Last Updated on October 23, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
Working With Us:
The Quick Start Guide to Reserving and Bringing Home Your Prancing Pony Maremma
Ten-plus years of refining one process, so your Maremma starts life ready for your farm and family.
This is the short version of how we work together. Read it for the overview, then follow the links for the full details on any topic.
200+ puppies placed across multiple states, Canada, and Hawaii.
How to Reserve a Maremma From Us
Step 1
Get on the email list
This is where everyone starts. You'll receive several emails over the next week or two covering our program, our dogs, and what successful Maremma ownership actually looks like. This gives you everything you need to decide if we're the right fit — before either of us invests more time.
Step 2
Apply and book a call
When you're ready to move forward, you'll fill out a short application and schedule a phone call with me at the same time. The application helps me understand what you're looking for in a dog before we talk. The call is where we actually figure out if one of our dogs is the right match for you.
Step 3
Reserve your dog
Reservations start with a $500 non-refundable Master Reservation Fee that holds your place in line and applies toward your purchase price. When a litter is confirmed, a second $500 Litter Commitment Payment locks your specific spot — bringing your total to $1,000, all applied toward your purchase price.
Have a current litter available right now? If spots on an announced litter are open, you can skip the line and reserve directly with a single $1,000 Litter Reservation — same total investment, one step. I'll let you know on our call if that option is currently available.
Just curious and not ready to commit? That's completely fine — stay on the email list and read at your own pace. My weekly newsletter covers training tips, farm stories, and practical LGD advice. You're welcome here as long as you like, and you can apply when the timing is right.
🚨 IMPORTANT: PAYMENT TIMELINE
We usually have multiple people interested in our dogs at the same time. When you're ready to move forward, I'll send you a direct payment link to our secure website checkout. Dogs are held for 24 hours once that link is sent as a courtesy.
You must complete payment within 24 hours to secure the dog.
If payment isn't received within 24 hours, the reservation is automatically cancelled, and the dog becomes available to other buyers. This policy ensures fairness and keeps dogs from sitting in limbo.
Maremma Pricing by Age
Prancing Pony Maremmas increase in price as they mature. Older puppies and young adults have received additional months of livestock exposure, socialization, training, handling, observation, and development on our farm.
12 weeks–5 months: $3,500
Young puppies ready to continue growing and learning with their new family.
6–11 months: $3,750
Older puppies with additional maturity, livestock experience, training, and development.
12–17 months: $4,000
Young adolescents with greater physical maturity, more extensive livestock experience, and a longer foundation of training and socialization.
18–23 months: $4,500
Older adolescents approaching full working maturity, with substantially more experience and development.
24+ months: Starting at $5,000
Mature Maremmas with extensive development, experience, and evaluation.
The price in effect when full payment is received is the price that applies to that dog. Dogs 12 weeks and older are held only after payment in full.
Individual dogs may be priced differently based on health, training, breeding status, background, or special placement circumstances.
A Process Built Over Ten Years
I've spent more than ten years figuring out how to raise, match, and support livestock guardian dogs and their owners. My families live across the U.S., Canada, and Hawaii.
Nearly all of them reserve sight unseen and let me choose their puppy. My policies exist so every one of those families gets the same care, the same answers, and the same shot at success.
How I Choose Your Puppy
I choose your puppy using the questionnaire you fill out and our conversations. I don't do pick-of-the-litter from photos.
Why? I live with these puppies every day. I know which one is bold, which one hangs back, and which littermates get along. A photo can't show you any of that.
Your questionnaire and our conversations tell me about your farm, your livestock, and your family. The more detail you share, the better I can match you.
Why Puppies Go Home After 12 Weeks, Never Sooner
My puppies go home at 12 weeks or older. Multiple reasons:
- Vaccines. Your puppy finishes more of the vaccine series here, on a farm I control.
- Deworming. The final deworming is a 5-day protocol done at 12 weeks of age.
- Microchipping. Pups are microchipped at 12 weeks.
- Livestock training. The weeks between 3 and 12 are an important time for livestock socialization. They spend that time with my goats, learning calm manners.
I tried sending puppies home at 9 weeks years ago. It didn't work as well, so I stopped.
How a Puppy Is Held for You
A puppy is held for you once your payment is made and your contract is signed. Not before.
Plans change. Families get busy, change their minds or stop answering. If I held a puppy on a promise, another family could lose their dog while I waited. Payment and a signed contract protect you and every family on my list.
How to Pay for Your Puppy
You can pay two ways:
- Through my website, by card. The card processing fee shows as its own line at checkout. CA sales tax applies to puppies picked up at the farm.
