Last Updated on January 1, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
As 2025 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on twelve months that brought deep loss as a breeder, my most significant professional achievement, and countless affirmations of why this work matters so profoundly.
March: Saying Goodbye to the Dog Who Started It All
In March 2025, I lost Olaf – my first Maremma Sheepdog, the foundation sire of Prancing Pony Farm, and the dog who changed everything for our family.
When we brought home five-month-old Olaf in early 2016, I had no idea he would launch a breeding program. I just knew we needed a livestock guardian dog for our goats and chickens, and Olaf seemed like the perfect choice. Within weeks, he’d won over not just our livestock, but my husband – a man who had genuinely hated dogs his entire life.
Watching Olaf lay down his life protecting animals of another species opened my husband’s eyes to what dogs could be. That transformation – from “I hate dogs” to carefully tucking our small companion dogs into bed each night – started with Olaf showing us the awe-inspiring dedication of a livestock guardian dog.
For me, Olaf was more than just a great working dog. He became my favorite breed, the dog I loved enough to want to breed. He proved that Maremma Sheepdogs could be both fierce protectors and gentle family members. His first litter in 2017 showed me I could help other families experience the same protection and joy he brought to ours.
I’m still in contact with owners of some of the dogs from that first litter, including Agnes, who owns “Oliver the Excellent Chicken Guardian,” who has faithfully served his family, guarding their chickens AND their three daughters, since they brought him home in 2017.
Nearly ten years after he arrived, Olaf’s passing left a hole in my heart and on our farm that I’m still learning to navigate. But his legacy didn’t end when his life did.
April: Becoming the Breeder Olaf Deserved
Just one month after losing Olaf, I completed the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional program and became a KPA Certified Training Partner.
I’d been working on this certification for a year – hundreds of hours of intensive study in canine behavior, learning theory, positive reinforcement training, and practical application. The program required daily training sessions, written homework, video submissions for evaluation, and in-person workshops with my training partners (my Boxer, Luna, and one of my dairy goats, Pearl).
There were moments during those six months when I questioned whether I could finish. The coursework was demanding. The standards were high. Life continued happening around me – including Olaf’s decline and death. But every time I felt overwhelmed, I thought about Olaf and all the puppies who would come after him.
They deserved a breeder who was also a professional trainer. They deserved someone who understood not just genetics and bloodlines, but also behavioral science, learning theory, and evidence-based training protocols.
Completing that certification in April felt like honoring Olaf’s memory in the most meaningful way possible. He taught me to love this breed. KPA taught me to serve it at the highest professional level.
As far as I know, I’m the only Maremma Sheepdog breeder in North America who is also a KPA-certified professional dog trainer. This combination means:
- Every puppy born at Prancing Pony Farm benefits from science-based training protocols from birth
- My clients receive lifetime support from a certified professional trainer, not just a breeder
- I can offer evidence-based guidance on behavior, training, and problem-solving
- My continuing education keeps me current with the latest research and best practices
This wasn’t just about credentials. It was about becoming the breeder Olaf’s legacy deserved – someone who combines breeding expertise with professional training knowledge to give every puppy the absolute best start in life.
A Perfect Match in Paradise: Caia’s Story
One of the greatest joys of 2025 was watching Caia thrive in her new home in Hawaii.
When her family first contacted me about bringing one of Electra’s April litter puppies to the islands, I had to carefully consider whether I could make it work. Shipping a puppy to Hawaii requires extensive health testing, specific timing, airline coordination, and significant commitment from the adopting family. Most breeders would consider it too complicated and move on to an easier placement.
But I don’t breed dogs for my convenience – I breed them to match them with the perfect family for each and every puppy. Families who will treasure them as much as I do. And Caia’s family was exceptional from our very first conversation.
They researched extensively. They asked thoughtful questions. They prepared thoroughly for her arrival. They navigated every complexity of the shipping process with patience and dedication. These were people who would do whatever it took to give their dog the best possible life.
Today, Caia proves everything I believe about companion Maremmas. She thrives as a single companion dog because her family is intentional about meeting her needs. They’ve taken multiple dog training courses – including the Karen Pryor Academy Foundations course I recommend to all my clients. They train with her daily. They take her on adventures to the beach, the lake, on walks, and to visit other dogs several times a week.
What makes this placement even more special is the connection they maintain with me. They send updates regularly – photos, videos, stories, and questions if they’re unsure about anything. They’re not just dog owners; they’re true partners in Caia’s wellbeing and development.
