Written agreements control
This page explains our general program. The signed Deposit Agreement, Sales Agreement, Health Guarantee, financing documents, and transportation terms control each individual transaction.
Clear policies · thoughtful placements
Clear expectations. Better beginnings.
These policies explain how applications, reservations, payments, puppy care, transportation, and buyer support work throughout the Southwest Virginia Chihuahua program.
8+ weeks
Standard go-home is readiness-based
Secure
Portal and verified phone updates
Lifetime
Continued breeder support
Buyer resources
Current puppy information—online or by phone
Matched buyers can use the Puppy Portal or call our buyer information line for the latest puppy and account information recorded in SWVAOS.
Latest puppy update
Placement status
Payments and plans
Documents and transport
The phone menu uses current SWVAOS records and protects private buyer information through account verification.
The puppy comes first
Go-home timing, placement decisions, and care requirements may change when necessary to protect a puppy’s health, development, temperament, or long-term welfare.
Respectful communication
We communicate directly and expect the same in return. Questions are welcome, but abusive, threatening, deceptive, or unsafe conduct may end a placement.
Policy library
Everything families should know
Search by topic, open one section at a time, or expand the entire policy library.
Policy 01 Application & Approval Every placement begins with an application and a review of fit, readiness, and expectations. +
How approval works
- Submit a complete application with accurate household, pet, experience, and placement information.
- We may ask follow-up questions, request references, or discuss expectations before making a decision.
- Approval means you may move forward in our placement process; it does not guarantee a specific puppy.
- A puppy is not reserved until all required steps are complete, the written deposit agreement is accepted, cleared funds are received, and we confirm the reservation.
Placement decisions
We may approve, defer, place on a wait list, decline, or later cancel a placement when we believe the match is not appropriate or a puppy’s needs have changed.
Policy 02 Deposits & Reservations A confirmed deposit reserves a specific puppy and removes that puppy from public availability. The standard amount is shown in the Pricing & Deposits section. +
Reservation terms
- A verbal conversation, application approval, or expressed interest does not reserve a puppy.
- The reservation begins only after we confirm the required agreement and cleared deposit.
- Deposits are generally non-refundable after confirmation because the puppy is held specifically for that buyer and removed from advertising.
- Deposits may not be transferred to another person or puppy unless we approve the change in writing.
When a puppy’s placement changes
If we stop a placement because of a puppy health concern or another decision on our side, the remedy will follow the signed Deposit Agreement or Puppy Sales Agreement. We will communicate the available options clearly.
The signed deposit agreement—not a social-media message, advertisement, or general website statement—controls the exact deposit amount, due date, refund terms, and transfer options.
Policy 03 Pricing & Deposits Pricing is based on registry, sex, coat, color, size, care requirements, and the individual puppy. +
ACA Registered
Male · $2,000–$2,300
Female · $2,400–$2,700
CKC Registered
Male · $2,000–$2,300
Female · $2,400–$2,700
AKC Registered
Male · $2,500–$2,900
Female · $3,000–$3,500
Standard reservation deposit
$500
The standard reservation deposit is $500. It is non-refundable after the reservation is confirmed and is applied toward the puppy’s purchase price. A listing or signed agreement may state a different deposit for a particular puppy.
Micro and micro-toy puppies
Micro and micro-toy puppies require substantially more monitoring, frequent feeding, extended care, and risk management. These puppies are priced individually from $4,000 to $6,000. The reservation deposit is $1,000 or 20–25% of the puppy’s purchase price, as stated in the listing and written agreement.
Individual pricing considerations
- Registration type, sex, coat length, color, markings, pedigree, conformation, projected care needs, and availability may affect pricing.
- Limited or pet registration is standard unless full registration or breeding rights are approved separately in writing.
- The confirmed puppy listing, written invoice, Deposit Agreement, and Puppy Sales Agreement establish the final price and deposit for a specific puppy.
- Taxes, payment-platform charges, delivery, transportation, pet-nanny service, veterinary certificates, and other optional services are separate unless specifically included in writing.
