# Puppy Buyer's Checklist: What to Check Before You Pay

> The questions to ask, documents to check, red flags to watch and delivery-day checks before buying a puppy in India, plus what Nearby Pets India verifies before dispatch.

Canonical page: https://nearby-petstore.in/puppy-buyer-checklist/

Last updated: 05 November 2026

**The short answer:** before you pay any advance for a puppy, get the exact date of birth, a photo of the vaccination card and deworming record, fresh dated photos and video of that specific puppy, and one total price with cancellation terms in writing. Then check that all of it agrees: the age with the vaccine dates, the puppy with the photos, the price across every message. Most problems surface at this point.

This page puts the whole process on one sheet. Each section links to a detailed guide if you want the reasoning behind a step. Bookmark it or screenshot the checklists for when you're talking to sellers.

## Step 1: Before you contact any seller

- Decide on the breed by your home, climate, time and budget, not by a single video.
- Know the normal price range for that breed and city. A listing far below it needs an explanation.
- Plan to compare at least two sellers using the same questions.

## Step 2: The questions to ask

Ask these in writing so you keep a record. The full list of 20, with what a good answer looks like, is in [20 questions to ask a dog breeder before you pay](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/questions-to-ask-dog-breeder-before-buying-puppy/).

1. What is the puppy's exact date of birth?
2. How old will it be on the day it reaches me?
3. Which vaccinations has it had, and on what dates? Please send the card.
4. When was it last dewormed, and with what?
5. Has a vet examined it? What is the vet's name?
6. Can you send a fresh photo with today's date written beside the puppy, and a short video of it moving?
7. Can I see a photo of the mother?
8. What is it eating now, and how often?
9. Which certificate comes with it, KCI or other? For KCI, what are the parents' registration numbers?
10. What is the total price, including transport and taxes?
11. What happens to my advance if I cancel?
12. How will it travel, and how long will the journey take?
13. What happens if it falls ill in the first days?

## Step 3: The documents to check

| Document | What to check |
|---|---|
| Vaccination card | Vaccine sticker with batch number, dates that fit the age, vet stamp |
| Deworming record | Dates and product name |
| Vet / Fit-for-Travel certificate | Vet name, registration number, a recent date |
| Breed certificate | KCI (pedigree) or seller's certificate, matching what you paid for |
| Invoice | Breed, sex, full price, terms |

The rule: **every paper must agree with every other paper and with the puppy.** Details are in [puppy documents in India](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/puppy-documents-checklist-india/). KCI papers record pedigree, not health. See [KCI vs non-KCI puppies](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/kci-vs-non-kci-puppies-difference/).

## Step 4: Red flags. Stop and verify if you see these

- A price far below the market, together with pressure to pay now
- New charges after the advance: crate, "insurance", vaccination papers, quarantine
- Payment to a personal account under a different name
- No fresh, dated photo or video of the puppy on request
- No vaccination card, or one that appears for several puppies
- An age that doesn't match the date of birth or the vaccine dates
- "100% pure, 100% healthy" with nothing in writing
- A story, location or price that keeps changing

What each sign means, and what to do if you've already paid, is in [puppy scams in India: 12 red flags](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/puppy-scams-india-red-flags/). To understand who you're buying from, read [responsible breeder, broker or scammer?](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/responsible-breeder-vs-broker-vs-scammer/)

## Step 5: Delivery day

1. Compare the puppy with the photos and video you confirmed.
2. Do the head-to-tail check: eyes, nose, ears, gums, skin, breathing, movement, stool. See [how to tell if a puppy is healthy](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/how-to-tell-if-a-puppy-is-healthy/).
3. Match the documents to the puppy.
4. If you see an injury, photograph it unedited and report it before signing.
5. Book a vet visit within two or three days. The plan for the first week is in [your puppy's first 7 days](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/first-7-days-with-new-puppy-india/).

