We’ve Got Answers

We’re a home-based program, not a kennel. Every dog in our program lives with us, sleeps in our house, and is part of our daily life — not a number in a crate. That matters enormously in the early weeks of a puppy’s development. From birth, our puppies are handled daily, exposed to household sounds, and socialized with people of all ages.

We also invest heavily in genetics. We DNA test all of our breeding dogs for the conditions that matter most to miniature dachshunds — so you’re never guessing about what you’re getting. Every pairing is intentional and well-researched.

We’re located in Georgia. We welcome approved families to visit once puppies are at least 4–5 weeks old and comfortable receiving visitors. Visit scheduling is coordinated after an application is reviewed so we can plan around the puppies’ and mama’s needs.

If you’re out of state, we’re happy to arrange video calls at any stage so you can meet your puppy and see where they’re being raised.

We've been devoted to miniature dachshunds for several years, building our program carefully and deliberately rather than quickly. We started with a small foundation of quality dogs and have grown our breeding program thoughtfully — adding dogs only when they meet our health, temperament, and conformation standards. We're not trying to be the biggest. We're trying to be consistent.

Yes. All of our breeding dogs are AKC registered, and all puppies are eligible for AKC registration. Pet puppies are sold with Limited AKC Registration (no breeding rights). Full registration is available for families with an approved breeding program at an additional cost and subject to our approval.

We plan a limited number of litters each year — enough to maintain the quality of care we’re known for, but never so many that our dogs or their puppies don’t receive individual attention. Our mamas are not bred on every cycle and never have back-to-back litters. Their health and well-being comes first, always.

All of our breeding dogs undergo comprehensive DNA health testing through Embark. For miniature dachshunds, our protocol includes:

• PRA-crd4 & PRA5 — Progressive Retinal Atrophy variants
• IVDD predisposition markers — spinal disc disease risk screening
• vWD (von Willebrand’s Disease)
• Full coat genetics panel — color, pattern, and coat type traits

Health records and full Embark reports are available for all breeding dogs on their profile pages.

Absolutely. Each breeding dog’s profile on our website includes links to their full Embark genetic results. We believe you should understand exactly what genetics are going into your puppy — not just be told “we test.” If you have questions about what the results mean, we’re happy to walk you through them.

We offer a 2-year genetic health guarantee against hereditary conditions that were reasonably preventable through responsible breeding and testing. The guarantee requires a vet examination within 5 business days of pickup and that the puppy be kept current on vaccinations and preventative care. Full terms are outlined in the puppy contract — please read it carefully before signing.

IVDD (intervertebral disc disease) is not covered under the genetic guarantee, as it is a structural predisposition common to the breed that cannot be fully eliminated through testing — though our pairing decisions actively work to minimize risk.

Every pairing is chosen with three things in mind: health, temperament, and conformation to breed standard. We use DNA analysis to predict outcomes for coat color, coat type, and genetic health markers — making sure we're not inadvertently combining carrier status for the same recessive conditions. Beyond the genetics, we consider each individual dog's personality. We want puppies who are curious, social, and confident — and that starts with pairing parents who exemplify those traits.

For approved families visiting in person, you'll absolutely have the chance to meet the mother (dam) of the litter, and the father (sire) if he is one of our resident males. Our mamas are friendly, well-adjusted dogs who reflect the temperament we're working toward in every litter — and we love showing them off. Their profiles are also on our website with photos, pedigree information, and test results.

IVDD is a genuine consideration for any dachshund owner, and we’d rather address it directly than sidestep it. The long dachshund spine is structurally different from most breeds, and they are predisposed to disc issues — particularly as they age or if they experience repeated jumping from heights.

We test our breeding dogs for genetic markers correlated with IVDD predisposition and factor that data into every pairing decision. What you can do: use ramps rather than letting your dachshund jump on and off furniture, keep your dog at a healthy weight, and learn the early warning signs so you can reach a vet quickly if anything changes.

We work with a rich variety of colors and patterns. Depending on the litter, our puppies can come in:

• Base colors: Black & tan, chocolate & tan, red, cream, blue & tan, isabella & tan
• Patterns: Brindle, dapple (merle), piebald
• Coat types: Smooth (shorthaired) and longhaired

This is one of our favorite things to share with families. Because we DNA test all breeding dogs for their complete genetic profile, we can give you real probability percentages for each color and coat type a litter can produce — not just guesses. Visit the parent profiles on our website to explore what traits each parent carries and what their offspring can inherit.

AKC-standard miniature dachshunds weigh 11 pounds or under at 12 months of age. Most of our adults fall comfortably in the 8–11 lb range. You can get a sense of your puppy’s eventual size by looking at the parent profiles — our mamas and sires all have their adult weights listed.

Smooth (shorthaired) coats are sleek and low-maintenance — easy to keep clean with virtually no grooming required beyond the occasional bath.

Longhaired coats are silky and elegant, with beautiful feathering on the ears, chest, legs, and tail. They require gentle brushing a few times per week to stay tangle-free, and many owners feel they carry a slightly softer temperament.

Start by completing our Puppy Application — a brief questionnaire that helps us understand your home, lifestyle, and what you’re looking for. Once we review your application, approved families can submit a deposit to hold their place on the waitlist.

