder account, upload your kennel documents or proof that you own the dogs, and wait for the manual review. Once approved you can publish litters from your dashboard. Identity verification stays optional.

What should I do if a listing looks suspicious?

Report it straight from the listing or breeder page. We review every report and suspend accounts that break the rules.

How it works

How DogPed works

A step-by-step walkthrough from first search to bringing your puppy home: how we verify breeders, the paperwork that comes with the puppy, and who pays whom. Searching and messaging are free for buyers.

DogPedUpdated 27 July 2026

Step by step

Choose your path on DogPed

Whether you are looking for a puppy or want to list your kennel, the process is the same four steps.

Find the right breed

Take the breed matcher quiz to see which breed suits your home, time and experience, or browse listings directly. Every listing shows its price upfront.

Take the breed matcher quiz

Check the breeder

Every breeder passes a kennel-document or proof-of-ownership check before they can publish a listing. Their profile shows exactly which checks they cleared: documents, identity, pedigrees on file, health tests, on-site inspection.

Browse verified breeders

Talk to the breeder

Message them through DogPed: ask for recent photos and video, the parents' paperwork, and health-test results. Always ask for a video call or a kennel visit before you commit.

Bring your puppy home

You arrange handover directly with the breeder, at the kennel or by transport. Payment happens between you and the breeder — DogPed takes no money from buyers and charges no commission.

Browse available puppies

Sign up and verify your kennel

Create a breeder account and upload your kennel documents or proof that you own the dogs. We review them by hand before your first listing goes live. Identity verification with a government ID is optional and earns an extra badge.

List your litters

Use the dashboard to add litters and puppies, upload pedigrees, health tests and vaccination records, and build out your kennel page.

Get messages from serious buyers

Showing the price upfront filters out browsers, so the messages that reach your inbox come mostly from people who already know what they want and what it costs.

Build your reputation

Collect buyer reviews and work through the verification levels — Verified, Trusted, Certified. The more checks you have on file, the higher you rank in search results.

View Pro plans

Paperwork

The paperwork that comes with your puppy

A responsible breeder hands over every document below at collection. If anything is missing, ask for it before you pay.

Pedigree (certificate of origin)

Issued in Romania by the Romanian Kennel Club (A.Ch.R.), the FCI member body. It traces the puppy's ancestry across several generations and confirms both parents are registered purebred dogs. A puppy sold "with papers" but without an A.Ch.R. pedigree is not an officially registered purebred.

Microchip and national registration

Required by Romanian law: the puppy must be microchipped by a licensed vet and entered in the national dog register (RECS) before it can be sold or given away. Romanian microchips start with country code 642.

Health record and pet passport

The health record lists the vaccinations and deworming treatments given before handover. You only need the EU pet passport if you are taking the dog abroad.

The parents' health-test results

Depending on the breed: hip and elbow dysplasia scores, eye tests, or genetic panels. Ask for the parents' results, not the puppy's — at a few weeks old a puppy cannot be tested yet.

A written sales contract

It should name both parties, the price, the puppy's details, and what happens if a health problem appears in the first few weeks. Ask for it in writing even when you are paying cash.

Safety

What we do — and what we don't — to keep you safe

DogPed is an introduction platform, not a shop. We verify who gets to publish listings and give you the tools to check further, but the purchase itself stays an agreement between you and the breeder. Here is exactly who does what.

Meet the team behind DogPed

Kennel verification

We manually review the kennel documents or proof of ownership and the location of every breeder before their first listing goes live. Identity verification, pedigrees on file, health tests and on-site inspection are additional checks, each shown separately on the profile.

In-platform messaging

Talk to the breeder from your DogPed account without handing over your phone number in the first message. The conversation history stays on record if something goes wrong.

You pay the breeder directly

DogPed does not process the payment for a puppy and never asks buyers for money. Never send a deposit by gift card, cryptocurrency or bank transfer to a stranger, and never pay in full before you have seen the puppy in person or on video.

Reporting and support

You can report any listing or breeder straight from the page. We review every report and suspend accounts that break the rules.

Red flags

How to spot a puppy scam or a puppy mill

Nearly every puppy scam follows the same handful of patterns. If any of the points below apply, stop and ask questions before you pay anything.

The price is far below market and the seller pushes you to pay a deposit "to reserve" the puppy.
They refuse a video call or a kennel visit and only send photos that also appear in other listings.
They ask to be paid by gift card, cryptocurrency, or transfer to a stranger's account.
They will not show the parents' paperwork and dodge questions about pedigree or health testing.
They always have the "last puppy of the litter", across several different breeds, available right now.
The puppy is under 8 weeks old — at that age it should not be separated from its mother.
There is no microchip and no registration, even though the law requires both before a sale.
They want to move the conversation off the platform to WhatsApp immediately.

Before you commit

Questions to ask a breeder

A responsible breeder answers every one of these without hesitating. Vague answers or reluctance are an answer in themselves.

1Can I meet the puppy's mother and see where the litter was raised?
2What health tests have the parents had, and can I see the results?
3Is the puppy microchipped and registered in the national register?
4What paperwork does the puppy leave with: pedigree, health record, contract?
5Which vaccinations and deworming treatments has it had so far?
6What is it used to eating, and what is its daily routine?
7What happens if a health problem shows up in the first few weeks?
8How many litters does the mother have per year, and at what age was she first bred?