About
WHY WE EXIST
We recognize that the dog breeding business has a pretty bad track record to overcome. We’ve all seen horrendous pictures of dogs stacked in crates in a puppy mill and heard reports of kennels abusing their puppies, but we truly believe there is a much better way! We believe people should have access to high quality family dogs that have been raised and bred responsibly and with much care. We aim to use our resources – our time, talents, and voices to change the dog industry for the better.
Rock Haven grew out of our love of dogs and the joy of providing healthy and happy puppies to loving homes. We strive to help both the puppy and the owner make a seamless transition and we really focus on being a resource for new dog owners. We still have much to learn, but we are growing and pushing ourselves to be better so that we can create an amazing experience for each of our customers.
Our vision is to be a business that operates with the utmost sincerity. Integrity is at the heart of what we do. We see a world where buying puppies is not just transactional, but relational. Where those who are looking for a healthy family dog can purchase one without any confusion or concern and have a great relationship with their breeder. We aim to provide our customers with all the resources they need to successfully transition their puppy home and create a lasting bond with their dog.
WHO WE ARE
We are Luke & Kelsey Hershey and we’re passionate about raising the highest quality Labrador Retrievers & Golden Retrievers. We have been blessed with four sweet young boys who keep life exciting! Luke’s passion is animals, and dogs tops the list. Some of our highest priorities include God, our family, and choosing to live life to the full! Luke has always been gifted with animals, so you will find him spending the majority of his day with our dogs and puppies! I (Kelsey) also enjoy being out and throwing fetch with the dogs, watching the boys run around with them, and helping the mamas deliver their babies, but the most satisfying part for me is connecting with each person who purchases a puppy from us and making it a wonderful experience for them!
OUR STORY
Labs were a part of our story before it even began. When we started dating 10 years ago, Luke’s yellow Lab, Riley, was already his sidekick. He has always loved Labs, so we didn’t even consider a different breed when Sasha joined our family. Since then our love for Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers has only grown! In 2022 we purchased our first Golden Retriever, and the amazing qualities of Labs shines through in our sweet Golden girls as well. We now have four young boys who are growing up with dogs and puppies, and it has been a great experience teaching them the joy and responsibility of caring for a dog.
Luke grew up with Yellow Labrador Retrievers. His parents bred and raised Yellow Labs since he was born, and he naturally fell in love with the breed. Dogs have always been Luke’s favorite animal, in fact we talked about it on our first date! His passion for dogs shines in the way he marvels over a brand new puppy, and his love of all things genetic. He still talks about the moment he met someone who focused solely on breeding and was a professional in the field. He had always loved breeding and strived to improve on the wonderful traits of the English Lab, but never considered it could be a true profession, what a dream! Since then he has made it his mission and his goal to pursue raising Labradors and Goldens professionally, and it is one of his greatest passions in life.
Today Luke spends most of his days with our dogs and puppies, and the best days for him are when he gets to be with both the dogs and his boys, and nurture sweet puppies. He is the organizer, and loves keeping spreadsheets of vaccinations, medical records, and any other details that we need. He is also on duty when labor begins. He has spent countless sleepless nights with our girls, being the first one to hold each puppy as it takes its first breath, a true miracle.
I grew up with mixed breeds, so I didn’t have a strong feeling one way or the other about Labrador Retrievers or Golden Retrievers until I met Riley. She was such a sweet, soulful girl, and I got bit by the Lab bug! Once we started having kids my love for these sweet dogs grew even stronger as I watched how athletic they can be chasing down a ball, yet gentle and tender with our young children. It was vital that I could trust our dogs around our kids, and Retrievers checked all the boxes. Do they love to run and swim and fetch? Yes. Are they sensitive towards our children? Yes. Can I trust them with young children who may accidentally be overbearing at times? Yes!
These days I spend most of my time emailing and texting our amazing Rock Haven family, and I’m grateful for each one of you. I sneak phone calls between the kids’ naps, and puppy snuggles any chance I can. Is it crazy with 4 kids and puppies? Yes, BUT the beautiful thing is that our kids can be with us as we work, and they watch how we care for and nurture our dogs and puppies. It is also my greatest pleasure to meet our Rock Haven family when they come for their puppy!
Luke and I joke that we will be doing this mission of raising healthy, happy Labs and Goldens until the day we die because it is such a passion of ours to connect with amazing families to provide them with a puppy that will leave a lasting impact on their lives, creating memories and moments that will be cherished forever. It is truly such an honor and we are grateful for you all!