Why Choose Us?
Because You Really Can't Afford an "Affordable" Maremma Sheepdog
The True Cost of "Affordable" Livestock Guardian Dogs
Finding a Trustworthy, Loyal Livestock Guardian Dog Isn't Easy
Maremma Sheepdogs are one of the best forms of protection against predators and make devoted family dogs. Unfortunately, not all breeders know how to produce trustworthy, dependable livestock guardians who are friendly and safe with people. You may end up with a dog unsuited for either job. A breeder who neglects socializing their puppies with livestock makes training more challenging than it should be for the new puppy owner. The dog could hurt or kill the animals it is supposed to guard. A puppy not socialized with humans could become fearful and aggressive. Breeders who neglect health testing their breeding dogs may produce puppies with devastating health problems, which can cause pain and unexpected vet bills and affect your dog’s ability to do its job.
Sadly, many breeders are just looking to make a quick and easy profit, often under the guise of producing “affordable” puppies. New Maremma owners don’t have the experience to raise and train their puppies to maturity without the support an experienced breeder should provide. When problems arise, the “affordable puppy” breeder is nowhere to be found, leaving the new owner in a bind.
Below are some issues you should watch out for when choosing a breeder:
- The breeder doesn’t do any health testing, particularly no PennHip or OFA testing to screen for Hip & Elbow Dysplasia.
- The puppies’ parents do not live with and actively guard livestock and may not be from working stock.
- While under the breeder’s care, the puppies are exposed to little to no livestock, making training difficult for their future owners.
- The breeder neglects to socialize puppies with people and novel experiences, causing possible fear or aggression.
- The breeder has no dog training experience. They use or recommend aversive tools instead of real training.
- Breeder offers little to no ongoing customer support, leaving the owner to figure things out on their own when problems arise.
You, Your Livestock, and Your Family Deserve Better, and We Can Help
Why We Breed…
When we bought our new farm in coyote country, we knew we would need a Livestock Guardian Dog to protect our goats and other animals. Five-month-old Olaf joined our farm, and Genevieve followed soon after.
Both dogs quickly won our hearts.
It didn’t take me long to realize that Maremmas are extraordinary. Dogs that would lay down their lives to protect an animal of another species are genuinely awe-inspiring.
We had our first litter in 2017. It was incredible to watch those pups grow and mature into amazing little LGDs and place them in homes doing the vital work they were bred to do. I was utterly in love with these incredible dogs and on a mission to help others who needed protection for their animals.
Some Maremma breeders believe these dogs should not be made into “pets.” I used to believe that, too. My dogs and their families taught me differently. As I relaxed my idea of what an LGD’s role should be, I realized that most of my pups had been multi-tasking “family farm dogs” all along—effortlessly filling the roles of LGD and family companion.
The puppies we breed bring great joy and companionship to their families, regardless of whether they guard livestock, other family pets, or their human family. Or some combination of those.
If this is the kind of relationship you want with your next dog click on the button below to become a part of the Prancing Pony Farm family
Working LGDs
Our breeding dogs come from the best MSCA and UKC-registered proven working lines. They all live full-time with and guard our dairy goats and other animals. Our puppies are raised with livestock from birth.
"Plug & Play" Puppies
Our puppy socialization program utilizes Puppy Culture and other positive reinforcement training methods to produce happy, resilient LGDs and family dogs. Our “Plug & Play” pups thrive in a variety of homes.
Healthy Dogs & Pups
Our breeding dogs are PennHip and OFA tested for hip and elbow dysplasia and DNA tested to screen for genetic defects, minimizing the chance they will pass debilitating health problems on to their puppies.
Happy Families
We offer our clients a 2-year health guarantee and lifetime support. We’re always available for advice, encouragement, and training assistance. We will be there for you every step of the way, for your dog’s entire life!
Years in Business
Years Working Professionally With Dogs
Maremma Puppies Bred & Trained
Happy Families
MSCA Code of Ethics Breeder
I am a Maremma Sheepdog Club of America Code of Ethics Breeder. Code of Ethics breeders set themselves apart from all other breeders by pledging to adhere to the highest standards and ethics in breeding. The Code of Ethics states:
“The Maremma Sheepdog Club of America aspires to protect the development of Maremma Sheepdogs by encouraging breeders to adopt the Code Of Ethics to promote and foster the highest standards among breeders who are concerned with the propagation of physically, mentally and temperamentally sound Maremma Sheepdogs of proper breed type, and to encourage cooperation in the improvement, advancement, and protection of our breed. Code of Ethics Breeders accept responsibility for the protection, well-being, and improvement of the breed…”
Fear Free Dog Trainer
I have an extensive education in dog training and behavior. I have completed many dog training courses, including the 6-month Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional program. I use only fear-free, positive-reinforcement training methods to train my dogs and puppies.
Licensed Family Dog Mediator
As a graduate of the L.E.G.S. Applied Ethology program and a Licensed Family Dog Mediator, I can empower you to understand your dog’s unique L.E.G.S. This understanding will help your dog thrive in their role and deepen the bond between you and your dog. Whether your dog is a Livestock Guardian Dog, a Family Companion, or a bit of both, I can help!
Some of Our Pups and Their Happy Owners
From Google:
“We’ve had dogs practically our whole lives. Granted, they were of the more common variety – easily trainable, wanting to please their humans: house dogs.
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.”
From Google:
“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.”
From Google:
“I took a while researching best places to buy Maremma dogs and Mini Nubians. Prancing Pony Farm in Lemoore, California raises registered Maremma, Mini Nubians and Nigerian Dwarf side by side while fully exposing them to ducks, chickens and horses.
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.”
Ready to Join the Family?
The best way to start the process is by filling out our Maremma contact form. Then, we can send you information on available puppies and dogs. You’ll also be able to fill out our puppy application. The application helps us better understand you and your needs so we can match you with the perfect puppy!
Join Our Email List!
Sign up for our email newsletter, and we’ll keep you posted on upcoming litters and available dogs! Our email list members are always the first to know and get first dibs on available dogs. We also send out helpful Maremma Sheepdog care and training articles and links to useful resources.