## What Nearby Pets India checks before every puppy is dispatched

We publish our own standards so you can hold us to this checklist too:

- **Age:** at least 45 days old and weaned.
- **Vaccination:** first vaccination done and recorded on the puppy's health card.
- **Vet clearance:** a veterinary Fit-for-Travel clearance before the journey.
- **Live video at pickup:** after booking, a live video call when our team collects the puppy from the farm, so you can watch the exact puppy walk and play before it travels, plus photos and video on WhatsApp.
- **Certificate:** a Company Purebred Certificate with every dog, and a KCI option for most breeds.
- **Price:** the listing shows shipping and GST before checkout, and every order gets an order number and invoice.
- **Guarantee:** a written 7-day health guarantee covering parvovirus, rabies and severe pre-existing genetic conditions, as set out in the [refund policy](https://nearby-petstore.in/refund-policy/). Delivery terms are in the [shipping policy](https://nearby-petstore.in/shipping-policy/).

Nearby Pets India works with partner breeders and farms. We don't own the parent dogs. These checks are how we take responsibility for the puppies we sell. You can [browse available pets](https://nearby-petstore.in/pets/) or [contact us](https://nearby-petstore.in/contact/) with any question from this list.

## All buyer guides

- [20 questions to ask a dog breeder before you pay an advance](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/questions-to-ask-dog-breeder-before-buying-puppy/)
- [Puppy scams in India: 12 red flags to spot before you pay](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/puppy-scams-india-red-flags/)
- [Puppy documents in India: what you should get and how to check them](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/puppy-documents-checklist-india/)
- [How to tell if a puppy is healthy: a head-to-tail check](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/how-to-tell-if-a-puppy-is-healthy/)
- [Responsible breeder, broker or scammer? How to tell the difference](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/responsible-breeder-vs-broker-vs-scammer/)
- [Your puppy's first 7 days: delivery checks, first vet visit and the health guarantee](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/first-7-days-with-new-puppy-india/)
- [KCI vs non-KCI puppies: what is the difference?](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/kci-vs-non-kci-puppies-difference/)
- [Buying a pet online in India: what a genuine listing looks like](https://nearby-petstore.in/blog/buying-a-pet-online-in-india-safely/)

## Frequently asked questions

### What should I ask before buying a puppy in India?

Ask for the exact date of birth, the vaccination and deworming records, a vet's examination, fresh dated photos and video of the puppy, a photo of the mother, the certificate offered, the total price including transport, and the cancellation and health terms in writing.

### How do I know if a puppy seller is genuine?

A genuine seller gives specific answers that stay consistent, sends the vaccination card and fresh photos before payment, states one total price, and puts the terms in writing. Pressure to pay quickly and extra fees after the advance are the most common signs of a scam.

### What documents should come with a puppy?

A vaccination card, a deworming record, a recent vet or fit-for-travel certificate if the puppy is travelling, a breed certificate matching what you paid for, and an invoice with the full price and terms.

### Does KCI registration mean a puppy is healthy?

No. KCI registration records a pedigree. Health is shown by vaccination and deworming records and a vet examination, which you should check separately.

### How old should a puppy be before it leaves its mother?

It should be fully weaned. Vets generally advise at least six to eight weeks. Nearby Pets India does not dispatch any puppy younger than 45 days, and only after its first vaccination and a vet's fit-for-travel clearance.

### Can I see the puppy before it is sent to me?

Yes. Before booking, ask for fresh, dated photos and a short video of the exact puppy. After booking, Nearby Pets India does a live video call when the puppy is collected from the farm, so you can watch it move and check its eyes and coat before dispatch.

### What should I check when the puppy is delivered?

Before signing, compare the puppy with the photos you confirmed, check eyes, ears, skin, breathing and movement, and match the documents. Report any injury with unedited photos or video straight away.

### What does the 7-day health guarantee cover?

At Nearby Pets India it covers parvovirus, rabies and severe pre-existing genetic conditions diagnosed within 7 days of delivery and confirmed by a registered veterinarian in writing. Full terms are in the refund policy.

### Quick Contact

- [support@nearby-petstore.in](mailto:support@nearby-petstore.in)
- [+918069645024](tel:+918069645024)
- [Contact Form](https://nearby-petstore.in/contact/)

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