We Make Livestock Guardian Dog Ownership Joyful and Stress-free.
Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdogs
Why Prancing Pony Farm?
What sets Prancing Pony Farm apart from every other Maremma Sheepdog breeder out there? Why should you choose us instead of another breeder? Click below to find out.
How it Works
Wondering what it’s like to work with a breeder who is also a trainer? Learn about our processes and how we guide you every step of the way before and after the sale.
Available Maremmas
Ready for a puppy? In need of an older Maremma? Or planning ahead for the future? Click the link below to see our available pups and dogs and upcoming litters.
Our Foundation for Matching You With the Perfect Maremma Sheepdog
At Prancing Pony Farm, we breed and train outstanding Maremma Sheepdog Livestock Guardians and family companions. Our dogs have the genetics, temperaments and training to excel as trustworthy, dependable Livestock Guardians and family dogs, as well as sound and healthy bodies to withstand the rigors of the job. Our outstanding lifetime client support and virtual training services ensure that your new Maremma will be a joy and a blessing, regardless of the role they play in your life. If this type of relationship is what you want from a Maremma Sheepdog then we have a dog for you!
Breed Incredible Dogs
It all starts with breeding incredible dogs. We breed sound, healthy dogs with superior Livestock Guardian abilities who also make devoted family or personal companions. Our dogs thrive on modern farms, ranches, and homesteads, big and small. One of our clients (who bought 2 pups from us in 2019 and 1 in 2021) dubbed our dogs “plug and play” and the term says it all!
Understand & Support Our Buyers
My goal is to see you and your dog thrive together. I invest a lot of time in training and handling my puppies, getting to know them, and understanding the kind of home they would do best in. I am adept at matching the right dog with the right family, whether you need an LGD, a family companion, or a bit of both. Your needs and desires and the well-being of the dogs are at the heart of what I do.
Provide Unparalleled Lifetime Client Support
My responsibility to you isn’t done once you take your puppy home. My outstanding lifetime client support ensures that your new Maremma will be a joy and a blessing, regardless of their role in your life. My extensive background in dog training and behavior and years of experience breeding and training Maremmas enables me to assist you in training your puppy as it matures, so you won’t need to figure things out on your own.
Buying a Maremma Sheepdog From Us is Easy!
Step 1
Fill out our Maremma Application by clicking the link below.
This puts you into our Customer Management Software (CRM) and gives us more detailed information about your family and your needs and desires for a Maremma. It also gives us your contact info for registration paperwork, the microchip, and other paperwork for your dog.
Step 2
Once you are in our CRM, we will send you information on our breeding program and available Maremmas.
We will also answer any questions you have and help you decide if one of our Maremmas is right for you.
You can also schedule a phone call if you like directly through this form.
Step 3
When you’re ready to reserve your pup, you will pay the non-refundable reservation fee.
Then, we will guide you through the rest of the process, including the puppy contract and health guarantee, shipping or pick-up arrangements, medical records, preparing for your puppy, and ongoing support after you take home your Prancing Pony Farm Maremma.
The Downside to "Affordable" LGDs.
Some people prioritize a low price over other traits when it comes to choosing a Livestock Guardian Dog. They elect to buy an inexpensive dog to save money for other things. We get it. Starting a farm or homestead is expensive. However, a Livestock Guardian Dog is an investment in your livestock’s safety and your peace of mind. Many breeders are willing to sell you an “affordable” puppy. But that low price usually means they cut corners in important areas. The decision to buy from such a breeder may come back to haunt you.
Client Testimonials
From Google:
“When I finally reached the point where I needed and was ready to spend the time working with a Livestock Guardian Dog I knew I wanted to get a Maremma. I spent a lot of time researching the breed and looking for a reputable breeder. I was delighted to find Kimberly Crawmer of Prancing Pony Farm.
Not only does Kim have dogs from two top-notch Maremma breeders in her breeding program (Benson Ranch and Unfinished Acres) but she raises her litters with Puppy Culture, a program I have used with my own German Shepherds. AND she has an amazing Puppy Parlor that allows the puppies to be raised around goats and other animals from birth.
So what you get when you buy a Maremma puppy from Prancing Pony Farm is a pup with excellent breeding (including all the essential health testing on both the sire’s and dam’s sides), raised with all of the benefits of Puppy culture (which gives puppies confidence when they encounter new experiences) and exposed to livestock from Day 1. That’s a terrific foundation to build upon.
Kim spent many hours in conversation with me, answering my questions about introducing the puppies (yes I got a pair!) to my pack of German Shepherds and about the pros and cons of having one puppy or two. Every question I had she was happy to answer (I had many!) and she shared resources I hadn’t previously discovered. She listened closely to my description of my home, my animals and my lifestyle and suggested two of her male puppies; as a matchmaker she was spot on.
I have been immensely impressed with the puppies I purchased from Kim. They are bonding easily with me and my family, with my GSDs and with the livestock (horses, goats and chickens). They are good-natured, affectionate and VERY smart and even at just 5 months old are showing their guardian traits. Although they look almost identical and both have great temperaments I can see differences in their personalities with one more of an observer who waits to engage and one more likely to investigate actively – that difference will work well when they are working together.
Bringing a LGD puppy home means making a commitment to build on the foundation they’ve received with their breeder, working one-on-one to develop a partnership and to shape their lives with their stock. Puppies from Prancing Pony Farm are set up for success from day one and in the hands of a good shepherd will develop into trustworthy, responsible and awesome protectors.
