Question 1

How do I join your waitlist?

Accepted Answer

To join our waitlist you must submit an application, have it approved and pay the waitlist fee.  The fee goes toward our puppy deposit when we have a puppy for you but is non-refundable if you choose not to purchase a puppy.  You can either download our application from our website or send us an email (that's the preferred method).  If you email us, we'll send all our info (including price range) and a blank application and contract.  The contract is just a fyi.  We have all puppy parents sign that on pick-up day.  We only include the contract, so you understand your obligation when purchasing a puppy for us and it talks about our health guarantee.
      If you want to join our waitlist the fee is $150.  We had to increase our fee because too many people were joining our waitlist and not following through with purchasing a puppy.  We ONLY want serious customers on our waitlist.  We plan our future litters based on the waitlist (long vs smooth, patterns, colors, etc.) and that's how we give future customers an estimated time frame for a puppy.  If the waitlist isn't accurate than we potentially loose new customers who don't want to wait and we don't produce what our real customers want.  The waitlist fee is non-refundable but it does go toward our puppy deposit when we do have a puppy for you.

Question 2

How do I adopt a dog?

Accepted Answer

If you're interested in adopting one of our dogs and being added to our waitlist, please download our application, fill it out and email it back to us OR send us an email and we'll send you an application.  We will review it within 14 business days.  (We're very busy with kids, dogs and our day jobs!)  If approved, there is a non-refundable $150 fee to be added to our waitlist.  This fee goes toward your puppy deposit ($300) when we have a puppy for you.  (So, you'll only owe $150 towards the deposit.)  However, if you chose not to purchase a puppy from us you forfeit your $150 waitlist fee.  We use our waitlist to choose our pairings so we're producing dogs that our waitlist is asking for.  We ask that you only join our waitlist if you're serious about purchasing a puppy from us.

Question 3

Why join the waitlist?

Accepted Answer

We use the waitlist to choose our adult pairings so that we're producing puppies that the waitlist wants.  Being on our waitlist guarantees that we'll have a puppy for you.  We can't guarantee the exact timing, but we WILL have a puppy for you.  Our prices are also lower for the waitlist.  Advertising available puppies takes time, effort and money so the price will always be higher for a puppy that isn't taken by our waitlist.   If you're interested in purchasing a puppy from us, we highly recommend you join our waitlist.

Question 4

How much do your puppies cost?

Accepted Answer

Our prices currently range from $3000 - $4800 with creams and dapples being on the higher end of the range.  The price depends on their conformation, temperament, color, coat type, the parent's pedigree, health testing, etc.  However, if you are on our waitlist the price range is lower and currently ranges from $3000 - $4000.   The reason there is a price difference for the waitlist and for available puppies is that we MUCH prefer to have homes for our puppies BEFORE they are born.  We use our waitlist to pick our pairings so that we're only producing puppies that people want.  When we have puppies that don't go to our waitlist it takes time, effort and money to advertise them, so the price is increased.  We always set the price on an individual puppy before accepting a deposit.

We also have a guardianship program.  That's when a puppy lives with their forever family but is on contract to come back to us either for a certain number of litters, for females, or for a certain amount of time, for males.  Our guardian price is significantly less than our normal prices.  This is to help entice people to participate in the program and also to place puppies in loving families who may not be able to afford our normal prices.  If this program may interest you, please reach out for more information!

Lastly, if we advertise on Gooddog then the price will also be more to make up for the cut that they take.

Question 5

What form of payment do you accept your waitlist fee and deposit?

Accepted Answer

We accept PayPal, Venmo or personal checks for our waitlist fees and deposits.

Question 6

How long is your waitlist?  OR how long will my wait be?

Accepted Answer

Great question!  First, our waitlist isn't per litter, usually, but in general.  We put all of your must haves into our waitlist, and it's organized first by the date we received your application, then coat type, sex, color, pattern and lastly size.  When we have a litter we start at the top and match puppies based on everyone's must haves.  If you say you only want a female and we have a male, we will not contact you.  Our best guess at the moment is that we'll have available puppies in our Fall litters if you're open.  However, if you are looking for something very specific the wait may be longer.  The wait depends on what the people in front of you on the list choose to do (the most difficult to predict) and what we get (how many puppies, color, pattern, sex, hair length) in a given litter, both out of our control.  We know what to expect in each litter but never what, exactly we'll get.  Honestly, people are the hardest part to predict because often times when we reach out, they will choose to pass or come off the list.  This is why it is SO important that you stay in contact with us and communicate if anything changes.  We base our pairings on what the waitlist wants.  The more specific your request / want the longer it will take.  The more open you are to hair length, sex, pattern, size and color, the quicker it will be.  We can never guarantee timing unfortunately.  Right now creams and dapples are very popular and our wait for those is probably longer.  What we can guarantee is that our puppies are worth the wait!