Pricing varies based on color, coat type, gender, and registration type. Please visit our Pricing Guidelines page for current pricing details. What we can tell you is that our pricing reflects the real cost of doing this responsibly — DNA testing, veterinary care, quality nutrition for mamas, thorough socialization, and a take-home kit for your puppy.

Deposits are non-refundable under standard circumstances — they represent a commitment from both sides. However, deposits are fully transferable to a future litter if the timing doesn’t work out for you. We’re always willing to have a conversation if a genuine life circumstance arises.

Waitlist position determines selection order — earlier deposits choose first from each litter when puppies are old enough to assess (typically 4–6 weeks). You’ll receive photos, videos, and personality notes to help you choose. If you have specific preferences (color, coat, gender), we note those on your file.

Yes, we work with families across the country. Out-of-state families are very welcome, and many of our puppies have gone to homes well beyond Georgia. Video calls, frequent photo updates, and detailed communication through the process make the distance manageable. We do ask that out-of-state buyers be willing to commit to a video meeting before finalizing a puppy selection.

We do not use cargo shipping for puppies — it's stressful for the dogs and introduces too many variables we can't control. For families who cannot travel to us, we can arrange nanny transport — a professional pet transporter who carries your puppy as a hand-carry item in the cabin. This option has an additional cost which varies by destination. We're also happy to meet families within a reasonable driving distance. Please ask us about options when you reach out.

Before your puppy comes home, they will have:

• Age-appropriate vaccinations (DHPP) administered by a licensed veterinarian
• Deworming on a schedule starting at 2 weeks of age
• A veterinary wellness exam with a health certificate
• Microchip implanted and registered

You’ll receive a complete health record at pickup summarizing everything done while in our care.

Yes. All of our puppies are microchipped before they go home. We register the chip in our name as secondary contact so that if a puppy were ever lost and couldn't be reunited with you, they would come back to us rather than ending up in a shelter. We'll provide you with the chip number and instructions for transferring the primary registration into your name.

You’ll receive:

• Signed puppy contract and health guarantee
• Complete health and vaccination records
• AKC registration paperwork (or transfer instructions)
• Microchip certificate and registration information
• Puppy care guide covering food, schedule, and what to expect

We send each puppy home with a small supply of their current food, a soft item that smells like their mama and littermates (this helps enormously the first night), and written care instructions. We’re also reachable by text if you run into questions during those first few days.

Our puppies go home at 8 weeks of age — no earlier. The 6–8 week period is critical for learning dog-to-dog social skills that only littermates and mama can teach. We hold to 8 weeks as a firm standard, and we appreciate buyers who understand why.

Pickup is a relaxed, personal experience. We'll walk you through your puppy's documentation, review the contract together, answer any last-minute questions, and give you time to settle and bond with your new pup before heading out. We'd love for the whole family to come if possible — it helps us see how the puppy and your household interact, and it's usually a joyful moment we genuinely enjoy being part of.

We'll tell you exactly what your puppy has been eating and include a small supply in the take-home kit. We recommend continuing on the same food for at least the first two weeks to avoid digestive upset layered on top of the transition stress of a new home. If you want to switch foods later, do it gradually — transition over 7–10 days by mixing increasing amounts of the new food with the old.

We begin introducing puppies to potty habits on a schedule from about 3 weeks onward. Full crate training is not expected at 8 weeks — that's your adventure — but we send them home with the foundation of a schedule and some exposure to confinement. Dachshunds can be famously stubborn about potty training; patience and consistency are everything. We'll give you our best tips in writing and are always a text away.

Before your puppy comes home, we suggest having:

• A crate sized appropriately for a small dog
• A soft bed or pad for inside the crate
• Appropriately sized food and water bowls
• A harness — dachshunds should not use neck collars regularly, as their long spines benefit from harness support
• A vet appointment scheduled within the first week
• Puppy-safe toys and chews

Yes — and we mean it. When you get a puppy from us, you have a resource for life. We genuinely want to know how your dog is doing. Text us with questions, send us photos (please send photos), and reach out whenever something comes up that you’re unsure about. We may not always have the answer, but we’ll help you figure out who does.

Dachshunds can be wonderful with children when raised with them from puppyhood and when children are taught to interact respectfully with small dogs. Their size makes them vulnerable to rough handling — a dachshund back is a delicate thing — so younger children should always be supervised. Families with gentle, dog-savvy kids tend to have a wonderful experience. We'll ask about your household during the application process to make sure we're matching the right personality puppy with your family.

Generally yes, especially when introduced properly and early. Dachshunds can absolutely coexist with cats and other dogs — many of our puppy families have multi-pet households. That said, dachshunds have a strong prey drive, so very small animals like hamsters or rabbits may not be compatible. With other dogs, dachshunds often think they're much bigger than they are — which can be hilarious and occasionally challenging.

We'll be honest: dachshunds have a reputation for being difficult to potty train, and it's not entirely unearned. They can be stubborn, they dislike wet or cold weather, and their small bladders fill quickly. The key is a strict schedule — out immediately after waking, after eating, after play, and before bed — combined with calm, positive reinforcement. Punishment doesn't work well with this breed and can actually make things worse.

Pet puppies (sold with Limited AKC Registration) are sold on a spay/neuter agreement. We ask that this be completed at an age recommended by your veterinarian — for small breeds, many vets now suggest waiting until 12–18 months for females and 9–12 months for males to allow fuller hormonal development. The agreement is outlined in the contract, and we offer a confirmation form once the procedure is complete.