Reply from Good DogMay 25, 2026
Hi Nelida,
We're so glad to hear you found your new best friend using Good Dog!
The fee you're referring to is our optional Protection & Support fee. Buyers can always choose to pay on Good Dog with zero fees by opting out of Protection & Support at checkout, although many new puppy owners find value in what it includes:
-Payment Protection: Peace of mind that we'll step in to help resolve any issues that might arise.
-Support: Lifelong access to our expert team, including veterinarians and behaviorists.
-Puppy training & exclusive discounts: Professional training resources and savings on essentials from partners like Chewy, Rover, and BarkBox.
-Platform sustainability: Helps us maintain our high standards and continue improving our platform to help more families like yours find their perfect match.
Before submitting an application to a breeder, buyers will see that all puppy listings on Good Dog display the price set by the breeder, including deposit and final payment amounts, with this section explicitly noting that the price shown is "before taxes & fees." Every buyer can also click into our "Price breakdown" section on the listing to see a full itemized view of costs, including an overview of the Protection & Support benefits included with your purchase, giving you a full picture of pricing upfront.
We'd also like to clarify that sales tax is collected in accordance with state law and is not a Good Dog fee.
For breeders, a 6.5% deduction is only applied when we successfully connect breeders with qualified buyers like yourself. This helps us maintain our platform quality and continue matching great breeders with loving homes like yours.
Our Care team would be happy to walk you through the benefits you now have access to through Good Dog Protection & Support, and answer any questions. Please reach out to us anytime at [email protected].
Warmly,
The Good Dog Team