No guaranteed adult size
Weight estimates are based on current development, parents, littermates, and breeder experience. No exact adult weight, height, coat, ear set, temperament, show result, or breeding outcome is guaranteed.
Policy 04 Payments & Payment Plans Payment requirements must be satisfied before a meeting, delivery, or transfer proceeds. +
Standard purchases
- The deposit is credited toward the puppy’s purchase price.
- Unless a different written arrangement applies, the remaining puppy balance and any transportation fee are due at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting or transfer.
- A puppy will not be released while required funds remain unpaid, reversed, disputed, pending, or otherwise unavailable.
- Receipts and the buyer’s payment ledger are available through the Puppy Portal.
Approved puppy payment plans
- Financing is not automatic. It requires separate approval and a signed payment-plan or financing agreement.
- At least 50% of the total puppy price must be recorded as paid before the buyer can reserve a transportation meeting or take possession under an approved plan.
- The remaining balance, payment dates, interest or administrative charges, autopay requirements, late terms, and default remedies are controlled by the signed financing agreement.
- Naturally small, micro, or micro-toy puppies are not eligible for standard puppy financing unless we expressly approve otherwise in writing.
Use the approved payment channel
Buyers must use the payment method or platform identified in their invoice or written agreement. Do not send money to a different account based only on a social-media message, text, or unverified request.
Policy 05 Puppy Portal & Telephone Updates Matched buyers receive private access to puppy records through the portal and verified telephone system. +
Puppy Portal
The Puppy Portal is the buyer’s written account center. It may include puppy updates, photos, developmental milestones, messages, contracts, uploaded documents, payment records, preparation resources, and transportation requests.
Open Puppy PortalBuyer information phone system
Matched buyers may call (276) 276-1669 to hear current information from their SWVAOS account without waiting for a return message.
Information available through the buyer phone menu
- Assigned puppy details and the latest published puppy update
- Application, approval, matching, or placement status
- Recorded payments, outstanding balance, due dates, and payment-plan information
- Document-completion and transportation eligibility information
- Transportation date and meeting-request options when the account is eligible
- Options to leave a message or speak with the Southwest Virginia Chihuahua team
How the information stays current
The telephone menu reads from the same SWVAOS records used to manage puppy assignments, published updates, buyer accounts, payments, documents, and transportation. The information reflects the latest data recorded in the system at the time of the call.
Account verification protects private buyer information. The phone system is a convenient status and update service; the Puppy Portal, signed agreements, written receipts, and direct written communications remain the official records.
Policy 06 Go-Home Age & Readiness Age is only one part of readiness; safe feeding, growth, health, and development come first. +
Standard puppies
Standard puppies generally become eligible to go home at approximately eight weeks, provided they are eating independently, maintaining weight, hydrated, active, developmentally ready, and cleared under the requirements of their agreement.
Naturally small, toy, or micro-toy puppies
Very small puppies commonly remain with us an additional two to four weeks or longer. Go-home may be delayed until approximately 10–12 weeks or beyond when frequent feeding, weight stability, temperature regulation, energy, or veterinary guidance makes additional care necessary.
The puppy—not a calendar date—determines readiness
We may postpone pickup or transportation when a puppy is not ready. A planned date is not a guarantee that transfer will occur on that date.
Policy 07 Health, Veterinary Care & Guarantee Puppies receive close observation, age-appropriate care, records, and written health terms. +
Before transfer
- Puppies receive daily observation, age-appropriate deworming, vaccines and veterinary care as applicable, and a written health record.
- Breeding dogs may receive DNA or other health screening appropriate to the individual dog and breeding program.
- No puppy will be knowingly placed when we believe transfer would be unsafe or inappropriate.
Buyer responsibilities
- Schedule the required veterinary examination within the timeframe stated in the signed Health Guarantee.
- Follow feeding, hypoglycemia-prevention, vaccination, parasite-control, quarantine, and care instructions.
- Notify us promptly and provide veterinary records when a health-guarantee claim or serious concern arises.