- In cash, as your contract allows.
I don't accept checks.
One thing to know about cash: it doesn't hold a puppy. If you plan to pay cash at pickup, I won't hold your puppy until your pickup date, and another family who paid online can reserve that dog. To hold a puppy, reserve through my website.
Your Maremma's Go-Home Process
Once you've reserved your Maremma, we'll guide you through every step of bringing your new livestock guardian dog home. From contracts and health records to shipping arrangements and preparing your property, we've created a comprehensive guide to make the transition smooth and stress-free. Want to see what the complete journey looks like? Check out our detailed guide for families bringing home their Maremma.
Visits and Pickups: Two Different Things
Most of my puppies are shipped to their families. Most families who pick up in person are meeting me for the first time that day. You don't need to visit before you buy.
My farm is a working farm and a business, so I keep business hours.
My farm hours
- Puppy pickups: Monday–Friday, 11 AM–5 PM. For families who have paid and signed their contract. You'll get my pickup scheduler once your purchase is complete.
- Meet-the-Maremmas Consultations: Monday–Friday, 12–5 PM. For families who haven't bought yet and want to meet me first. $100, applied toward your puppy if you reserve a puppy dog or spot on our Master Reservation List within 7 days. You'll get my visit scheduler when you pay for your session.
- Saturday or early-morning pickups: by special arrangement only, for families who have already paid. Ask me, and I'll book it for you.
Already reserved? You're welcome to visit your puppy before go-home day. Many families do, and some come more than once.
→ Farm Visits and Meet the Maremmas Consultations: How to Book and What to Expect
Want to meet us before you reserve?
Book a one-hour, in-person consultation with Kim and our Maremmas. Meet the dogs, see how they live and work, and get your questions answered before you reserve a puppy.
The $100 consultation fee is non-refundable. If you reserve a puppy within 7 days, the full fee goes toward your puppy. A consultation does not reserve a puppy.
Your Part: What Success With a Guardian Dog Takes
I'll tell you exactly how to succeed with your dog. My system works, and it works best when you work it with me.
These are dogs, not programmable robots. They grow, they test limits and they react to the animals around them. Owners who expect that and prepare for it do well. You don't have to be lucky. You have to be prepared.
1. Learn How Dogs Think and Communicate
I recommend these four resources to every family before your puppy comes home:
- DIAL Method®. A program for understanding, managing, and living with any dog. It's a paid add-on, and there's a version for homes with kids or grandkids. I'm a certified DIAL Guide who offers the program and supports you through it. Learn about DIAL
- Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations. An online, self-paced course on how dogs learn and how to read their body language. The families who take it are my most successful. I don't earn anything from recommending it.
- Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas. A short book on reading stress signals before they grow. Most people finish it in a few days.
- Meet Your Dog by Kim Brophy. How genetics shape your dog's needs and behavior. Short on time? Read the chapter on your dog's breed type.
Busy season? I get it. Buy what you need now and start when you can. Just start.
2. Build a Separation Area Before Pickup
Build a separation area before pickup. Set up a spot where dogs and stock can be kept apart on short notice, ideally sharing a fence line. You'll use this at the beginning to acclimate your new dogs to your stock, and you may need it again if you see any regression during adolescence. Separation isn’t punishment. It’s a tool you’ll be glad to have ready. → Shelter & Housing
3. Expect the Teenage Stage
Expect the teenage stage. Between about 6 and 18 months, a puppy who was perfect with stock may start chasing or getting rowdy. That’s not a bad dog. It’s a teenager. Regression is a normal part of adolescence for many young dogs. Expect it and plan for it. Full reliability, especially with poultry and baby stock, comes around two years. → Maremma Life Stages
4. Learn Your Own Livestock
Dogs signal before they act, and livestock signal too. I can teach you about puppies and goats. Your sheep, alpacas, or cattle have their own normal, and knowing it helps you spot trouble early. Breeding season changes behavior too.
Getting ready for your puppy?
A Maremma does well when the owner is prepared. Our four-step guide covers what to learn and set up before your puppy comes home.
Read the Full Maremma Success Plan
The Plan Only Works If You Work It: Maremma Sheepdog Success
The Same Policies for Every Family
Ask me anything, as often as you need. Questions are how good placements start.
What I don't do is change a policy for one family. An exception for one becomes an exception for the next, and that's how things slip through the cracks. Holding the same line for everyone is how I keep my promises to all of you.
Is a Prancing Pony Maremma Right for You?
