“I hate your business.”

Those are the words I hear from my husband whenever challenges arise in my Maremma Sheepdog breeding business. He sees the stress, the late nights, the financial investment that rarely turns a profit, the emotional ups and downs of working with live animals – and he wishes I’d chosen something easier.

And honestly? He’s not entirely wrong about it being difficult. After nearly a decade of breeding Maremma Sheepdogs, I can tell you that truly ethical breeding is one of the most challenging paths you can choose. But it’s also one of the most important. Today, I want to share why I continue this work despite the obstacles, including the lack of support at home.

The Case Against This Business

From my husband’s perspective, breeding livestock guardian dogs is unnecessarily complicated. Why work with live animals when there are simpler ways to make money? Why invest thousands in health testing, take dogs back when families can’t keep them, or spend sleepless nights with whelping mothers when I could choose an easier path?

He sees the financial reality: I rarely turn a profit after covering premium food, extensive veterinary care, health testing, and the costs of maintaining dogs who’ve returned to us. He sees the emotional toll when things go wrong despite our best efforts or when families surrender dogs I’ve poured my heart into.

From a purely practical standpoint, his criticism makes sense. This business would be much easier if I cut corners, as many breeders do.

Why I Continue Anyway

But here’s what my husband doesn’t fully understand: this isn’t really about money or convenience. It’s about stewardship.

What ethical breeding really means:

• Standing behind every puppy you produce for its entire life
• Investing in proper health testing, even when it’s expensive
• Taking dogs back, regardless of age or circumstances
• Providing genuine lifetime support, not just until the sale
• Putting the dogs’ welfare above profit margins

This level of commitment comes with costs that many people don’t see.

The Weight of Lifelong Responsibility

Every puppy that leaves our farm represents a lifelong commitment. When families’ circumstances change – such asmoves, divorces, health issues, or farm sales – I’m here to help. When dogs need homes due to unforeseen situations, I take them back. When health issues arise despite our best efforts at prevention, I honor my health guarantee. When clients have questions or need help with training, I am always available.

This isn’t just policy – it’s a moral and ethical principle. Because when a breeder brings a litter of puppies into this world, they are responsible for those dogs as long as they live. They are even more accountable than the clients who buy the puppies because the dogs wouldn’t be here if not for the decision the breeder made to produce them.

The Investment in Excellence

Ethical breeding requires significant investment:

• Comprehensive health testing that can cost thousands per breeding dog
• Specialized facilities designed for optimal puppy development
• Premium nutrition and veterinary care
• Professional education and training (I’m the only Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (dog trainer) breeding Maremmas – a certification I pursued for the benefit of my puppies and my clients.)
• Extensive socialization programs starting from birth

These investments don’t guarantee perfection – no breeder can promise that. But they dramatically improve the odds of producing healthy, well-adjusted dogs.

Why It Matters to You

When you choose a breeder, you’re not just buying a puppy – you’re choosing a partner for your dog’s entire life. The difference between ethical and profit-driven breeding becomes clear when challenges arise:

Ethical breeders: Stand behind their guarantees, provide ongoing client support, and take lifetime responsibility for the dogs they produce

Profit-driven breeders: Disappear after the sale, blame owners for problems, and offer no real support

The Personal Cost of Caring

My husband isn’t wrong about this work being emotionally demanding. When you care deeply about every dog you produce and the people you entrust them to, their successes become your joy, and their struggles become your heartache. When families’ circumstances change, and dogs need new homes, you take them back – even when you’re already at capacity.

This emotional investment is precisely what distinguishes true breed stewards from those seeking to make an easy profit. But it’s also what makes family members worry about the toll it takes on you.

Why It’s Worth the Opposition

Despite the challenges – including the lack of understanding at home – I continue because:

The livestock guardian dog community needs ethical breeders now more than ever. With increasing predator pressure and growing interest in sustainable farming, families need reliable, well-bred dogs they can trust to protect their livestock and ensure their safety.

When ethical breeders compromise or quit due to challenges, who fills that gap? Typically, people who cut corners and disappear after the sale.

Why We Continue

Despite the challenges, we continue because:

• The dogs deserve advocates who won’t compromise their welfare for convenience
• Families need trustworthy sources for these incredible working dogs
• Someone must maintain standards in a breed with a small gene pool
• The livestock guardian dog community needs ethical breeders now more than ever

When my husband suggests I should quit and “just be a grandma,” I understand his perspective. Some days, it’s a very tempting idea. But I also know that if ethical breeders give up due to challenges, the alternative options will cause more harm to the dogs and the people who rely on and love them.

Standing Firm in Values

Yes, this business is difficult. Yes, it would be easier to cut corners or choose a different path entirely. But some things matter more than ease or profit.

When families trust me with their livestock’s safety and their peace of mind, I take that responsibility seriously – even when it means facing opposition at home, investing more than I’ll ever recoup, and caring more than is financially wise.

Our Commitment to You

Every dog that leaves Prancing Pony Farm comes with our complete commitment. Not just until they reach your farm or home but for their entire lives. Whether you need training advice, have questions about health, or face unexpected circumstances, we’re here.

This is what ethical breeding looks like. It’s not always easy, but it’s always right.

If you’re looking for a Maremma Sheepdog from a breeder who will stand behind their dogs for life, I’d be honored to discuss whether one of our puppies might be right for your family.