Question 7

What color, coats and patterns do you breed?

Accepted Answer

We breed long hair, short/smooth coat and wirehair Dachshunds.  We breed all colors except dilutes (so no blues or isabellas).  We breed black and tan/cream, chocolate and tan/cream, creams (both shaded and  clear creams) and reds (shaded and clear reds).  We breed dapples and piebalds and occasionally dapple, piebalds.  We created a section on our website to help our customers articulate their must haves: Dachund Colors | Depotdachsies .  Please reference this if you aren't familiar with the colors and patterns of Dachshunds.

Question 8

What if I don't live close and I'd like to adopt a dog?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, we don't ship puppies.  However, we are willing to meet you at a local airport (Boston, MA or Providence, RI) for a fee.  We can also recommend a flight nanny.  The cost depends on where you're located.  However, it usually runs around $500 - $550 but lately it's been more due to high airfare prices.  We will not ship our puppies via cargo.

Question 9

Do your puppies come microchipped?

Accepted Answer

Yes!  We microchip every puppy before they go home.  We use AKC Reunite for our chips.  There is a one-time activation fee for the new owner (I believe it's less than $20).  However, that fee is usually 50% less than having your vet microchip your pup.  We microchip because we NEVER want any of our puppies to end up in a shelter or rescue.  AKC will automatically put as a backup so that we can be contacted in the event one of our puppies or dogs were to be lost or end up in a shelter or rescue.

Question 10

May I visit my puppy before pickup day?

Accepted Answer

We get asked all the time if a buyer can pick out their puppy in person, see, or play with the puppies before they go home at 8 weeks old.  The answer is no, and we promise there are several compelling reasons for this policy, all designed to protect our family, our dogs and your future puppy.

First, it is VERY stressful for the mamas to have strangers visit while they are caring for their newborn pups.  They are very protective of their pups and most are not open to anyone but us interacting with their pups, especially when the pups are younger.  This stress can disrupt the mom’s including her ability to eat well, care for her pups, and produce milk. Additionally, allowing visitors could disturb the bonding process between mother and pups, which is critical.

Second, like any human newborn, puppies are highly vulnerable to illness, diseases and viruses.  Their immune systems are still developing, and their environment needs to be controlled to prevent exposure to outside pathogens.  Illnesses, like the parvovirus or kennel cough, can be unknowingly carried on people's shoes and clothing, and an entire litter can be wiped.  We simply cannot risk exposing our puppies.  We're not only caring for your puppy but also several other people's puppies.

As stated above, your puppy is not the only one in our care. By limiting contact with the puppies, we are protecting all of them from potential stress and/or disease. Imagine how devastating it would be if a well-meaning visitor brought in illness or stress that resulted in the loss of an entire litter, including your future puppy.

Lastly, our dogs and puppies are raised in our home.  We are not a pet store that is open to the public.  We have to keep our dogs, puppies and family safe.

We understand your excitement, and we truly appreciate your enthusiasm. But please know that we take great care in raising our puppies. Our focus is on the health and safety of every dog in our home and care.  This process is time-consuming and requires our full attention. We want your puppy to be healthy and ready for you to bring home in 8 weeks, and we guarantee that our puppies ARE worth the wait!

In the meantime, after we receive your deposit, we will send you weekly pictures of your puppy so you can watch them grow and change. We put a lot of time and effort into capturing these moments, and it’s a highlight that most of our customers absolutely love!

Question 11

Will you send home a blanket or item with mom's and the litters' scent?

