Our Adoption Fees
Most adoption fees, whether from a rescue organization, an animal shelter or a breeder range from $150.00 to $1,000.00. Why so much money? Who would pay that kind of money for a dog? A lot of caring people.
Although the adoption fee is one way we use to subsidize the cost of caring for our dachshunds, it also serves another function.
The adoption fee will put off anybody who is not willing to spend money on properly caring for his or her companion. If you cannot afford our adoption fee, then you are unlikely to be able to afford care for your companion when he falls ill or has an accident. Saving the money it takes to adopt a dachshund is a lot easier than having $500.00 to $1,500.00 cash in hand when something goes wrong and medical attention is necessary.
If someone won't spend it to bring home a loving companion, then it is more than likely that they won't spend it when it is really needed either. It is a harsh world out there for dogs, and making sure they go to a good, responsible home that will care for them for the rest of their life is the number one concern of most shelters, rescue volunteers and breeders.
We do not charge additional fees for a certain size, hair type, color or pattern. Our fees are set and are non-negotiable. They are as follows:
Male ~ $550.00
Female ~ $650.00
Male ~ $ 750.00
Female ~ $850.00
The male and/or female will be spayed/neutered before leaving us.
Males ~ $300.00
Females ~ $400.00
In addition to our adoption fee....
In State: $200.00
Out of State: $320.00
No more than two dachshunds per litter or three dachshunds total will be adopted to the same home. Unless, one is a replacement agreed upon in advance.
An exception to this can be made to proven, outstanding homes
Adopting a second dachshund ~ -$100.00
Adopting a third dachshund ~ -$200.00
Shipping 2 dachshunds in state, at the same time ~ -$230.00
Shipping 2 dachshund out of state, at the same time ~ -$350.00
Replacement ~ No adoption fee after all required documentation is performed and delivered per our guarantee. This does not include any shipping fees.
What Happens to Your Adoption Fee?
Every penny of the fee goes towards our dachshunds medical expenses. In fact, in almost all cases, the adoption fee falls far short of the actual medical expenses for our dachshunds. The difference is made up from our own pockets.
The medical costs are for various genetic and structural tests to ensure a healthier, conformationally correct dachshund. Those tests are as follows:
Both Male and Female ~
Progressive Retinal Atrophy Cord 1 (PRA): $40.00
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM): $65.00
Primary Lens Luxation (PLL): $65.00
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL): $40.00
Legg - Calve - Perthes: $25.00
Sebacious Adenitis: $15.00
Congenital Hypothyroidism: $75.00
Both Male and Female ~
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia: $40.00
Shoulder OCD: $25.00
Patellar Luxation: $15.00
Thyroid Screening: $15.00
Cardiac Screening: $15.00
Erythrocyte Osmotic fragility: $150.00
Special leukocyte studies for immunodeficiencies: $75.00
Diabetes Melitus: $50.00
Metabolic Screening: $50.00
Liver disease and portosystemic shunt: 75.00
Cystinuria: $40.00
Brucellosis: $60.00
Female Only ~
Ultrasound: $145.00
X-Ray: $110.00
Caesarean (if needed)~ Planned: $1300.00 Emergency: $1800.00
Post-whelping Check up: $215.00
Per Puppy ~
Newborn Screening: $65.00
Newborn Fecal Exam: $45.00
Eight Week Screening: $25.00
Eight Week Fecal Exam: $45.00
Vaccinations: $12.00
De-Wormings: $4.00
Both Male and Female ~
Yearly Check - ups: $180.00
Vaccinations: $25.00
Rabies: $30.00
DNA Profile: $35.00
Litter Registration: $25.00 + $2.00 per puppy for Registration Applications
Birth Report and Wieght Charts: $4.00
This does NOT include other fees such as: New stock, kennel liscense, website, sanitization, training, showing, evaluations, retiring our dachshunds (spay/neuter), food or treats
This is a huge investment. So why do we do it? To better the breed and provide others with healthy, conformationally correct dachshunds!
What can you expect with our dachshunds?
A healthy dachshund, pre-screened for most genetic disorders which can affect them as they age. Tests we perform for our genetic screening will be added as they become available. In addition, each puppy comes with:
Minimum of 2 vaccinations - the third is available as well at no extra cost
Two-Week De-wormings starting at 2 weeks old
Grooming Instruction DVD - Longhair only
Beginning Dog training Booklet - on CD
AKC Application: Pet ~ Limited; Breeding/Showing ~ Full
Free trial pet insurance from AKC once the puppy is registered
First weeks of life & Family Lines DVD Slideshow
Collar & Leash Set
3 starter Toys: 1 hard plastic bone, 1 Rope & 1 de-stuffed stuffed animal
Bed
Receiving Blanket with mom & littermates scents
Two weeks of high grade food
Two weeks supply of treats to continue with training already started
3 oz bottle of Oatmeal puppy Shampoo and Conditioner
What else do you do?
