Buying a Bulldog puppy should be an exciting and positive experience. Most breeders and sellers are genuine, but unfortunately scams do occur online, particularly where deposits are involved.
Following the simple guidance below will help you find a healthy puppy and avoid the most common scams.
The Golden Rule
Never send a deposit or any money for a puppy until you have seen the puppy in person.
Most puppy scams involve deposits sent for puppies that do not exist or cannot be viewed.
Responsible breeders expect buyers to visit the puppy before any deposit or payment is made.
Safe Puppy Buying in 5 Steps
- View the puppy in person
Always visit the puppy at the place it is being raised. This allows you to see the puppy's living conditions and meet the seller. - See the puppy with its mother
If you are viewing a puppy under 8 weeks old, by law it must be seen with its mother. Seeing the mother helps confirm the puppy has been raised properly and is genuinely part of the litter. - Check the puppy is old enough to leave
Puppies must be at least 8 weeks old before leaving their mother and littermates. Responsible breeders will never allow a puppy to be collected earlier. - Check identification and paperwork
By law, all dogs in the UK must be microchipped before being sold. You should also review any relevant paperwork such as microchip details, vaccination records, Kennel Club registration where applicable, and any health test certificates provided. - Take your time
A genuine seller will be happy to answer questions and provide additional photos, videos or information about the puppy. Avoid feeling rushed into making a decision.
Signs of a Responsible Breeder or Seller
Most Bulldog puppies are sold by responsible breeders who care about the welfare of their dogs.
Good sellers will usually:
- Allow you to visit the puppy in its home environment
- Show the puppy with its mother
- Be happy to answer questions about the puppy's upbringing and health
- Provide vaccination and microchip details
- Ask questions about the home you can offer the puppy
Responsible breeders want to ensure their puppies go to suitable homes.
Common Puppy Scam Warning Signs
Although most sellers are genuine, there are some clear warning signs to watch for.
- Requests for deposits before viewing
Deposits should only be paid after you have seen the puppy in person. Scammers often request deposits to reserve puppies that do not exist. - Pressure to move communication off the website
Some scammers will quickly ask you to continue the conversation via WhatsApp, Telegram, text message or email. They may ask for your phone number so they can send more details. - Deliberate misspellings to avoid detection
Some scammers deliberately misspell words such as "WhatsApp" or "contact number" to avoid detection systems. Take extra care if a seller appears to be trying to move the conversation off the platform in this way. - Bank account name does not match the seller
Be cautious if the seller asks you to send money to a bank account with a different name to the person you have been communicating with. - Refusing to allow visits
A seller who cannot arrange a viewing of the puppy in person should be treated with caution. Scammers often claim the puppy is in another part of the country, being transported by courier, or cannot be viewed due to work or travel. - Offering delivery without viewing
Some scammers offer to deliver the puppy to your home without you seeing it first. Always visit the puppy before agreeing to any payment or collection. - Asking to meet in a neutral location
Avoid sellers who suggest meeting in places such as car parks, service stations or other public meeting points. Puppies should be viewed where they are being raised. - Fake or stolen photos
Some fraudulent adverts use photos taken from other websites. You can check images using a reverse image search, for example with Google Images. - Unusually low prices
If a Bulldog puppy is advertised significantly cheaper than similar listings, this can sometimes indicate a scam. - Reluctance to provide more information
Be cautious if a seller refuses to provide additional photos, videos, or information about the puppy.
A Typical Safe Puppy Purchase
A genuine puppy sale usually follows a simple process:
- You contact the seller and ask questions about the puppy
- You arrange to visit the puppy in person
- You see the puppy with its mother and check its environment
- If you are happy, a deposit may then be agreed
- Final payment is usually made when you collect the puppy
If a seller tries to skip these steps, proceed with caution.
Reporting Suspicious Adverts
If you believe an advert may be fraudulent or misleading, please report it using the Report Advert button on the listing page.
Our team reviews all reports and removes suspicious adverts to help protect buyers.
Buying a Bulldog Puppy Safely
Buying a Bulldog puppy online can be a safe and rewarding experience when the proper precautions are taken.
By following this Bulldog puppy buying checklist, taking time to verify sellers, and always viewing puppies in person before making any payment, you can greatly reduce the risk of scams and help ensure your new puppy gets the best possible start in life.
