Last Updated on March 1, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
Why We Choose Your Puppy — And Why That's the Best Thing We Can Do for You
The most important decision in your puppy's placement shouldn't come down to a short visit, a gut feeling, or a photo on a screen
We know this might feel different from what you expected. Maybe you pictured sitting in the grass while a pile of puppies tumbles over each other, waiting for the one who feels like yours. That’s a beautiful image — and we completely understand why people want that experience.
But here’s what years of placing Maremma puppies has taught us: the puppy who feels like “the one” in that moment isn’t always the puppy who will thrive in your specific situation. The right match comes from real knowledge — weeks of daily observation, a thorough understanding of your farm and family, and professional expertise in evaluating individual Maremma temperaments. Not a single afternoon visit. Not a photo that caught your eye.
This page explains exactly how our matching process works, why we do it this way, and what it means for you.
What You’d See in a Short Visit — vs. What I See Every Day
When you visit the farm, you’re seeing a snapshot. One afternoon. Strangers arriving. A new mom nearby who may be on alert. Siblings wrestling or napping in a pile. The whole environment is already different from any ordinary day.
A puppy who is usually bold and confident might be subdued because something is off in the environment. A puppy who tends to be more cautious might be having an unusually social day and seem like an obvious, outgoing choice. You’d have no way to know which is which — but I would.
I watch these puppies every single day. I know which one pushes to the front of the group and which one hangs back and observes. I know which one recovers quickly from a surprise and which one needs a little more time. I know which ones are the friendliest with children, because I’ve watched my own grandchildren interact with every puppy in the litter.
That daily knowledge is what goes into your match. Not a single afternoon visit.
Why a Short Visit Can’t Tell You What You Think It Can
Some people want the biggest puppy. Some want the most outgoing one. Some want the one who ran to them first and felt like a special connection. And some people aren’t focused on any of that — they just trust that they’ll know when they meet the right one.
Here’s the thing: all of those instincts, however genuine they feel, are based on a snapshot.
The puppy who runs to you first in a group setting may run to everyone first — that’s not a bond, that’s personality style. The puppy who hangs back on a busy visit day might actually be your most devoted working dog, but you’d never know it from one interaction. And that “I just know” feeling? It’s real, and it’s exciting — but it’s happening with a puppy you’ve known for 45 minutes, in an environment that’s already different from any ordinary day on the farm.
Physical preferences are the most obvious version of this: wanting the biggest puppy, or the one with the cutest face, or the one who looks most impressive. But the gut feeling — “this one is mine” — can be just as misleading. Not because your instincts are bad, but because you simply don’t have the information yet that good matching requires.
I do.
Most of Our Puppies Are Chosen Sight Unseen — and It’s Always a Great Match
Here’s something worth knowing: the majority of our puppies go home to families in other states. Those owners never meet their puppy in person until it steps off the plane at their local airport.
I choose those puppies. I match them based on the application, our conversations, and my daily observations of the litter. And those placements work beautifully — every time.
If in-person selection were necessary to make a good match, that wouldn’t be possible. The fact that it works just as well — often better, because there’s no excitement-of-the-moment energy influencing the decision — is proof that what makes a good match is knowledge and expertise, not a moment in the puppy pasture.
The process works whether you’re picking up in Lemoore or meeting your puppy at the airport in another state. Same process. Same results.
How I Actually Make the Match
The matching process starts long before pickup day. Here’s what goes into it:
Your application. The detailed puppy application you fill out gives me a picture of your property, your livestock, your family structure, your experience level, your other dogs (if any), and what you’re hoping a Maremma will do for you. This is the foundation of everything.
Our conversations. The calls and messages we exchange give me nuance that a form can’t fully capture. Do you have young children? Are you looking for a dog that stays calm under pressure? Do you need strong, independent working drive, or a dog that stays close to the barn? Do you have other animals that require careful introductions? All of those things factor in.
My daily observations. By the time your puppy is ready to go home, I’ve had weeks of watching the litter together. I know each puppy’s personality — how they interact with each other, how they respond to new situations, how they behave around our livestock, and how they do with different people.
Grandchildren as my testing crew. When families have young children, I watch how each puppy interacts with my grandchildren, specifically. A shy or overly reactive puppy won’t be placed in a high-energy household with young kids. A puppy who is consistently calm, patient, and gentle, or drawn to children? That one is a candidate.
Your preferences, where they apply. I absolutely take your input into account. If you’ve told me you need a calmer dog, I’ll note that. If you’re looking for a strong, confident presence, that factors in too. You’re not left out of the decision — your input is central to it. You’re just not making the final call based on 45 minutes with the litter.
Pairing Two Puppies? Compatibility Is Everything.
When families are getting two puppies, the matching process becomes even more critical — and even more personal.