You'll likely love working with me if you:
- Ask lots of questions and want clear answers
- Want to know what books to read or courses to take before your puppy comes home
- Are happy for me to choose your puppy, and share details in your questionnaire
- Plan to reserve and pay through my normal process
- Want to know what the teenage stage looks like and how to prepare
- Have a separation area planned before pickup
- Want to understand your own livestock better
If my way of working isn't for you, that's okay. I'd rather you find the right breeder than bring home a puppy you feel unsure about.
Why Families Choose Prancing Pony Farm
- MSCA Code of Ethics Breeder
- Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP)
- Licensed Family Dog Mediator (LEGS Applied Ethology)
- Over 200 Maremmas placed in working and companion homes
- Health-tested breeding program with two-year guarantee
- Lifetime breeder and trainer support included with every dog
Reviews From Our Amazing Clients
I’ve got fond memories of my childhood dogs, which were strays and pound dogs that were some combination of Labrador, German Shepherd, Collie, Australian Sheep dog – dogs with very different temperament than Maremma’s. I’d never had goats. I got the Maremma siblings Tito and Sophie at 14 weeks, as well as three Nigerian Dwarfs to maintain continuity in the dog’s home environment and to train me up on goats.
I hadn’t fully considered the problem of the goats and dogs mixing it up at mealtime but Kims coaching around resource guarding helped me to see the way through it and I put up a divider in the 6000 sq ft paddock. Separating the animals at feeding time completely changed the relationship between them. At six months the goats and dogs are best pals and it’s a hoot to take them all out on the land every morning. The goats like to body check a dog and scamper to the top of a boulder that the dogs can’t scale, at which point the dogs turn on each other, rolling and tumbling.
The dogs and I started out sleeping on the ground together. I slowly graduated to a cot and currently sleep in the back of my truck outside the paddock ten feet from the goats & dogs. Tito & Sophie went berserk the first time a bear visited the compound at night. They were jittery and anxious the rest of the night. After repeated nighttime visits from a variety of critters, they have come to satisfy themselves with a few rounds of ritual barking then going back to sleep. They have learned to accept with minimal barking the neighbors that walk their dogs along the road outside the paddock. As I write this there is a crew making a racket working on a new water tank across the road and the dogs are just watching. They watch everything. When firefighting equipment flies overhead, they look up and cock their heads, then look at each other. They notice the ravens and bluejays. They are inquisitive and affectionate. I’ve come to understand that they always receive my input, even if they don’t respond impulsively like the dogs I had as a kid. It’s like they finish the thought they are having before they respond to me, but they always respond to me. It has been good for me to learn to listen to them. I really love these dogs!
first the dog: cotton candy is a little over 2.5 years old now, and i can honestly say that she has been a very effective LGD since 6mo of age. while she's a sweet and playful big puppy around humans, she has always been very serious about her guardian duties, even when she first showed up as a 3mo pup. she is very nurturing with my barn cats, gentle with the chickens, alerts me when the horses get into mischief, and knows exactly what to do to make skittish goats relax. she's a super quick learner.
now, we have to realize that this wonderful dog is a product of the breeder's hard work and dedication. in addition to good breeding, kim put in a lot of work socializing her puppies with all sorts of farm animals and people, as well as starting their training using positive reinforcement methods. i have another LGD who came to me as an 8wk old, and didn't get the same kind of training and socialization kim gives her puppies. while he is a very good natured and smart dog, he required WAY more management throughout his puppyhood and adolescence. he turned out to be a great LGD. but if you don't have the time or skills to start an LGD on the right path, you would be doing yourself a huge favor by getting a well-started puppy from kim.
kim's puppies come with lifetime support, and that is not a mere sales tactic. in the 2+ years i've had cotton candy, kim has been a great resource on how to understand, communicate with, and care for not only cotton candy, but also my other LGD. she even shares tips on goat husbandry. in the past year, kim completed a professional dog trainer certification program so that she could not only better support her own puppy clients, but also help other LGD owners develop better relationships with their dogs. she is now working on an online course on LGD care and training, which will be made available free of charge to her puppy clients (and for a fee for non-clients). consider how much time, effort, and kim's own money she puts in to continuously improve the lifetime support that comes with the purchase of a dog, the choice is obvious when deciding where to get an LGD.
And it definitely shows in the quality of her puppies. The dogs we brought home are loving, well socialized, and adaptable. We have them caring for our flock of macaws, and even at only 9 months old they are not reactive to the birds even when they fly, but come immediately if the macaws sound a warning call. They get along well with other dogs and people, but are very alert to potential threats. These are our dream dogs and we are so grateful to Kim for all the time and effort that went into giving these dogs that perfect start so that we could enjoy and cherish them for the rest of their lives.
