Last Updated on October 30, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
Pegaso: Gentle Italian-Import Maremma for a Horse Property or Companion Home
Stunning, sweet and calm around horses, looking for an easy life on level ground.
Pegaso is probably the most beautiful dog I have. He came to me from Italy, and he's gentle with people, relaxed with other dogs, and completely at home with my horses. He isn't a working goat or poultry guardian, and he needs a light job because of his hips. For a horse property, a small ranch, or a family that wants a lovely, easygoing Maremma, he could be exactly right.
Pegaso at a Glance
| Registered name | Pegaso Dei Leoni D Abruzzo |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male, neutered |
| Born | September 20, 2021 (5 years old) |
| Origin | Imported from Italy at 9 months old |
| Registration | MSCA |
| Health | Hip dysplasia with arthritis. PennHIP DI R 0.56 / L 0.47, moderate hip dysplasia on the right. OFA Hips: Dysplastic. OFA Elbows: Normal. |
| Good with | Horses, people, other dogs of both sexes |
| Not for | Goats, sheep, or poultry |
| Placement fee | $800 · $500 when he goes home with another Prancing Pony dog |
| Location | Lemoore, California. Pickup or shipping |
Where Pegaso Came From
I imported Pegaso from Italy at 9 months old. His parents had excellent hip and elbow scores under the Italian health testing system, and he had great preliminary scores himself. He's a gorgeous dog: a beautiful coat, lovely structure, and a nice medium size. I had big hopes for him as a future stud.
When I had his hips evaluated by both PennHIP and OFA at about two years old, he came back with hip dysplasia. I neutered him and removed him from my breeding plans. I've shared his full results above because you deserve the whole picture.
Hip dysplasia can show up even when the parents' scores are excellent. That's why I test every dog I plan to breed.
What to Know Before You Apply
No goats, sheep or poultry. Pegaso fixates on goats' ears, especially long, floppy ones. He has bitten the ears of my Mini Nubian goats. I kept him away from them for a long time and tried him with them again a few months ago, and he still did it. He doesn't go after them in any other way, but it isn't safe for the goats. I haven't tested him with sheep, and he chased chickens when he was younger, so I don't place him with any small livestock or birds.
His hips need an easy life. He has hip dysplasia with arthritis. He needs flat ground, a low-impact routine and a mild climate. No hills, rough terrain or deep snow. He'll benefit from regular vet checkups and may need some joint management as he ages.
He's a little shy. Pegaso warms up to new people gently. He's sweet and soft once he knows you.
He's a peacemaker with dogs. He gets along with males and females and works hard to avoid conflict. If another dog starts a fight, he'll defend himself, but he never starts one. He does best with dogs who are friendly with other dogs.
Who Pegaso Is Now
- Horses: Calm, quiet and relaxed. He lives with my horses now and is completely at ease with them.
- Cattle: Untested. Given how comfortable he is with horses, I'd expect him to do well, but we'd talk it through.
- People: Very sweet and gentle, a little shy. There's no aggression in him toward people.
- Children: He hasn't spent much time around kids, but his gentle nature makes me hopeful. We'd plan introductions together.
- Other dogs: Easygoing with males and females who are friendly with other dogs.
- Personality: Calm, sweet and beautiful. He's happiest keeping an eye on things, greeting people and hanging out.
The Right Home for Pegaso
Pegaso will thrive with:
- A horse property, boarding stable or small ranch that wants a friendly farm dog to keep an eye on things
- A companion home with a fenced yard and flat ground
- A mild climate and an easy, low-impact routine
- Someone who'd love a beautiful Italian import, and isn't counting on him for hard work
Pegaso is not the right dog for:
- Any home with goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, or other poultry
- Hills, rugged terrain, or deep snow
- Heavy predator pressure or a demanding livestock guardian dog job
- Breeding (he's neutered)
Pairing Options for Pegaso
Pegaso is a good partner for any calm dog who's comfortable with horses. Good matches:
- Carina, for a horse property that wants two dogs
- Another friendly adult, adolescent or older puppy that's good with horses
Going Home Together
When Pegaso goes home with another Prancing Pony dog, adolescent or puppy, his placement fee is $500. Otherwise, his placement fee is set at $800.
See who's available on:
The Placement Fee Is Different. The Support Isn't.
Pegaso's fee reflects his hips and his limits with livestock, not his value as a companion or family farm dog. He comes with everything every Prancing Pony Maremma gets:
- Lifetime one-on-one support from me
- The Maremmas Made Easy membership
- A transition plan for his move
- Complete health and veterinary records
- Our Lifetime No-Fault Return Policy
Before you apply, read what to expect when you bring home an adult Maremma.
I'm a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, a Licensed Family Dog Mediator and an MSCA Code of Ethics breeder, with more than 200 Maremmas placed in working and companion homes.
Before you apply, read what to expect when you bring home an adult Maremma.
"If you are looking to get a Maremma I would challenge you to call Kim and talk to her and you will find a person who truly loves these dogs. She has made this her life and if you spend a couple minutes with her on the phone you will find out exactly what I’m talking about. She is constantly trying to improve her training and her dogs so that she has the best LGD’s that can be found. She is always there for the new owners that are just getting LGD’s for the first time. She has a lot of great resources she can steer you to when you tell her what your problems are that can help you get past your obstacles and I cannot thank her enough for that. We have chickens, cows, and grandkids and they all love these pups we bought from Kim. They are amazing animals around the chickens and the cows are now playing with the dogs (what an unbelievable site to see). When your making this kind of an investment and it is an investment if it’s what your gonna depend on to protect your other animals, you want to make sure you are getting a great dog and she has top of the line dogs. She takes care to make sure her dogs are all cared for and produce good healthy dogs you can depend on for many years. Not only are you going to find the best breeder to buy your LGD from but a great resource and most of all I guarantee you’ll find a new friend to help you with your new journey. Best of luck."
Dave from Google (Owner of Bear and Chief, two pups from 2023)
Think Pegaso Could Be Your Dog?
Tell me about your property, your animals and the people he'd live with. If there are no goats, sheep or poultry in the picture and your land is flat, I'd love to talk.
