What You Pay & When
Your Final Price, Broken Down
Nothing is due all at once. Your deposit comes first — the rest follows when you've chosen your puppy.
Step 1 — Deposit
$500
Due when you join the waiting list. Applied toward your final adoption fee — not an extra charge.
Step 2 — Adoption Fee
$2,500+
Set by your puppy's color, coat, and sex. See Pricing Guidelines for the full calculator.
Step 3 — Balance Due
Fee − $500
Due at or before pickup — this is what you pay the day your puppy goes home.
Two quick examples
Standard male shorthair at $2,500 → $500 deposit already paid → $2,000 due at pickup.
Dapple female longhair at $3,150 → $500 deposit already paid → $2,650 due at pickup.
The Journey
From Application to Pickup
Every step between right now and the day your puppy comes home.
-
1
Submit Your Application
Tell us about your home, your lifestyle, and what you're hoping for in a puppy. We review every application individually — no rubber-stamping. This helps us find the right match for both the family and the dog.
Action required: Puppy Application -
2
Application Review & Approval
We'll follow up within a few days. Once approved, we'll talk through available litters, upcoming pairings, and your preferences for color, coat type, and sex. We'll set honest expectations about timing and availability.
We reach out to you -
3
Waitlist Deposit & Deposit Agreement
A $500 deposit secures your spot on the waiting list. It's non-refundable except in the rare case a specific puppy develops a health condition preventing placement — and it's applied in full toward your final adoption fee. A signed deposit agreement accompanies every deposit.
Action required: $500 deposit + Deposit Agreement -
4
Litter Updates & Puppy Selection
When a litter arrives that matches your preferences, we'll contact you before any public listing. You'll receive photos and updates as pups develop. Selection happens in waitlist order — by deposit date — so your position matters. You may pass on a litter and stay on the list with your spot intact.
We send updates and reach out when it's your turn -
5
Purchase Contract
Once you've chosen your puppy, we'll send a purchase contract documenting the adoption price, the health guarantee terms, and any applicable agreements — a spay/neuter agreement for pet homes, or a breeding ethics agreement for Full AKC placements.
Action required: Purchase Contract -
6
Final Payment & Pickup Day
Your remaining balance (adoption fee minus the $500 deposit already paid) is due at or before pickup. Puppies go home at 8 weeks with all records, a starter packet, and your signed health guarantee. We remain available for questions — for the life of your dog.
Action required: Remaining balance · Pickup at 8 weeks
Payment
How We Accept Payment
Personal checks are not accepted for final balances. Financing through PayPal or a similar service carries a 4% surcharge. We do not release puppies until payment is received in full.
Pickup Location
We prefer in-person pickup at our Georgia home so you can meet our dogs and see where your puppy was raised.
Ground Transport / Flight Nanny
May be available at additional cost for out-of-area families. We do not ship puppies as unaccompanied air cargo.
Ready to start?
Submit your application — it's the first step toward your River Dachs puppy.
Apply Now View Pricing