ArkGold
Meet the breeder
I'm Marissa H., the breeder behind ArkGold located in Russellville , AR. This is about a Love and Passion for great Golden Retriever Dogs. Our hope is to raise puppies who will go on to do a wide scope of things with the talents this breed is known for. We are AKC Breeders of Merit, in the AKC Bred with Heart program, and are members of the Golden Retriever Club of America.
Q. & A. with Marissa
Why did you start breeding?
The first family dog I remember was our Golden, Maggie (1987). She had an absolutely wonderful temperament for a family pet. She died at only the age of 8 of cancer. She was a treasure of a dog and changed my life forever. There is nothing like the special bond that can be had between a person and a dog. To me, if you were going to take that love to another level then you have been in the presence of a Golden Retriever. This breed is programmed to love people. They have the most gentle and sweet dispositions, all the while being fun, outdoorsy, and smart. As beautiful as they are on the outside, their soul is the real treasure of this true friend. I have been fortunate enough to have been thoughtfully mentored and taught the importance of preserving the breed and its purpose, and how to properly test for health in our breed. This guidance has sparked a fire within my soul to try to do the best I can with the time and resources I have to do something to allow future generations to enjoy these incredible dogs. Being a breeder isn't actually simple at all. It requires thoughtful decisions in crosses, time spent interviewing and meeting potential puppy homes, countless hours of raising these little lives around the clock, and then being there forever for that puppy should it ever need you again. These dogs give us so much free therapy and pure love every moment they are around us. It is our duty to always give back to them everything we can in return. What makes your program special?
I should be stuck in a lab somewhere doing Science and instead, I get to focus on these amazing dogs. I have trained for a very good chunk of my life for it in honors Chemistry for undergrad and Cell and Molecular Biology as a Fellow in Graduate school. I enjoy Science but love the outdoors and of course my dogs more than anything. I am very lucky to every day get to do what I love, even though my days are long to make sure the needs of my dogs and families are met. This breeding project is my way of being able to use genetics to work towards specific goals within this breed I am completely obsessed with. As a breeder, we have more resources than ever to use to make our breeding decisions. I want a line of versatile Goldens who are healthy and beautiful that golden-loving people can enjoy. With genetics, nothing is certain... but we can stack the deck in our favor with the tools that we have. Within this breeding program, we are using tests like OFA for hips, elbows and heart, and eyes, then DNA gene marker tests, family history of cancer, thyroid, and allergies to screen against genetic issues in this breed. This information is just part of the puzzle. We also want stellar personalities, high intellect for training and natural retrieval instincts, and good looks just to wrap it all up. The underlying need (for any of these jobs: retrieving ducks, service or therapy work, search and rescue police work, competition or family companion), is a Golden that will be healthy. The health is what I fundamentally am working towards, while secondly, my competitive nature has goals with exhibiting my hard work in club events.What are the different breed coat colors in your program?
Our puppies are golden. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.
Getting a puppy from Marissa
Marissa has been certified by Good Dog’s screening team for responsible and trusted breeding practices. When you’re ready to reach out, feel free to ask any questions about the breed, their program, or specific puppies.
Together, you’ll choose the puppy that’s right for you, stay in touch with regular updates, and plan how to bring your new puppy home.
Price
Puppy prices include a $500 refundable deposit and $2,000 final payment, before taxes & fees.
“Our puppies are $2500. Our puppies are reserved by a nonrefundable deposit of $500 taken to secure your place in the litter. ”
Contract & health guarantee
Marissa may provide a written contract or health guarantee when you purchase a puppy. This helps protect both you and your breeder, ensuring that you both have a clear understanding of the terms of your puppy purchase. If Marissa offers a contract or guarantee, the details will be personalized by them. If you have any questions or want to know more, don’t hesitate to reach out to Marissa directly.
Always communicate and pay on Good Dog.Learn more
What’s included
From Good Dog
- Lifetime support from Good Dog’s Care Team
- 10% lifetime discount on Figo pet insurance
- Puppy Training Program & private community
Puppy health practices
- Vet check
- First round of shots and deworming
Location & pick-up
You can drive or fly to pick up your puppy from Marissa.
Breeder’s location
Meet in Russellville , AR
4861 miles away
·
Other pick-up locations
Meet at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (Adams Field) (was Little Rock National)
4855 miles away
·
More about Marissa
Club memberships
Marissa is a member of Golden Retriever Club of America.
Certifications & recognitions
AKC Breeder of Merit, AKC Breeder with H.E.A.R.T..
Marissa has been a member of Good Dog for almost 6 years
Marissa was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2019.
Marissa is a trusted Good Dog breeder
ArkGold meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:
- Responsible breeding practices
- Health of breeding dogs and puppies
- Puppy environment and enrichment
- Buyer education and policies
Parent dogs
Freya, mom
Golden Retriever
About Freya
Freya is a female Golden Retriever. Carefully selected as a great representative of her breed, Marissa decided to make her part of their program. Marissa has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
Hunter, dad
Golden Retriever
About Hunter
Hunter is a male Golden Retriever. Carefully selected as a great representative of his breed, Marissa decided to make him part of their program. Marissa has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
Lizzie, mom
Golden Retriever
About Lizzie
Lizzie is a female Golden Retriever. Carefully selected as a great representative of her breed, Marissa decided to make her part of their program. Marissa has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
Beaux, dad
Golden Retriever
About Beaux
Beaux is a male Golden Retriever. Carefully selected as a great representative of his breed, Marissa decided to make him part of their program. Marissa has passed Good Dog’s screening process, which involved a review of their breeding practices, environment, and the mental and physical health of their dogs.
Parent health testing
Breeder-Reported Testing
Excellent level
ArkGold reports to performing the health tests below on their breeding dogs. Ask your breeder about the tests performed on the parents of your litter. Learn more about health testing for Golden Retrievers.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip testing reduces the chance of passing down hip dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause hip pain and the eventual loss of the function of the hip joint.
Elbow Dysplasia Finals (OFA, BVA, SV, FCI)
Elbow testing reduces the chance of passing down elbow dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause arthritis in the elbow joint and front leg lameness.
Eye Certification (CAER, registered with OFA)
Eye testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide range of hereditary eye illnesses including retinal dysplasia, lens luxation, and glaucoma, which can cause impared vision or blindness.
Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA)
Heart testing reduces the chance of passing down congenital heart disease, which can cause a range of symptoms ranging from trouble exercising to heart failure.
Dentition
A breeder may perform additional tests on their dogs that do not fall into these general categories. These tests may be more uncommon or very specific to a particular breed.
PRA, Golden Retriever 1, Ichthyosis, Golden Retriever Type 1, Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 5 (NCL5), Golden Retriever Type, Degenerative Myelopathy (DM; SOD1A), PRA, Golden Retriever 2, PRA, Rod-Cone Degeneration (PRA-prcd)
Genetic testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide variety of hereditary diseases of differing prevalence and severity such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (an eye disease) and Von Willebrand's Disease (a blood disease).