Pair compatibility matters enormously. Two puppies who are both dominant and pushy can create real friction over time. Two who are both cautious and reserved may struggle without enough confident energy between them. Getting that pairing right isn’t something you can assess in real time by watching puppies tumble around together.
I match bonded pairs based on what I know about each individual puppy’s personality, energy level, and social style — and I match both of them to your situation. That’s three compatibility factors to get right simultaneously. It’s one of the most important parts of what I do, and it’s not something a short visit could accomplish.
What About Older Dogs and Adolescents?
The process works a little differently for older puppies and adult dogs, because there are usually only one or two options rather than a full litter.
In those cases, you can absolutely tell me you’re interested in a specific dog you’ve seen on the website. I’ll review your application, consider everything I know about that dog’s temperament and history, and if I think it’s a great fit, it’s yours. If I have concerns that it’s not the right match for your specific situation, I’ll be honest with you about that and help you identify a better option.
So with older dogs, you have more direct input into the conversation. But I’m still actively guiding the decision, because the goal is always the same: the right dog in the right home.
About Farm Visits — What They Are (and Aren’t)
If you’re within driving distance and you’d like to visit the farm before committing, I’m happy to offer that as a courtesy. It’s a chance to meet me in person, see the puppies while they’re young, ask questions, and get a real feel for our program.
But a farm visit is not a puppy selection visit. You won’t be choosing your puppy that day, and you won’t be taking anyone home.
Here’s why: by the time a puppy is ready to go home, a lot has to be in place first. The contract needs to be signed with your specific puppy’s microchip information documented. Payment needs to be received. Pickup or shipping logistics need to be arranged. None of that can happen on the spot during a casual visit — and trying to rush it wouldn’t serve you or the puppy well.
So if you’d like to visit early on, we’ll enjoy that time together. You’ll meet the puppies, see the farm, and get your questions answered. Then we’ll go through the full process properly before your puppy comes home on a separate visit.
That said, the vast majority of families — including all of our out-of-state clients — meet their puppy for the very first time on pickup day or at the airport. And almost universally, the first thing they say is some version of: “How did you know this was exactly the right one?”
That’s the process at work.
“I have never chosen a puppy for someone and had them be unhappy with the dog I chose. Not once.”
That’s not a boast — it’s the natural result of a process that prioritizes the right fit over the most exciting moment. When you trust this process, you get a dog who was chosen for your specific situation — your livestock, your family, your property, your goals.
What This Means for Pickup Day
By the time you arrive to pick up your puppy, everything is already settled. Your contract is signed. Your puppy is identified. Payment is confirmed. The logistics are arranged.
That means your visit can be calm and focused on what actually matters: meeting your dog, bonding, and soaking in all the information and guidance you need to get off to a great start. There’s no last-minute chaos, no paperwork scramble, no uncertainty about who’s going home with whom.
I also have nursing moms and young litters on the farm who don’t need the stress of a chaotic visit day. Keeping pickup calm and organized protects them — and makes your experience significantly better.
If This Process Isn’t for You
I want to be honest about this: if you’re not comfortable with me making the final match, I’m probably not the right breeder for you. And that’s okay.
I’m not going to back down on this. It’s not a policy I put in place for convenience — it’s how I know every dog I place has the best possible chance of succeeding. I feel that strongly about it.
The clients who trust this process completely tend to become my very best clients. They come in already inclined to listen, to learn, and to do the work that raising a great LGD requires. That openness — that willingness to trust someone with expertise — shows up in how they raise their dogs, too.
If someone tells me they want to come choose their own puppy, what I hear is that they don’t fully trust me yet. And if we’re going to work together, trust is the foundation. I want to earn it — through this website, through our conversations, through everything you see about how I operate. But at the end of the process, the match is mine to make.
Why You Can Trust This Process
Kim Crawmer is a KPA Certified Training Partner and Licensed Family Dog Mediator — credentials built on demonstrated expertise in dog behavior and science-based training methods. She’s been placing Maremma Sheepdogs with working farms, homesteaders, and families across the United States and Canada for years.
The matching process at Prancing Pony Farm isn’t arbitrary. It’s built on professional training in behavioral science, years of hands-on experience with Maremma temperaments, and a genuine investment in every placement succeeding long after pickup day.
Every dog placed through Prancing Pony Farm comes with lifetime breeder and trainer support — because the relationship doesn’t end when your puppy goes home.
Maremma Sheepdog Club of America — Code of Ethics Breeder | Pet Professional Guild Member
Ready to Find Your Match?
The first step is filling out our contact form so we can send you information about our program and current availability. When you’re ready to move forward, you’ll complete the puppy application — and that’s where your matching process begins.
If you’d like to talk through whether a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma is the right fit for your situation before committing to anything, a free Discovery Call is the perfect place to start. (You’ll get a link to schedule that when you apply.) We’ll talk through your property, your animals, your family, and what you’re hoping for — and you’ll leave with a much clearer picture of what to expect.