This is what I hope for with every placement: families who don’t just love their dogs, but who actively work to provide enriching, fulfilling lives. Caia’s family validates my belief that properly socialized Maremmas can excel in diverse roles when matched with committed, educated owners.
Caia is Living Proof That I Made the Right Choice
For years, I refused to sell Maremmas to non-working homes. I believed these dogs could only be happy guarding livestock, and I believed their value as working dogs would guarantee their owners would cherish them forever.
I was wrong on both counts.
I’ve seen working homes fail dogs just as badly as any pet home could. I’ve had LGDs returned because owners lost interest, sold their farms, or simply didn’t want to deal with training their young LGDs. (Dogs are not robots who magically do what you want. They need to be set up for success through careful management and positive, science-based training.) Working homes are no guarantee of a happy life or a forever home.
That realization changed everything for me. I stopped asking “Will this dog work livestock?” and started asking “Will this family love, commit to, and meet this dog’s needs for its entire life?”
Caia’s family has chickens, and she has access to outdoor pastures, but she lives primarily as a companion dog – in the house most of the time, living a pet lifestyle with outdoor access. She’s not working as a traditional LGD, and that’s perfectly fine because she has something far more important: a family completely devoted to her well-being, her enrichment, and her happiness.
This is what I want for every dog I breed – not a specific job description, but the level of love, commitment, and intentionality that Caia’s family demonstrates every single day.
2025 By the Numbers
Throughout 2025, 29 Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdogs found their forever homes:
- Geographic reach: Eight states plus Canada, from Hawaii to Connecticut, Washington to Texas
- Age range: 12-week-old puppies to mature 6-year-old working dogs
- Puppy placements: 16 dogs from 2025 litters
- Older dog placements: 10 dogs born in 2024, two born in 2022, and a 6-year-old retired breeding dog, demonstrating that quality Maremmas are valuable at any age
- Diverse roles: Three companion dogs, numerous “family farm dogs” combining livestock work with family integration, and traditional working guardians
Every single placement represented careful matching, thorough vetting, and my commitment to finding the right home for each individual dog – not just the quickest or easiest sale.
Diverse Roles, Consistent Success
One theme that emerged strongly in 2025 was the success of my dogs in increasingly diverse roles. While many went to traditional livestock guardian positions and “family farm” situations where they guard livestock while enjoying close family bonds, three became strictly companion dogs.
This validates what I’ve learned through years of breeding and professional training: properly socialized, well-bred Maremmas can thrive in various roles when carefully matched with committed families. The key isn’t the role itself – it’s the quality of socialization the puppy receives, the education and commitment of the family, and the careful matching process.
Every one of these placements – whether traditional LGD, family farm dog, or companion – carries forward Olaf’s legacy. Each successful dog proves that his impact extended far beyond his own working life.
Olaf’s Living Legacy
Olaf and his longtime partner, Genevieve, produced four litters together before retiring from breeding. Olaf also sired two more litters with Carina. Those puppies have gone on to protect livestock across North America, become beloved family members, and in some cases, become breeding dogs themselves, extending Olaf’s genetic legacy even further. Their daughter, Polar, produced three litters here on our farm. Our companion Maremma, Titus, is Polar’s son and Olaf and Genevieve’s grandson.
But Olaf’s impact went beyond genetics. He taught me what this breed could be. He showed my family what dogs could mean to us. He launched a breeding program that has now placed over 200 Maremmas in homes across the United States and Canada.
Every puppy I raise benefits from what Olaf taught me about this breed. Every client interaction is influenced by the standard he set. Every placement honors his memory.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we begin 2026, I’m carrying Olaf’s legacy forward with renewed purpose and professional credentials that allow me to serve it at the highest level.
I have puppies from my fall litters ready to find their families – puppies raised by a KPA-certified trainer using science-based protocols, puppies who benefit from everything Olaf taught me about Maremma Sheepdogs, puppies who represent the future of his legacy.
Whether you’re looking for a traditional livestock guardian, a family farm dog, or a companion Maremma like Caia, I’d love to talk about whether one of these puppies might be the right match for your situation.
Gratitude
Thank you to every family who chose a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma in 2025. Thank you for the updates, photos, and stories you share. Thank you for trusting me with your livestock protection needs and for helping carry Olaf’s legacy into the future.
Your success stories – like Caia thriving in Hawaii, like dogs protecting goats in Washington and Texas and Canada – remind me why this work matters. Every happy dog, every satisfied client, every protected animal honors Olaf’s memory and validates the foundation he built.
Here’s to 2026 – to continuing Olaf’s legacy through excellence in breeding, professional training knowledge, and the perfect matching of exceptional dogs with committed families.
