About Us

The Marithyme difference

It wasn’t my goal to be different or set myself apart from many Golden Retriever breeder's beliefs. Looking back over the last thirty years I have been involved with Golden Retriever, I find I have chosen far different avenues involving my breeding plans which first started out with my preference to the English lines of Golden Retrievers,( I liked the darker rounder eyes, the blockier head type but I was most impressed by the true natural talents inherited in these lines and being a mother of small children, the natural biddable affection these dogs had with small humans). In the mid 80’s I met and discovered the world of Dr. Jean Dodds and her teachings and beliefs in the use of moderate vaccine administration and the dangers of many vaccines (alone and multi dosing) to our dog’s auto immune system; how these could affect my dogs and brood bitches as well as our puppies. Then in the early 90's, I was introduced to the concept of feeding our Golden’s a raw meat diet (BARF). Having healthy dogs the idea of feeding them what would be a natural diet seemed to fit into my way of thinking. Here I was doing all I could to produce healthy and typey dogs, using the low dose vaccine protocol coupled with yearly titer testing , it just seemed right that we should also look at what we are feeding our dogs too.

I am very particular on whom I place my puppies with. I feel I am just as careful in this aspect of breeding as I am in the selection of brood bitches and stud dogs. Everything involved in the process of dog breeding from start to the end results has importance. Why would I place so much of my time and energy of which lines to use or avoid, what we feed, how we vaccinate and then be so casual as to just sell our puppies to whomever seems interested? From the individual pet buyer to the couples and family pet placements, they all must come to the table with the right attitude and commitment to cherish and care for this puppy over a life time. Our puppies are never sold to third parties or as intended gifts for a loved one. My aim is to properly place each puppy with a buyer by matching the pup’s personality and energy level to that of each buyer’s life style and dog experience from newbie to the very experienced long time dog buyer. Every litter is unique and every pup within the litter is also unique. When dog’s become rescue statistics it is generally a case of the wrong dog for that particular person or family’s life style. A case of two “wrongs”. Having done many years of Golden Retriever rescue, I learned firsthand how most of those dogs and bitches, senior and youngster Goldens ended up in our rescue. They usually were just a poor fit in that home, to later be placed correctly in a new home where most lived happily ever after! Do it right the first time and many dogs would not end up in a shelter and rescue. So be prepared to bare all when you contact me with an interest in one of our Golden pups. You as the many happy Marithyme pet puppy owners over these past 30 years have all gone through the same screening process!

A few years ago I designed a Marithyme pet owner Yahoo Group in which we share experiences, training tips and ideas, diet concerns as well as photos and brags together. Every Marithyme puppy buyer is required to belong to our Yahoo Group for the first 2 years of their pup’s life. This membership ensures me that I have an open door to up-dating pet buyers on new ideas or food recalls, problem puppy training assistance from myself and the other Marithyme pet members. The tool was right there so easy to use, I think now, how did we do this without our Group? It is a breeder’s blessing to have this channel of communication.

I truly hope each one of you viewing this site locates a lovely puppy to cherish a life time as well as each of you find a dog breeder who you can depend upon the entire journey of that life time!

Steffi Mullins
Marithyme®

VIRTUE IN GOLD Nobility and pride, bird in mouth. 70 pounds of fur climbing up into my lap. Eyes that speak from the soul. A tail that perpetually speaks from the heart! Patience and gentility towering above bottle totting small humans. Eager and energetic at home in the surf or grassy field. Any weather will do nicely. Always a smile while entering my kitchen soggy and muddy from the rain. Anybody's best friend no matter if you're deserving or not. Boredom brings out the artistic gardener in him, A low hanging tree branch here, a shrub would look better there. His greatest worry in life, Did he please you today? My family and I here at Marithyme, Strive to maintain and protect Those endearing virtues and characteristics, Beauty, quality and temperament. Wouldn't it be a better world if we Could all be as loving and giving As this dog we come to call The Golden Retriever! December 1989 © Steffi Mullins

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