- Do not expose an incompletely vaccinated puppy to unsafe public areas or unknown dogs.
Health-guarantee limits
Coverage, exclusions, deadlines, required proof, available remedies, and conditions are stated in the signed Health Guarantee. Naturally small, micro, or micro-toy puppies may have separate or limited guarantee terms because of their unique care needs and risks.
Nothing on this webpage replaces veterinary advice. Contact a licensed veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic for urgent medical concerns.
Policy 08 Visits & Biosecurity Our home is a working nursery, so visits are limited, scheduled, and managed around puppy safety. +
Visit requirements
- We do not offer walk-in visits.
- Video calls, photos, and portal updates may be used before an in-person meeting is appropriate.
- Approved visits must be scheduled and may be limited by puppy age, vaccination status, illness exposure, breeding activity, or household conditions.
- Visitors must follow sanitation, footwear, handling, parking, supervision, and animal-contact instructions.
Why access is limited
Young puppies have developing immune systems. Limiting unnecessary traffic protects puppies, mothers, resident dogs, and visiting families from avoidable disease exposure and stress.
Policy 09 Pickup, Delivery & Transportation Transportation is scheduled only after eligibility, payment, documents, date availability, and breeder confirmation are established. +
Before a meeting may be reserved
- A puppy must be assigned to the verified buyer.
- Required contracts, acknowledgments, health forms, and transportation documents must be complete.
- Standard purchases must meet the payment deadline. Approved payment-plan buyers must have at least 50% of the puppy price recorded as paid.
- Only one program transportation meeting is accepted per calendar day. A requested date is not guaranteed until confirmed.
Up to 125 miles
No transport fee
126–199 miles
$100
200–250 miles
$200
251–300 miles
$300
301–350 miles
$400
Scheduling and travel terms
- Distance is based on the approved meeting arrangement and may be calculated as round-trip travel.
- Transportation fees are billed separately and are due at least 24 hours before travel unless the written agreement states otherwise.
- The remaining puppy balance must be paid before possession unless an approved financing agreement expressly permits transfer with a remaining balance.
- Weather, traffic, puppy health, emergencies, and other safety concerns may require a time, date, route, or location change.
- We do not ship puppies as unattended airline cargo.
Verified buyers may request a date by telephone
Matched buyers may call (276) 276-1669 to review transportation eligibility and request an available meeting date. Payment, document, and program-wide scheduling requirements still apply, and breeder confirmation is required.
Policy 10 Lifetime Breeder Support Our relationship does not end on go-home day. +
Ongoing guidance may include
- Feeding and routine questions
- Adjustment and basic training
- Chihuahua-specific safety concerns
- Pup-Lift and hypoglycemia education
- Records and contract questions
- Responsible rehoming guidance
Contact us before rehoming
When a buyer can no longer keep a Southwest Virginia Chihuahua dog, the buyer should contact us before surrendering, selling, transferring, abandoning, or advertising the dog. The exact return or rehoming obligations are stated in the signed agreement.
Policy 11 Ethical Placement & Program Protection We reserve the right to protect each puppy, our dogs, our household, and the integrity of our program. +
We may decline or cancel a placement when
- Information is false, incomplete, misleading, or materially changes.
- The home, travel plan, intended use, care plan, financing situation, or requested timing is not appropriate for the puppy.
- A buyer ignores care instructions, misses required steps, fails to pay, refuses required documents, or cannot be reached.
- Communication becomes abusive, threatening, discriminatory, harassing, deceptive, or unsafe.
- A health, development, temperament, breeding-program, or welfare concern makes the placement unsuitable.
Fairness does not mean every situation is identical
Puppies and families have different needs. We apply our standards consistently while making individualized decisions based on safety, health, readiness, written agreements, and the puppy’s best interest.
Before you reserve
Read the agreement for your specific puppy
Website policies are designed to explain our program clearly. Your signed documents contain the exact terms for your puppy, price, deposit, payment arrangement, health coverage, registration, transportation, and responsibilities.