How to Sell Chiweenie Puppies in the United States

What US rules apply when you sell Chiweenie puppies?

• Federal licensing: under the Animal Welfare Act, a breeder with more than four breeding females who sells puppies sight unseen generally needs a USDA license. Breeders with four or fewer, and sellers who meet every buyer face to face, are generally exempt.
• Minimum age: about 28 states and Washington, DC set a minimum sale age, usually eight weeks. Pennsylvania, for example, bans selling or transferring any dog under eight weeks old.
• Lemon laws: about 22 states have puppy lemon laws. In California, for example, a breeder who sold three or more litters or 20 or more dogs in the past year must offer a remedy if a vet certifies an illness within 15 days or a hereditary condition within one year.
• Local rules: many cities and counties limit dogs per home or require a breeding permit; Los Angeles, for example, issues breeder's permits.
• Rabies: most states require rabies vaccination once a dog is old enough, so tell buyers when the shot is due.

Rules change, so check with your state agriculture department and your city or county animal services before you advertise.

Which health checks should your Chiweenie parents have?

Buyers of a cross want to know what each side brings. The Chihuahua Club of America's CHIC program asks for a cardiac exam, an eye exam by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and a patella exam. The Dachshund Club of America recommends the same three areas for breeding Dachshunds. Publish the results with the OFA and put the registered names in your ad.

Two welfare rules matter for this cross. First, never pair a merle Chihuahua with a dapple Dachshund, or two merle Chiweenies: dapple is the Dachshund term for merle, and the Dachshund Club of America warns that double dapples are more likely to be deaf or have small or missing eyes. Second, take the back seriously. A 2019 study in the journal Genes found the disc-disease variant CDDY in almost every Dachshund, and one copy raises the risk. A CDDY DNA test of the Chihuahua parent shows whether puppies could inherit two copies, and a dog that has had a disc episode should not be bred.

How do you prepare Chiweenie puppies for new homes?

• Keep them with their mother until at least eight weeks, and longer for any puppy that is small or not yet eating well on its own.
• Book a vet exam for each puppy, with first vaccinations, deworming and a check of the kneecaps, heart, mouth and any soft spot on the skull.
• Microchip each puppy and give buyers the number so they can register it.
• Feed small meals often and send buyers a written schedule; Chewy says puppies and very small Chiweenies may need three meals a day to avoid low blood sugar.
• Socialize them gently with visitors, household sounds and handling. Chewy notes that Chiweenies can be timid with strangers and that poorly socialized ones may become fearful.
• Start crate and potty training, and get them used to a soft harness.

Put together a puppy pack: the vet record, microchip details, a few days of food, a feeding plan, your contract and a short sheet on protecting a long back with ramps and a lean diet.

How should you price Chiweenie puppies?

Chewy reports breeder prices of typically $500 to $1,500 for a Chiweenie, and you can compare current Chiweenie puppies for sale in your area. A price well below the local range attracts resellers and scammers who copy your photos, and one far above it needs tested parents and a strong contract to back it up.

• Do not charge extra for a teacup, micro or mini label; the Chihuahua Club of America calls such labels misleading.
• Say what the price includes: vet checks, vaccinations, the microchip and any health guarantee.
• Agree any deposit and its refund terms in writing before you take money.

How do you write a Chiweenie puppy ad that buyers trust?

• What they are: say plainly that the puppies are a Chihuahua and Dachshund cross and that the AKC does not register the cross.
• Parents: which parent is the mother, each parent's weight and coat, and whether the Dachshund is a miniature or a standard.
• Health: the parents' kneecap, eye and heart results with registered names, plus the puppies' vet checks and microchips.
• Size: an honest estimate based on the parents, without size labels; Hill's puts most adults at 5 to 12 pounds.
• Ready date: the birth date and the date the puppies can leave, at eight weeks or later.
• Photos: recent pictures and a short video of the puppies with their mother.
• Terms: price, deposit policy, what the contract covers, and that buyers meet you and the puppy in person.

You can post your Chiweenie puppy ad for free, and buyers can message you through the listing. Keep your phone number and home address out of the ad text until you have spoken to a buyer.

How do you screen buyers for a Chiweenie puppy?

• Who lives at home, and how old are any children?
• Are there stairs or high furniture, and will they use ramps?
• How long will the puppy be alone each day? Chewy says most Chiweenies do not cope well with long stretches alone.
• Will barking be a problem for neighbors or a landlord?
• Have they owned a small or long-backed dog before, and who is their vet?

Careful buyers often follow how to buy a Chiweenie puppy, so expect the same questions back about the parents and their results.

How do you take payment and hand over safely?

• Hand over in person, at your home or theirs, with another adult present.
• Accept cash or a payment you can confirm before the puppy leaves. The FTC warns about fake checks written for more than the price with a request to send back the difference.
• Sign a contract with both names, the puppy's description and microchip number, the price, a health guarantee, any spay or neuter terms and a promise to take the dog back or help rehome it.
• Give buyers the vet record, feeding plan and microchip details, and remind them to register the chip; the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup shows which registry holds it.

If an adult from an earlier litter needs a new home, see how to rehome your Chiweenie responsibly. If someone has posted a wanted ad, how to respond to a Chiweenie wanted ad covers the checks to make.