Each dachshund undergoes a specific set of tests and early training methods at crucial development periods to ensure a happy, confident and well rounded individual:
Early Neurological Stimulation Exercises ~ A series of positions designed to evoke a mild amount of controlled stress in very small increments. These exercises are scientifically proven to provide stronger heartbeats, stronger adrenal glands, increased tolerance to stress, greater resistance to disease and increased cardiovascular performance. In tests of learning, stimulated pups were found to be more active and were more exploratory than their non- stimulated littermates. Secondary effects were also noted regarding test performance: in simple problem solving tests using detours in a maze, the non-stimulated pups became extremely aroused, whined a great deal, and made many errors. Their stimulated littermates were less disturbed or upset by test conditions, were calmer in the test environment, made fewer errors and gave only occasional distress vocalizations when stressed.
Tactile Stimulation ~ Introduced to a series of warm and cold surfaces for small increments of time which goes along with the above exercises.
Auditory Stimulation ~ A series of sounds are emitted in the room throughout the day and night. These sounds are: T.V., kids playing, lightening storms, birds chirping and different types of music to encourage further hearing development.
Visual Stimulation ~ An infant mobile is hung overhead so they are used to objects hovering over them. A mirror is placed in front of them so they can see thier reflections and refracted light. Varying colors are strategically placed around the pen from dull earth tones to bright neon colors to encourage further eye development.
Weaning is started ~ Puppy mush is introduced between the Dam's feedings.
Sudden Sounds ~ Fireworks, vacuume cleaners, dogs barking and balloons popping. This further stimulates thier brains to tolerate an increased level of stress from "unknown" sources.
Beginning housetraining ~ This starts from the first day the dam kicks the puppies out of the nest. Instinctually, they are hardwired to keep thier "den" clean by eliminating just outside thier sleeping area. A newspaper is placed just outside thier kennel with a small amount of synthetic urine so they know where to go. Little by little the newspaper is moved further away. By doing this, it teaches the puppies there is a designated area for elimination.
Imprinting ~ Prey-drive stimulation: a variety of animal pheremones such as Rabbit and Moose on de-stuffed animals tied to a fishing line to chase and "catch" them; Human Stimulation: Adult and child contact throughout the day. This is done by holding, grooming and running around our home.
Collar Introduction. Each puppy gets thier own collar to wear to get used to it being around thier necks.
Formal training is started ~ Each puppy is taught to sit, come and stand in a "show" pose. The sit and come commands are the easiest to learn and can save a puppies life that gets a little too far away. The "show" pose is often referred to as stacking. This is crucial to learn for structural evaluations.
Introduced to the outside elements ~ Each puppy is taken seperately outside for one on one evaluations and increased sensory stimulation. This is done for a few minutes everyday unless it is 30 degrees or lower which is unsafe for a young dachshund.
Leash introduction ~ Each puppy gets two inches of a cut leash to wear throughout the day without being restrained. This gets them used to the feeling of a leash.
Temperament testing is performed. This is done in order to help us steer you in the right direction so that you may choose the best puppy for your specific living situation and needs. This standardized evaluation has eleven exercises performed outside our home and is developed to discover to the best of our knowledge the quirks of each puppy's personality. Each puppy gets a score for each portion which puts him or her into a category based on their reaction. They are tested for: Social attraction, following, restraint, social dominance, elevation dominance, retrieving, touch sensitivity, sound sensitivity, sight sensitivity, focus and energy level.
Structural grading is performed. Each puppy is evaluated for structural soundness and gait for potential show/breeding prospects. Most traits are visible at this young age that will disappear as they grow and reappear on a larger scale at full maturity. Two top champion show dogs can produce a litter of non-showable/breedable puppies and vice versa. It is for this reason we are brutal, judgemental, unsympathetic and realistic in our evaluations.
Enhanced Potty Training. By this time, each puppy is fully paper trained, used to a leash and they are ready for the next step....Outside potty training. Every two hours all the puppies are brought outside on a leash to one area for 10 - 15 minutes at a time. They are heavily praised each time they eliminate to encourage them to repeat this behavior.
Pick of the litter is decided upon. Armed with all the gathered information, we are able to decide which puppies are for pet homes only. It is at this time puppies can go to thier new homes ~ When they are developmentally and socially ready.
Advanced Potty Training. Each puppy is taught to go outside on thier own into our dog run. Every two hours they are shown the "exit" to go outside.