Why We Aren’t a “Cheap” Breeder (And Why It Matters)
At Stokeshire Designer Doodles, we often hear a version of the same question: “Why are your puppies more expensive, and what is the true price of a quality pet, compared to others I see online?” It’s a fair question. When you’re searching for a new furry family member, a beloved pet, the internet presents a dizzying number of choices, and the initial price can feel like a simple way to compare.
But here is our heartfelt and honest answer: we don’t call ourselves a cheap dog breeder because “cheap” always comes at a cost. That cost is almost never paid by the breeder. It’s paid by the dog—and eventually, by the family that loves them. That cost is almost never paid by the breeder, but rather becomes a significant expense for the new family.
The Difference Between a Price and a Promise
When a breeder’s main goal, often driven by marketing, is to offer the lowest price, crucial aspects of a puppy’s well-being often get left behind. It’s a simple business reality. A low price tag doesn't appear from thin air; it’s the direct result of cutting corners somewhere, impacting the true cost of care.
This might look like:
Skipping or minimizing essential health and genetic testing, including DNA screening for common breed issues.
Cutting short the critical windows for socialization is a key part of a puppy's temperament development.
Overbreeding dams past their healthy and ethical limits often leads to too many litters and health risks.
Providing minimal enrichment, training, or human interaction can impact a puppy's overall program and development.
Offering no support or accountability once a puppy goes to its new home, leaving families to face unexpected veterinarian expenses.
At Stokeshire, our philosophy is built on a different foundation. We’ve made a conscious choice not to optimize for the lowest possible price, but rather to build a robust breeding program. Instead, our dedication is poured into creating a different kind of value—a true investment that lasts a lifetime.
We optimize for:
Predictable, gentle temperaments: A hallmark of our chosen dog breed, nurturing the sweet, neighborly spirit that fits right into family life.
Long-term health and vitality: Using academic rigor and genetic science, including thorough DNA and eye examination for parent dogs, to give our puppies the best start and ensure proper nutrition and vitamin intake.
Ethical breeding practices: Honoring our dogs and ensuring their well-being is always our first priority, reflecting our commitment as a responsible breeder.
Early neurological and emotional development: Creating a stress-free, sun-kissed environment where puppies can thrive, preparing them for their future as beloved pets.
A lifetime of support: Remaining a resource for you long after your puppy comes home, a true investment in your family's happiness.
These commitments require time, expertise, and significant resources, often a considerable expense that impacts our program's income. They are investments in the future health and happiness of your dog, ensuring a long and joyful life.
A Puppy Is Not a Commodity
A cheap product is something you might replace if it breaks. A dog is not a product. A dog, your future pet, is a living, breathing part of your family.
Imagine the life you’ll share. Your dog, your loyal pet, will be there for cozy, snowy evenings with a candle flickering and for sunny Sunday barbecues in the backyard. They will greet your children after school, snuggle with you during storytime, and shape your family’s daily rhythms and fondest memories for the next 10 to 15 years.
When a breeder cuts corners in a puppy’s first eight weeks, from birth onwards, the consequences and health risks can ripple through its entire life. Families may later face:
Chronic and expensive health issues, often requiring emergency veterinarian visits.
Difficult behavioral challenges like anxiety or reactivity, impacting the pet's temperament.
The heartbreak of seeing a beloved pet struggle.
Thousands of dollars in unexpected veterinary or training bills, adding significant cost and expense.
A puppy that starts as a bargain can quickly become the most expensive and emotionally taxing dog you’ll ever own, turning a supposed saving into a high cost and a poor investment.
What You’re Truly Investing in at Stokeshire
When a family chooses a Stokeshire Doodle, whether a Goldendoodle or Bernedoodle, they aren’t just paying for a puppy. They are investing in the peace of mind that comes from a thoughtful and deliberate process, a true investment in their future companion. We believe every family deserves that warm, wagging-tail greeting at the door from a happy, healthy companion, a well-adjusted pet.
Our program includes:
Intentional Pairings: We use genetic data, including DNA analysis and temperament analysis, to plan each litter with purpose and care, often involving careful selection of the stud and parent dogs, sometimes even requiring insemination and progesterone testing to ensure a successful pregnancy and birth in a clean whelping box.
Early Stimulation & Socialization: Our puppies begin a structured curriculum that builds confidence and adaptability from their first days, including early vaccine protocols.
Therapy-Informed Handling: We nurture our puppies in a way that prepares them for a life of joyful, stress-free companionship, focusing on their developing temperament.
Transparent Health Protocols: Our commitment to health is backed by meticulous genetic testing, including brucellosis screening and eye examination, and trusted veterinary partnerships, ensuring every puppy is healthy.
A Family-First Focus: We breed dogs, focusing on the specific breed standard and characteristics, designed to fit seamlessly into the beautiful, messy, wonderful chaos of family life.
We breed intentionally, not excessively, maintaining a manageable program of litters. We place our puppies thoughtfully, not transactionally, understanding the true cost and fee involved. And our promise of support continues long after you drive home, ensuring your ongoing satisfaction. That isn’t cheap. That’s our commitment.
Your Choice Shapes the Future for All Dogs
Choosing a breeder is a decision that reflects your values and impacts the future of the dog breed. When the market rewards ultra-low pricing, often through aggressive marketing, it inadvertently incentivizes high-volume, low-welfare operations where dogs are treated like inventory, increasing health risks and expenses. Ethical breeders who invest in health, temperament, and enrichment can struggle to continue their important work, impacting their income and ability to maintain their program.
