How it works
A simple three step process!
Everything about choosing, reserving, and bringing home your puppy, in one place.
The three steps.
- 1
Choose a puppy
Fill out the Adoption Application when you have chosen a specific puppy on the Available Puppies page and are ready to reserve. We review every application individually.
If no current puppy matches what you need, choose Future Litter on the application. That puts you in line for the next matching puppy instead of a puppy already listed.
Sign up for our free Notification List if you only want alerts on new litters. There is no cost and no hold on a puppy.
- 2
Reserve
If we approve your application for a named puppy, we email the Puppy Purchase Agreement and a $1,000 deposit invoice. You have 24 hours from that email to sign and pay. The puppy is reserved only when we have both.
If we approve a Future Litter application, we email a Reservation Agreement and a $1,000 deposit invoice. That deposit holds your preference spot. It does not reserve a named puppy yet. When a matching puppy is available and you accept it, you sign a Puppy Purchase Agreement for that specific puppy. The $1,000 already paid is credited toward the price.
- 3
Get your puppy
We post photos and videos on the Available Puppies page about every two weeks. Each litter has a published pickup date at 8 weeks of age. You then schedule a pickup appointment in La Grange, California, or arrange a delivery we have approved in writing.
Remaining balance is due at pickup. For delivery, remaining balance plus all transport fees are due two business days before the puppy leaves our care. Puppies are not released until payment is confirmed. Every puppy goes home with a starter kit. We do not deliver from sundown Friday through sundown Saturday.
Pricing & deposit.
- Pet price with AKC Limited Registration.
- $1,000 deposit, credited toward the purchase price.
- Reserved = signed Puppy Purchase Agreement + paid deposit, within 24 hours of our approval email.
- Deposit and final payments are collected through Square.
- Pickup: remaining balance due at handoff. Delivery: remaining balance and transport fees due two business days before the puppy leaves our care.
- We do not hold a puppy without a signed contract and a paid deposit.
Notification List vs Future Litter Reservation.
Free Notification List
Join by the short form on this website. No payment. No commitment. You will hear about new litters and reservation windows.
Join the listFuture Litter Reservation
If there is not a current puppy that fits your home, you may reserve a future spot with a $1,000 deposit. Note this and your preferences (sex, color, timing) on your Adoption Application. We match you when a suitable puppy is available.
- We generally hold up to 2 male and 2 female preference spots per litter.
- If a litter does not produce a match, your reservation rolls to the next planned litter.
- Order pick is determined by the order in which Reservation Agreement and deposit are completed.
Refunds
The $1,000 deposit is credited toward the purchase price. It is refundable until a suitable puppy has been offered, including: no suitable puppy matching the stated preferences within 6 months (or you may choose to keep waiting), or mutual agreement to end the reservation before a match is accepted. Refunds are processed within 30 days.
If you decline two suitable matches, or do not respond within 48 hours of a match offer, we may remove the reservation and retain up to $500 of the fee to cover administrative cost. That $500 is a reasonable estimate of time already spent, not a penalty.
If we cancel a sale because the home is unsafe, the application was dishonest, or the purchase appears to be for a broker, flipper, unauthorized breeder, or third party, we refund the deposit within 30 days minus a $200 handling fee.
Pickup & delivery.
Option 1: Pickup
You are welcome to pick up your puppy in La Grange, California, about 50 minutes east of Modesto. Pickup is by appointment only. Final payment of the remaining balance is due at pickup. Puppies are ready to go home at 8 weeks old. Please make arrangements to pick up your puppy on their go-home date.
Option 2: Delivery
Delivery is available when puppies are 8 weeks old. All transport must be approved in advance. Final puppy payment and transport fees are due two business days before departure.
| Airport drop-off | San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, or Fresno. $300 for a travel nanny to the airport. |
|---|---|
| Ground delivery | Quoted from La Grange, CA 95329: mileage $0.725 per mile, round trip; driver time $30 per hour, round-trip driving time. Example, Los Angeles: mileage about $435 + time about $285 = about $720. We confirm the exact quote before you accept. |
| Flight nanny (in-cabin) | A nanny flies with the puppy and meets you at the arrival airport. Airport delivery fee $300; nanny time $30 per hour, round trip (except airport handling time already covered); airline pet fee at actual cost, usually $95–$125; airfare at the actual round-trip ticket. Example, Sacramento-area itinerary: $300 + 8 hours nanny time ($240) + pet fee ($125) + ticket ($400) = about $1,065. Every trip is quoted individually. |
| Air cargo | Puppy travels in a pressurized, temperature-controlled compartment. You pick up at the airline cargo office with photo ID. Shipping prep package (crate, health certificate, documents): about $250. Airfare: often $300–$450 depending on destination. Airport drop-off / coordination: $300 plus $30 per hour on site. You assume responsibility once the airline takes the puppy. Airline declared-value coverage is typically about $1 per $100 of declared value. |
We do not deliver from sundown Friday through sundown Saturday.
Our Care Promise
One-Year Health Guarantee.
At Cream with Clover, we are committed to raising healthy, well-socialized Miniature Dachshund puppies. Each puppy receives quality care, early socialization, and routine dewormers and vaccines at home. To give you peace of mind, we provide the following guarantee:
Coverage
At the time of pickup, your puppy is guaranteed to be in good health to the best of our knowledge.
If, within 15 days of pickup, a licensed veterinarian diagnoses an infectious or contagious disease that likely existed before purchase, you may choose one of the following remedies:
- Return the puppy for a full refund.
