How to Sell Beagle Puppies in the United States | PetzLover

What rules apply when you sell Beagle puppies in the US?

• Sale age. Many states set a minimum age for selling puppies, usually eight weeks; Pennsylvania, for example, bans selling or transferring a dog under eight weeks.
• Federal licensing. Under the Animal Welfare Act, a breeder with more than four breeding females who sells puppies sight unseen generally needs a USDA license.
• Puppy lemon laws. About 22 states have them. In California, for example, a breeder who sold three or more litters or 20 or more dogs in the past year must offer a remedy if a vet certifies an illness within 15 days or a hereditary condition within one year.
• Local permits. Los Angeles, for example, requires a breeding permit. Ask your city or county animal services what applies to you.

Which health tests should your Beagles have before breeding?

The National Beagle Club's health statement, approved in April 2022, sets out the screenings a Beagle needs for a Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) number. Results do not have to be normal, but they must be public through the OFA, and the dog must be identified by microchip or tattoo.

A carrier of a recessive condition such as MLS can be bred to a clear dog without producing affected puppies; never breed two carriers of the same condition. Lafora disease, a progressive form of epilepsy, usually shows around age 7, often after a dog has been bred, which is why the DNA test matters.

Are your Beagle puppies ready to sell?

Have your vet examine each puppy, give its first vaccines and deworming, and microchip it if you can. Get the litter used to handling of ears and paws, household noise and a crate, because buyers will be living with a vocal, curious hound. Give each buyer a folder with:

• Both parents' test results with dates and registered names.
• The puppy's vet record, vaccinations and deworming.
• The microchip number and how to transfer it.
• AKC registration paperwork, if the litter is registered.
• A signed contract covering the health guarantee, spay or neuter terms and your take-back promise.
• A feeding sheet with measured portions, since Beagles are prone to obesity.

How should you price Beagle puppies?

PetMD puts a Beagle at typically $500 to more than $1,000, depending on many factors. Buyers compare your price with that range and with the parents' results, so price on health testing and the care behind the litter.

• Never charge extra for a size label. The AKC standard recognizes only the 13-inch and 15-inch varieties, so describe the parents' real heights instead of selling pocket or miniature Beagles.
• Never charge extra for a rare color; the standard disqualifies merle and brindle patterns.
• A price far below the usual range draws resellers and makes careful buyers suspect a scam.

How do you write a Beagle puppy ad that attracts good homes?

• Start the title with the breed, the puppies' age and your city, for example Beagle puppies, 7 weeks, near Columbus.
• List both parents' registered names, heights and health results.
• Describe each puppy's sex, color and personality honestly.
• Say what comes with each puppy and the date it can go home.
• State what you expect of buyers: a visit, a contract, a secure fence or leash-only walks, and a dog that lives indoors.
• Use recent photos and a short video of the puppies with their mother.

Posting is free: post your Beagle puppy ad, choosing the sale listing type and the breed, and buyers can message you. You can also see how other Beagle litters are listed. Keep your phone number out of the ad text.

How do you screen buyers for a Beagle puppy?

• Is your yard fenced, and how high? The National Beagle Club suggests at least 5 feet and says invisible fencing alone is not suitable for most Beagles.
• How many hours a day would the puppy be alone? The club suggests no more than four or five.
• Who lives with you, including the ages of children and any other pets?
• Have you had a hound before, and how will you handle baying?
• How will you keep the dog's weight in check?
• Will you return the dog to me if you ever cannot keep it?

The club says a Beagle puppy may not be right for a home with very young children, so talk honestly with those families. If a buyer wants a puppy for hunting, ask how it will be housed and cared for, and write the standard of care into the contract. Walk away from anyone who wants two puppies to breed, will not meet in person, or wants the puppy shipped.

How do you take payment and hand over safely?

• Give a written receipt for any deposit and say in the contract whether it is refundable.
• Take payment in a traceable way at handover. Never accept a check for more than the price with a request to send back the difference, a scam the FTC describes.
• Have buyers collect in person, go through the records, sign the contract and start the microchip transfer before the puppy leaves.
• Keep in touch, and honor your take-back promise at any age.

Use the Report Scam button on any suspicious message. For what careful buyers will ask, read how to buy a Beagle puppy. If an adult dog later needs a new home, see how to rehome your Beagle responsibly, and to reach people already searching, read how to respond to a Beagle wanted ad.