When you choose a program built on intention and accountability for the dog breed, you send a powerful message. You champion a higher standard of care. You support a future where every dog is bred with purpose, and every breeder is held responsible, upholding the breed standard. Your choice doesn’t just impact your family; it helps shape a better, more humane world for dogs.
We know we aren’t the right fit for every person, and that’s perfectly okay. We are not trying to be the least expensive option available, understanding that quality comes with a fair price and fee, not just a low cost.
We strive to be the right option for families who:
Value a stable, predictable, and gentle companion, a true pet with an excellent temperament.
Prioritize long-term health and temperament, a key investment.
View their dog as an integral, lifelong member of the family, not just an animal.
Believe that expertise, ethics, and preparation are non-negotiable.
If your primary deciding factor is finding the lowest price or cost, there are other breeders out there. But if you are asking why we don’t call ourselves a cheap breeder, our answer is simple.
Because dogs deserve better than cheap. And so do the families who love them.
Frequently Asked Questions and Important Information
What should I consider when choosing a dog breeder?
Find a dog breeder who prioritizes ethical practices, comprehensive health testing (including genetic testing, DNA screening, and eye examination for parent dogs), and the overall well-being of the puppies first, as well as transparency about their breeding methods, health protocols, and socialization practices within their program. A good breeder will also discuss preventative measures like brucellosis testing and regular veterinarian check-ups.
How can I ensure my puppy is well-socialized?
You should choose a breeder who implements early socialization programs that include exposing puppies to various environments, sounds, and people during their critical development stages, fostering a stable temperament.
What are the benefits of investing in a higher-priced puppy?
Investing in a higher-priced puppy means you are supporting ethical breeding practices that prioritize health, temperament, and socialization, ultimately reducing long-term cost and expense, and ensuring a fair fee for quality.
What is the importance of genetic testing in breeding?
Genetic testing, including DNA analysis and eye examination, helps identify potential hereditary health issues that could affect the puppies by screening for genetic disorders common to the breed, reducing health risk for the parent and offspring.
How does early neurological stimulation benefit puppies?
Early neurological stimulation (ENS) can lead to improved stress tolerance, better adaptability, and enhanced overall health and temperament for puppies.
What ongoing support can I expect from a responsible breeder?
A responsible breeder offers guidance on training, health care (including dog food and nutrition advice, vaccine schedules, and emergency protocols), and behavioral issues. They should also be available to answer questions and provide resources long after you bring your puppy home, ensuring continued support.
Why is it important to view a puppy as a family member rather than a commodity?
Viewing your puppy as a family member rather than a commodity emphasizes the emotional and lifelong commitment involved in pet ownership, recognizing them as a cherished animal and a true investment in your family's life with a dog.
About the Author and Breeder: James Stokes of Wisconsin Designer Doodles
James Stokes is a trusted breeder of Doodles, a popular hybrid dog breed, and a responsible steward of the dog breed. For over ten years, James has dedicated himself to raising healthy Bernedoodle puppies, a cross often involving the Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle, that families can cherish, prioritizing their welfare. He understands the unique characteristics and genetics of many purebred dogs, from the spirited Jack Russell Terrier to the loyal German Shepherd, and the gentle Golden Retriever, as well as the diversity from a tiny Chihuahua to a majestic Great Dane or a powerful Rottweiler to a gentle Beagle.
He works alongside his wife and children every day, ensuring each puppy from their litters receives loving care. Together, they have found wonderful homes for their Doodles across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Health-tested puppies raised from proven, well-established lines and supported by a three-year genetic health guarantee, with breed-appropriate health testing conducted in line with current veterinary and genetic best practices.
Hand-raised in a family home, never kept in kennels or a whelping box for too long, ensuring optimal welfare and a healthy birth environment.
Socialized early with ENS, sounds, and plenty of family time. This helps develop positive behavior and a balanced temperament and energy levels, ensuring they feel safe and relaxed, and are ready for their first vaccine.
Lovingly matched to each family. Every Doodle puppy from our litters is chosen based on specific criteria to fit well with their family’s way of life and needs.
Part of an ethical, small-scale breeding program, driven by heart, focusing on the overall health and nutrition of each animal.
At Stokeshire, doodles are never “just pets,” but cherished family members. They are thoughtfully raised companions—designed to become steady, intuitive members of the family for life. Every decision we make is guided by the Stokeshire Method: pairing genetics, temperament, and early-life environment to raise dogs with excellent behavior who integrate naturally into real family rhythms, upholding the breed standard of our program.
Our doodles are known for their balanced energy, emotional intelligence, and predictable temperaments, embodying the best of their dog breed characteristics. They thrive in a wide range of households—from active families to therapy-focused homes—and are often an excellent option for those seeking allergy-friendly companions. Like our Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles, which are popular hybrid breeds, each puppy is raised with the intention of becoming deeply bonded, well-mannered, and trusted at every stage of life. We also acknowledge the distinct traits of other breeds, such as the intelligent Border Collie or the robust Labrador Retriever, and even the unique heritage of a wolf or wolfdog.
Stokeshire is proudly based in Medford, Wisconsin, but our families span far beyond the Midwest. Through our concierge-style transport and placement process, part of our comprehensive program, we safely deliver puppies across the United States and into Mexico—ensuring a calm, carefully managed transition from our home to yours. From day one, your puppy’s journey is handled with the same care and intention with which they were raised.