Accepted Answer

When brining a new puppy home, you want to make the transition as smooth as possible. You may have come across advice suggesting that you take or send a blanket to the breeder’s house to rub it on the mama dog, and bring her scent home. The idea is that the scent will comfort your new puppy during the adjustment period. While it’s a nice thought, there are a few reasons why we don’t recommend this approach:
Start with Your Scent:
 The most important thing for your puppy during this transition is to start bonding with you and thus your scent. After all, you’re their new “mama” or "papa" (so to speak)! A better idea is to wear an old t-shirt the day before you bring your puppy home, and then let the puppy snuggle it on the way home. This helps your puppy become familiar with your scent as a source of comfort.  We also suggest putting an old t-shirt with your scent in their crate to help with crate training.
Puppy’s Transition from Mama:
 By the time you take your puppy home, they have already been weaned from mama for about a week. At this point, the biggest transition for your puppy is adjusting to sleeping alone and being separated from their littermates. Bringing home mama’s scent on a blanket might actually make things harder for them, as it could cause confusion or stress. In fact, if you were to put a weaned puppy back with their mother, they might try to nurse, which can be stressful and even painful for the mother due to their growing teeth and nails.
While the idea of taking mama’s scent home may seem comforting, we’ve found that many experienced breeders don’t recommend it either. Instead, we encourage you to focus on creating a strong bond between you and your puppy right from the start.
Remember: The key in the first days at home is to help your new puppy feel safe and loved by you. Enjoy the journey of building that special bond!

Question 12

What food do you recommend?

Accepted Answer

We are currently feeding Diamond Naturals all stages chicken and rice.  We will give you a sample or 2 at pick-up to get you started.  Your puppy should stay on puppy food for the first year of their life.  If you'd like to use a different brand, please use the bag we give you and slowly transition to the new food.

Question 13

What treats do you recommend?

Accepted Answer

We love Zuke's mini natural treats.   Their small size is perfect for puppies.  The key thing is to not give your puppy all it's calories in treats.  You want a small, low calorie treat for your puppy as you're training them.  Small pieces of chicken or even a piece of kibble can work too.

Question 14

How do you crate train?

Accepted Answer

Crate train can be a challenge but it is the safest place for your puppy when you're not there.  There are many helpful articles on google.  The beginning may sound like your puppy is dying but I PROMISE they are fine!  We recommend calling their crate their home and giving them a treat every time you put them in it.  This will help them have a positive association.  We will give you a Kong and Kong filler at pick-up.  We put the filler in the Kong and freeze it during the day and give it to our puppies at night when the go in the crate.  It takes longer for them to eat it and occupy them.  I also suggest using the crate to help aid in potty training.  If you take them out and they don't potty, bring them in and put them in their crate.  Wait 30 minutes and try again.  If they potty, give them a treat and praise them and let them be in the house!   All our puppies sleep in crates beginning at 3 weeks.  
 
I know that many of us are working from home due to Covid (the only good thing to come out of it).  The temptation is to snuggle a new puppy all day long.  However, if you plan on returning to work, you should still crate your puppy for a few hours every day while you're home to keep them used to the routine (or to create the routine).  This will help lessen any separation anxiety when you do return to work or on date nights or when you go grocery shopping, etc.

Question 15

What payment do you accept at pick-up?

Accepted Answer

We only accept cash on pick-up day.  Just like you, we too are wary of being scammed.  We've had checks bounce and have heard stories of money being pulled back from electronic sources.  Therefore, we only accept cash in hand on pick-up day.

Question 16

How do you socialize your puppies?

Accepted Answer

We start by handling the puppies from the day they're born.  We have 3 children that interact with our puppies to help socialize them.  We also purchased Puppy Culture.  Unfortunately, Puppy Culture is a full time job and we do work day jobs.  So, we pick and choose from Puppy Culture and do the best we can with our puppies.  We do Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS).  We do sound exposure exercises.  We do scent exposures.  We introduce new toys and experiences to the pups to help prevent them from being bored and scared of new things and experiences.  In essence, we do everything in our power to make sure you're bringing home a well-rounded puppy.  However, it only starts here.  You have to continue to socialize your puppy when you bring it home.

Question 17

What's in your puppy go home bags?

Accepted Answer

We send our puppies home with a personalized bag (if you let us know their name before 7 weeks).  It includes a folder with 2 copies of their contract, akc application, vet paperwork and some handouts from AKC.  We also include a kong, kong filler, nail clippers, poop bags, a soft toy and a hard toy in our puppy go home bags.  This is always subject to change but gives you a general idea of what it's included.

Question 18

Why are your prices so much higher on Gooddog?

Accepted Answer

We have a love hate relationship with Gooddog.  Gooddog has done an amazing job of marketing and many buyers are there looking for puppies which is why we use them.  However, they charge sellers a percentage of each sale.  We have to increase our prices to cover those fees on their platform.  They also charge buyers fees if they want protection on any money they send.  We can help lower some of these buyer fees but if you find us on Gooddog and put a deposit down on Gooddog our prices will be higher.

Depot Dachsies

Your New England Dachshund Breeder

FAQ

Frequently asked questions