Why a Milk & Honey Puppy Is an Investment,  Not a Purchase

The real story behind what it takes to raise a well-bred, well-loved puppy

People often see the price of a puppy before they ever see the journey behind it.

They see the cute faces, the colors, the curls, the sweetness…

but they don’t see the hours, the sleepless nights, the vet runs, the heartbreak, the joy, the tears, and the absolute dedication that happens long before puppies are ever born.

For us, breeding isn’t a hobby.

It’s not a side hustle.

It’s a calling, one that asks for your whole heart.

When you choose one of our puppies, you aren’t paying for “a dog.”

You’re investing in everything we pour into that little life from the moment the pairing is planned to the moment you take them home.

Below is the part most people never see, but it’s the part that matters most.

 The Planning: Months (Sometimes Years) Before a Puppy Exists

Ethical breeding starts long before there are puppies in a whelping box.

It begins with:

• researching pedigrees

• understanding structure & temperament

• studying coat and color genetics

• pairing lines intentionally

• investing in health testing

• waiting for dogs to mature

• choosing families for guardians

• giving our girls space to grow up emotionally before ever being bred

We don’t rush litters.

We don’t breed because puppies are in demand.

We breed because the pairing makes sense because it improves the breed blend, preserves health, and produces stable, predictable temperaments.

This stage is slow, intentional, and costly…

but it’s where the foundation of a great puppy begins.

 The Cost of Doing It Right- What You Don’t See

People ask where the money goes.

Here’s the truth:

We invest thousands into each of our dogs before they ever have a litter.

Health Testing Alone Includes:

• OFA hips, elbows, patellas, cardiac

• PennHIP when needed

• CAER eye exams (yearly!)

• Full genetic panels

• Repeat testing as dogs age

These aren’t optional.

They’re the bare minimum in responsible breeding, and they’re expensive because they matter.

Reproduction Care Includes:

• progesterones

• cytology

• AI/TCI

• pregnancy ultrasounds

• X-rays

• emergency support

• whelping supplies

• puppy incubators/warmers

• post-partum meds & supplements

A single emergency vet visit can cost more than some people list their puppies for.

But our moms and puppies are worth every penny.

 The Part No One Talks About: The Sacrifice

Bringing puppies safely into the world takes everything.

The first 2–3 weeks are 24/7 care.

We don’t leave the house.

We sleep next to the whelping box.

We check temperatures, latch puppies to nurse, weigh constantly, sanitize nonstop, and watch every breath.

We’ve sat on the floor at 3AM tube-feeding a fading puppy.

We’ve cried over puppies we couldn’t save, even when we did everything right.

We’ve held mothers through difficult labors.

We’ve stayed awake for 36 hours straight because mom needed us.

This part isn’t glamorous.

It isn’t talked about.

But it’s the heart of ethical breeding.

 The Raising: Hands-On, Every Single Day

Once puppies open their eyes, our real work begins the curriculum, the exposure, the socialization, the tiny moments that shape who they will become.

We don’t just “play with puppies.”

We:

• introduce new textures, sounds, objects daily

• do early socialization exercises

• build confidence intentionally

• begin crate and potty training

• groom regularly

• teach them resilience, not fear

• evaluate temperament to match them with the right families

This takes hours every day, every single day.

We don’t skip steps.

We don’t cut corners.

We don’t raise puppies in a shed, a barn, a garage, or a building separate from our home.

They are raised right in our living space, in real-life noise and love.

 The Emotional Investment — The Hardest Part

We fall in love with every single puppy.

We learn who is brave, who is gentle, who loves belly rubs, who sleeps on their back, who follows us around, who likes being held like a baby.

And then we send them home.

Every litter takes a piece of our heart with them.

We show up for families long after go-home day.

We answer messages late at night.

We cry when we get updates.

We celebrate milestones with you.

We are there through training, questions, health scares, and everything in between.

Because when you choose one of our puppies, you become part of the Milk & Honey family.

 So What Are You Paying For?

You’re paying for:

• A responsibly planned litter

• Generations of health testing

• Sound temperament

• Predictability

• Transparency

• A breeder who shows up

• A puppy raised with intention

• A safe, clean, loving environment

• Curriculum and early training

• Round-the-clock care

• Our expertise, education, and support

• A puppy born into love, not chance

You’re paying for the years we’ve devoted to learning, improving, investing, and doing right by our dogs even when it costs us more.

You’re paying for a puppy who has been loved deeply before you ever met them.

 The Truth About  Value

Our puppies are not cheap and we don’t apologize for that.

We could cut corners.

We could skip testing.

We could breed more often.

We could raise puppies in a cheaper, easier way.

But that’s not who we are.

When you invest in a Milk & Honey puppy, you are choosing:

• ethics

• care

• quality

• heart

• and a family who stands behind their dogs

Your puppy will be with you for a decade or more.

They will change your life in ways you can’t imagine yet.

That is why we call it an investment.

Not because of the cost.

but because of the value that lasts a lifetime.

The cost of a well bred puppy from Milk & Honey is $2,500 but what you recieve is far greater than just a number. You’re gaining a puppy that has been loved from their very first heartbeat, raised with intention, and backed by a program that stands with you for the lifetime of your dog.

We pour our hearts into this, and if your heart feels connected to what you’ve read, then chances are one of our little honeys is meant for you.