- Exchange the puppy for a replacement puppy of equal value (when available).
- Keep the puppy and receive reimbursement of reasonable veterinary costs, up to the purchase price.
If, within one (1) year of pickup, your puppy is diagnosed with a congenital or hereditary defect that significantly impacts quality of life, you may choose one of the same remedies listed above.
Exclusions
This guarantee does not cover:
- Common puppy ailments such as parasites (roundworms, hookworms, giardia, coccidia), kennel cough, hypoglycemia, or stress-related diarrhea.
- Routine veterinary care, vaccinations, or preventatives.
- Conditions that are primarily environmental or developmental, such as injury, allergies, hernias, retained baby teeth, cryptorchidism, or IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease).
- Size, coat, or color outcome, or suitability for breeding (all puppies are sold as companions with AKC Limited Registration).
Buyer Responsibilities
- Schedule a licensed veterinary exam within 72 hours (3 business days) of pickup and retain records.
- Provide appropriate nutrition, vaccinations, parasite prevention, and a safe environment.
- Notify Cream with Clover within 5 business days of any covered diagnosis with full documentation.
- A second opinion from an unrelated licensed veterinarian or specialist may be required (at our expense).
Claims
For covered claims, veterinary records must be submitted. In the case of death, a necropsy report may be required. Remedies will not exceed the purchase price unless California law provides otherwise.
Rehoming
While this guarantee is not a surrender program, if you are ever unable to keep your dog, Cream with Clover welcomes notice so we may assist in finding a loving new home when possible.
Governing Law
This guarantee is part of the Puppy Purchase Agreement and is governed by California law. If any clause conflicts with California’s Health & Safety Code, the statute shall prevail.
Goes home with your puppy
- Blanket
- Bag of food
- Water & food bowl
- Dog toy
- Potty pads
- Our business card
Policies.
AKC Registration
Every Cream with Clover puppy is raised as a companion and sold as pet-only. We do not sell puppies for breeding or conformation showing. Each puppy is eligible for AKC Limited Registration: the puppy is registered with the American Kennel Club; breeding and conformation showing are not permitted under Limited Registration; the dog may still participate in events such as obedience, rally, and agility.
When a puppy is reserved
After the signed purchase agreement and $1,000 deposit are received, we mark the puppy Reserved on the Available Puppies page.
Who we sell to
We do not knowingly sell to pet stores, brokers, commercial breeders, research facilities, or fighting operations.
Right to Refuse Sale
We may decline any application. Cream with Clover also reserves first pick of any litter unless we have agreed otherwise in writing before the breeding.
Contract
Agreements are signed electronically. You complete the buyer section only. No printing or mailing.
After you get home.
Mini dachshunds are affectionate, loyal, and happiest when their people are around. House-training takes patience. Protect their backs: no stairs or jumping, use ramps, and use a harness rather than a collar. Set up a small, easy-to-clean puppy zone for the first days and keep introductions calm.
If you ever cannot keep your dog, tell us. This is not a surrender program, but we will help look for a suitable home when we can.
Frequently asked questions.
How much is a puppy?
$3,600 for black & cream and $3,800 for clear or shaded cream (pet price, AKC Limited Registration). The $1,000 deposit is credited toward the purchase price.
How do I adopt a puppy?
Look at Available Puppies, choose one by name, then submit the application. If we approve it, we send the purchase agreement and a $1,000 deposit invoice. The puppy is reserved when both are completed, within 24 hours of approval.
How does the waitlist work?
We do not run a years-long numbered waitlist. There are two options only: the free Notification List (alerts, no hold), or a Future Litter Reservation ($1,000 deposit, preference hold for a future litter if no current puppy fits). We generally keep up to 2 male and 2 female preference spots per litter. Unmatched reservations roll forward.
Is my reservation fee refundable?
Yes, until a suitable puppy has been offered. We refund within 30 days if no suitable puppy matching your stated preferences is available within 6 months (or you may keep waiting), or if we end the reservation by mutual agreement before a match is accepted.
Do you offer first pick of the litter?
We do not offer an official first pick of the litter; however, if you were the first one to place a reservation on a specific future litter, then you would have first pick for the gender and color you selected.
What puppy options can I choose?
Sex, color (clear cream, shaded cream, or black & cream), and timing. Final match depends on who is actually born and on approval of your application.
How long is the typical wait for a puppy?
If you are applying for a puppy already listed, go-home is the published 8-week pickup date for that litter. A Future Litter Reservation depends on the next planned breeding and on your preferences.
What if I decline a matched puppy or don't respond?
Please answer a match offer within 48 hours. Declining two suitable matches, or not responding, may close the reservation and we may retain up to $500 of the fee for administrative cost.
What do I agree to by signing the form?
You agree to pay the $1,000 deposit if approved, to respond within 24 hours of approval, that you have read How it works and Our Care Promise, and that you are 18 or older.
When is the rest of the money due?
At pickup in La Grange. If we are delivering the puppy, the remaining balance and transport fees are due two business days before the puppy leaves our care. Payments are through Square.
Do you deliver?
Yes. Pickup in La Grange is always available. Delivery options and sample rates are under Pickup & delivery. We do not deliver from sundown Friday through sundown Saturday.
What comes home with my puppy?
Every puppy goes home with a starter kit: a blanket, a bag of food, a water/food bowl, a dog toy, potty pads, and our business card.
Is there a health guarantee?
Yes. A one-year health guarantee for congenital or hereditary defects and 15 days for infectious disease, with a vet exam required within 72 hours of pickup. See Our Care Promise.