The difference between getting any dog and getting YOUR dog lies in one thing: planning ahead.
This week, I watched Noelle load Romeo and Pele into airline crates for their flight home to the Bay Area. These weren’t just any dogs—they were the perfect match for her busy farm with frequent visitors and construction projects. As she handed me an unexpected “thank you” check, she said something that stuck with me: “Here’s a little something extra for everything you’ve done for us.”
That moment captured everything I believe about responsible Maremma breeding. It’s not about having puppies available when you want them—it’s about having the RIGHT dog ready when YOU’RE ready.
The Reality Every Livestock Owner Faces
You know the feeling. You’ve invested in your flock, built your fences, and poured your heart into your farm. But that nagging worry never quite goes away: What if predators find my animals before I find the right livestock guardian dog?
You’ve probably experienced the frustration of searching for a quality livestock guardian dog, only to find:
- Puppies from questionable breeding with no health testing
- Improperly socialized dogs that aren’t safe with livestock or humans
- Dogs that are available right now, but not the right fit for your situation
- Breeders who don’t understand your specific needs or timeline
Finding the right livestock guardian dog isn’t about luck—it’s about research and planning.
Why the Best Matches Take Time
Every successful guardian dog placement I’ve made this year started the same way: with conversations that started long before the dogs went home. Sometimes these reservations were made several months before the puppies they would eventually take home were even born or bred. Here’s what I’ve learned from working with families who got their perfect matches:
Kristie and Matt contacted me when they had finished construction on their farm and were ready to add livestock. They coordinated getting three-year-old Kavax and one-year-old Petunia the same day they brought home their first sheep. They also brought home a few of my goats to add to their farm. The dogs settled in quickly because everything was planned and prepared.
Glenn and Cindy, who own a beautiful vineyard in Napa Valley, reserved their puppy in July 2024 for a spring 2025 pickup. They knew their older Maremmas were aging and wanted the perfect timing to introduce a new puppy to their vineyard operation. That puppy—exactly what they were waiting for—is now thriving among the vines.
Milo reserved his pair in November 2024, knowing he’d be getting sheep in spring. He will be picking his puppies up in a little over a week. By planning ahead, he ensured his LGDs would be ready to protect his flock as soon as possible.
The Hawaii Challenge: When Planning Really Pays Off
Sometimes planning ahead means going the extra mile—literally. Sarah is building her mini homestead in Hawaii and fell in love with the breed after meeting a neighbor’s Maremma. Getting a puppy to Hawaii requires extensive quarantine preparations, special paperwork, and precise timing.
Because Sarah planned ahead and reserved her spot with my first available litter, we’re working together to navigate every requirement. Her puppy, Caia, will be about six months old when she finally arrives in Hawaii—perfectly socialized and ready for island life.
This dream wouldn’t be possible without advanced planning. I’ve dreamed of sending a puppy to Hawaii, and Sarah’s foresight is making it happen.
The Extended Training Advantage
Some of my best placements happen when clients plan for dogs that need extra time and training. Noelle’s story perfectly illustrates this approach.
She contacted me nine months before she was ready for dogs, knowing she wanted older, more mature guardians for her busy new farm. She reserved two future pups or dogs, not knowing exactly who they would be, but trusting I would match her with the perfect pups for her needs.
We eventually selected Romeo and Pele, two pups from my June 2024 litter. I provided additional extra months of boarding and training while she finished preparing her new farm for the day she would bring home her LGDs.
During those months, Pele was spayed and received gastropexy surgery, and both dogs received their complete one-year-old veterinary care. I worked with them on socialization and training. When Noelle arrived this week to pick them up, they were completely ready for their new life.
The extra investment in time and training meant Romeo and Pele can integrate seamlessly into a complex farm environment with visitors and construction. Noelle’s very generous “thank you” bonus check showed she understood the value of getting the right dogs at the right time.
The Waiting List Reality
Every dog mentioned in this post came from my waiting list system. Some clients, like Debbie, got lucky when timing shifted and a last-minute opening appeared. (I’ll be holding her puppy an additional month to accomodate her schedule.) But most successful placements happen because people plan ahead.
Most of the puppies from my current litter of nine will be leaving in a week or so, besides the ones I am holding longer to accomodate their owners schedules and needs.
Mary and her family in Washington have been preparing for months to welcome their brother-sister pair as companions for their three children and future farm guardians. Ezio and Beverly waited patiently after losing their previous Maremma, knowing the right time would come for their new companion.
Each family is getting exactly the dog they need at exactly the right time because they planned ahead and worked with me to find the perfect match.
Your Perfect Maremma Is Out There
The families who get their perfect guardians all share one thing in common: they didn’t wait until they desperately needed a dog to start looking. They didn’t wait until they lost valuable or beloved livestock to predators. They planned ahead, got on the waiting list, and worked with me to identify exactly what they needed.
Whether you need:
- A young puppy to raise with your livestock
- A mature dog ready to go to work immediately
- A companion Maremma for your family
- A specialized placement like Hawaii shipping
- Extended training and boarding services
The key is starting the conversation before you desperately need the dog.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
I currently have clients on my waiting list for the next litter, each with specific needs and timing requirements. Some want puppies, others prefer older dogs. Some need immediate placement, others are planning for next year.
What they all understand is this: the perfect livestock guardian dog doesn’t just appear when you need one. It comes from planning, patience, and working with a breeder who understands your unique situation.
The devastating feeling of losing livestock to predators, the frustration of a poorly matched or improperly socialized dog, the expense of health problems from poor breeding—these failures happen when people settle for whatever’s available instead of planning for what’s right.
Your livestock deserves better. Your family deserves better. You deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have exactly the right livestock guardian dog protecting what matters most to you.
Ready to start planning for your perfect Maremma?
The families featured in this post all started with the same simple step: they reached out to discuss their needs and timeline. Don’t wait until you desperately need a livestock guardian—start planning now.
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Do you have questions about timing, training, or finding the right LGD for your farm? Are you wondering if a Maremma would make a suitable family companion? Reply to this email or schedule a free Maremma discovery call. I love talking with families who are serious about getting the right Maremma Sheepdog for their specific situation.