If I decide to add another Maremma [or two] to my pack I know where I will be going to find the perfect match for my boys Arthur and Merlin.
Cynthia in California
From Google:
“I bought a maremma pup from Kim a couple of weeks ago, and found that 1. the pup is amazing, and 2. Kim has been consistently responsive and helpful pre and post sale.
The reason I decided to invest in an LGD from Kim is because she sets up her puppies for success as LGDs from the day they are born. I have a small farm and needed a dog who can live with and/or guard a variety of animal species. Most breeders I’ve talked to have some of the animal species, but none had all. Kim happened to be the only one. And that’s not an accident. Kim actually goes out of her way to acquire animals just so that her pups are well prepared to take on any job in their new homes. She also spends time teaching her pups basic skills via positive reinforcement. When I picked up my pup at 13 weeks old, she knew how to give me attention and target. She also understands that it’s her good behavior that earns her praise and treats, and is very motivated and quick to figure out what I want from her. Since she has been on my farm, she has made my adolescent Great Pyrenees a much happier and mentally mature dog. She has not chased a cat or chicken (it doesn’t mean she hasn’t thought about it. One does need to pay attention and redirect BEFORE the pup does something undesirable). She’s been in and around horses and are very good at reading their body language and staying out of harm’s way (not that my horse try to hurt her, but they’re just so much bigger). And most amazingly, she’s already showing guarding behavior with my goats! At less than 4 months old!
I also wanted to vouch for the validity of the puppy lifetime support policy that comes with the sale. Since I’ve brought the puppy home, I have been in daily communication with Kim. She was at a clicker training workshop the week following my puppy pickup and had class from morning all the way through evening. She still found time to answer my texts to make sure the pup is settling in well. I’ve received advice on integrating the pup with my resident LGD, fencing, introducing her to the goats, worming, vaccination, etc.
Having purchased my first LGD pup from an oopsie litter from a hobby farm, and now the second pup from Kim, I can see for myself what a difference a well bred, well started pup makes. Kim’s puppies aren’t cheap, but they are such a worthwhile investment!
2 YEAR UPDATE:
The pup I purchased from Kim in 2022 just turned 2. She has been a great LGD. I had an adolescent Great Pyrenees before I bought CC from Kim. Though my GP worked his butt off, I still had a chicken go missing and a barn kitty mauled by coyotes (kitty recovered).
As soon as CC joined the farm at 3 months of age, she immediately showed guarding instincts, protecting my goats while sleeping in the barn with them at night. When she was about 6 months, I took my GP in for his neuter surgery. For about a week she had to work the whole property while my GP was on kennel rest. It was a nerve wracking week as I live in coyote country with the occasional visit from mountain lions. Amazingly, I lost nothing. The streak has continued to this day. Since CC joined the farm, I lost nothing to predation.
Not only did CC form an effective team with my GP as LGDs, she has also saved his life by telling him off when he approached a rattlesnake last summer. One night I heard the dogs bark at something, then all of a sudden turn against each other. I rushed out the door to see what was happening, only to hear the distinct rattling sound. Then I saw my GP move towards that sound, and CC T-boning him, growling, to tell him to stay away. Thanks to CC’s amazing instincts, I was able to remove the snake before anybody got bit (my cats and goats were all curious about it at that point).
This update wouldn’t be complete without a comment on Kim, CC’s breeder. 2 years in, and I am still in regular contact with her. She promised lifetime support, and has gone beyond that – she even answers questions regarding my GP or my goats, in addition to anything concerning CC’s training, well-being, etc.
I highly recommend Kim and her dogs!”
Violet in CA
From Google:
“I just purchased our third puppy from Kim, after buying two puppies from her last year to start our farm. Kim met, and continues to meet the criteria of things that are important to me when looking for a breeder, which are:
1. Health testing for the parents.
2. Parents are on site and proven LGDs.
3. Early socialization for puppies with livestock, adults, and kids.
4. Proper veterinary care for parents and puppies.
5. Careful selection of parents for genetic diversity, guarding ability, health, and confirmation.
6. Tons of support during the puppy buying process and afterwards. Kim is always responsive and takes time to help me through any issues I’ve encountered with our pups, offering advice and support.
We love our dogs that came from Prancing Pony Farm. They were among the first members of the family to join the farm, because we knew the importance of having well-bred LGDs to protect our stock. We have not had a single issue with predators on our farm, and we live in an area with coyotes, bears, foxes, wolves, hawks, etc, etc. They guard sheep, pigs, chickens, guinea fowl, and ducks.
I suspect most people who are looking for a LGD already have experience purchasing dogs and stock, so know what to look for in a reputable breeder. That said, if this is your first time or your first LDG, consider what’s most important to you and do your own research. You can’t go wrong with someone who ticks all of those boxes and offers support to her buyers.
Ashley in Indiana
Ready to Join the Family?
The best way to start the process is by filling out our Maremma contact form. Then, we can send you information on available puppies and dogs. You’ll also be able to fill out our puppy application. The application helps us better understand you and your needs so we can match you with the perfect puppy!
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Sign up for our email newsletter, and we’ll keep you posted on upcoming litters and available dogs! Our email list members are always the first to know and get first dibs on available dogs. We also send out helpful Maremma Sheepdog care and training articles and links to useful resources.