When we decided to start our little homestead we decided on the Maremma Sheepdog based on their typical dispositions. After considerable research, I picked Prancing Pony based off reviews and from what I learned about their facilities and practices. But they had two things against them - they are located in California and the price tag was steep.
I ended up purchasing a Maremma that was on this side of the Mississippi. I’m not going to bash anyone here, this is only for comparison sake - but the breeder understood this would be our first LGD and had glowing reviews about the girl she was selling. I trusted that they understood our situation and where we were in our journey. But what we got was a beautiful loving dog who has proven repeatedly that she can’t be trusted with any of our livestock or pets.
By the time we brought her home, I was already in talks with breeders (again) trying to find her partner and went back to Prancing Pony for talks about their offerings. Fast forward a few months, and a couple of hiccups, I could not be more pleased with our boy Daxo. I do have regrets that I didn’t get two from her when I first considered it.
Listen, they’re not cheap, I get it. There’s likely added expense with shipping... I get that too. Knowing what I know now, going through the experience of having a dog that just didn’t fit our lifestyle is so exhausting AND costly. Our boy literally came as a Plug-N-Play model, he’s just THAT good because Kim listened to our wishlist and understood our needs. Will we go anywhere else for our third attempt? Absolutely not.
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!
Dave
Dogs are incredible as well 😍
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.
I appreciated that she also took the time to vet us to make sure the animals were going to a good home. She was not looking to unload them. She even requires we sign a contract that we get certified in positive reinforcement training and follow guidelines for their healthcare.
A little while after the puppies were born, she let us know that a few from one litter had umbilical hernias (harmless and not uncommon when a mother licks the umbilical cord excessively). She gave us the option to purchase the pup or wait for another litter. She was completely transparent in the entire process. As expected, there is no problem with the hernia.
I am seeing reviews on here from people who have never even communicated with her or purchased from her, so just a reminder to be discerning when reading reviews.
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'd be remiss without acknowledging the dispute between PPF and Gold Shaw Farms, so I will just say, my husband and I always enjoyed Morgan's content, but we were really disappointed with how he's portrayed Abby and Kim. Our two girls came from the same litter as Abby. They are energetic, happy, and healthy puppies. They require training and patience. What we have experienced with them is not out of the realm of what we were expecting when we got two puppies. I think Morgan's judgement of Abby is based on his experience with Toby and has been unfair to Abby and his judgement of Kim has been inflammatory and uncalled for.
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.
Even though I am new to goats and LGD, Kim the owner, has really dedicated her time to teaching me about how to raise them. She is always available to answer my questions and provides me with the expertise knowledge. I am sure she is like that with all of her clients, always willing to help.
I bought 2 Maremma LGDs and 18 goats. Yes 18 goats! I go to bed at night knowing my LGDs are protecting themselves and my 18 precious goats.
Now, I am waiting to buy another male maremma LGD since she brought a male Maremma from a Italy. Kim is always making sure her registered LGDs, ND and Mini Nubians have the best genetics possible. I fully trust my LGDs in my fields, I bought Chloe at close to six months old, and I appreciate so much that she had additional training time. In fact, the next LGD I would buy from Kim will be arriving to my farm with additional training time as well.
Prancing Pony Farm has the best quality of LGDs and goats. I will highly recommend Prancing Pony Farm if you are looking for a diverse genetics in Maremma LGDs, Mini Nubians and Nigerian Dwarfs.
I now have a 1 month old Nigerian Dwarf, and I am still getting Kim’s help to assure my kid goat grows healthy. I am just very happy I chose Prancing Pony Farm when I did. Kim is the best out there!
Kim has a top of the line welping house complete with incubators and on call mobile veterinarian.
If you are looking for a well trained Maremma puppy, this is the place to get them. Kim goes the extra mile with early clicker training, and lots of live stock exposure from day one with her puppies.
You will see how much care goes into these amazing live stock guardian dogs, if you buy from her. They are ready to go to work right away.
Thanks Kim we love our new LGD.
Ready to Start?
If this sounds like the way you want to bring home a Maremma, I'd love to hear from you.
- Join my email list and submit your application. Tell me about your farm, your animals and your goals.
- Have your Zoom call with me. Ask your questions, and I'll learn what you need in a dog.
- Reserve your spot. Your payment and signed contract hold your place.
