A Puppy Application Template That Actually Screens
Last Reviewed: June 19, 2026. Written and reviewed by the BreederHQ Operations Team, working with active breeders.
The default "tell me about yourself" approach to puppy applications produces vague answers from everyone. A structured application produces answers you can actually evaluate. The template here is the questions a working breeder asks; the builder lets you pick which ones apply, add breed-specific questions, and export.
Looking for the builder? The interactive template builder lives one click away.
Open the Free Application Builder →The 22 Questions Worth Asking
Living Situation (4 questions)
Own or rent. If renting, landlord policy on dogs and breed-specific restrictions. Fenced yard or not, and if so, type and height. Household size and ages of children.
Other Pets (3 questions)
Current pets: species, breeds, ages, intact or altered, temperament. How they react to new dogs. Past pets and what happened to them.
Daily Routine (3 questions)
Hours alone per day. Who handles the daily care. Crate, free roam, or in-between when the household is out.
Experience (3 questions)
Prior dog ownership in general. Prior experience with this breed or one similar. What worked and what they would do differently.
Intent and Training (4 questions)
Intended activities: companion, sport, work, show, breeding. Training plans: classes, board-and-train, owner-trained. Crate training plan. Socialization plan for the first 12 weeks.
Health and Vet (3 questions)
Current vet and how long with them. Comfort with the breeder\'s required health-testing schedule. Spay or neuter timing and willingness to follow the breeder\'s guidance.
References and Honesty (2 questions)
Two references (vet plus one personal is the working standard). One open-ended "anything else we should know" question to surface what the structured questions missed.
What a Good Application Does Not Do
Replace a Conversation
The application gets the applicant on paper. The phone or video call gets them in voice. Both matter. Skipping the conversation because the application looked good is how mismatched placements happen.
Guarantee a Good Placement
Applications surface intent and current state. They cannot predict life events that change either one. The contract is what handles the long-term piece; the application is what handles the start.
Replace Your Judgment
Two applicants with similar answers can be very different fits. The application gives you the data; you make the call. Auto-scoring helps sort the obviously-not-a-fit from the worth-a-call, not the worth-a-call from the perfect home.