A Professional Journey & Dream Come True: I’m Now a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner

I’m beyond thrilled to share some exciting news with all of you today. After a year and a half-long journey of countless hours of study, practice, video submissions, and assessments, I’ve officially completed the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional program. I am now a KPA Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP)!

This achievement represents so much more than just adding letters after my name. It’s the culmination of years of learning, growing, and developing my skills as a breeder and trainer. It’s about my commitment to providing the absolute best for my Maremma Sheepdogs, my clients, and all the animals I work with.

My Journey to Certification

 In previous blog posts, many of you have followed parts of my journey through this program. What started as a dream slowly transformed into a reality, though not without its challenges!

 I first discovered the power of positive reinforcement training about 15 years ago when I adopted Lacey, a half-Arabian rescue horse who had been badly abused. Looking for ways to connect with her and build trust, I stumbled upon clicker training, which opened up a whole new world for me.

Years later, after starting my dairy goat breeding business, my goats needed protection from the local coyote population, and I brought home a five-month-old Maremma Sheepdog puppy. That decision eventually led me to breed these incredible dogs and constantly seek ways to improve my breeding and training program.

Through programs like Puppy Culture and various courses from Karen Pryor Academy, I kept expanding my knowledge. The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn, and the better my breeding program became. I was determined to raise puppies that were well-socialized with both livestock and people—something that seemed rare in the LGD breeding community.

In 2021, I attended a weeklong in-person workshop called “Across Species” at the Karen Pryor Academy National Training Center in Washington state. Working with goats, alpacas, and miniature donkeys alongside passionate trainers was incredibly inspiring. That experience planted the seed of becoming a professional dog trainer in my mind. However, I wasn’t sure if I could achieve it given the program’s intensity and my already busy life.

The Power of Leading by Example

 One of the most significant reasons I decided to pursue this certification was to inspire others to chase their dreams, no matter how intimidating they might seem. Throughout my life, I’ve learned that we can accomplish much more than we initially believe possible, but only if we’re brave enough to try.

I’ve always suggested that my Maremma clients and other dog owners educate themselves through programs like the KPA Foundations course. But what kind of mentor would I be if I didn’t lead by example? Taking on the full professional dog trainer program was my way of showing others what’s possible when you commit to growth and learning.

My story could encourage someone else to tackle a project or goal they’ve wanted to pursue. It doesn’t even have to be dog-related—we all have dreams and aspirations that matter. I’ve been inspired by many people who went before me to achieve their goals and accomplish great things. If sharing my journey encourages and inspires even one person to pursue their dreams, it’s worth putting myself out there.

Taking the Leap

When a relationship with a trainer I had relied on to help my clients with more complex training issues ended, I found myself at a crossroads. There weren’t any professional trainers who specialized in Livestock Guardian Dogs for me to refer my clients to. Most trainers, even excellent ones, don’t understand the unique needs and training approaches that work for LGDs.

I realized then that if I wanted my Maremma puppies to have the best training start possible and my clients to have access to quality, appropriate training support after they took their pups home, I needed to become that resource myself.

So in 2023, I took the leap and enrolled in the KPA Dog Trainer Professional program with my 6-year-old Boxer, Luna, as my training partner. I chose Luna rather than one of my Maremmas because conventional wisdom says more biddable breeds make better training partners for the program (though I sometimes wonder if that was the right choice, given Luna’s quirks!)

Unexpected Challenges

The program was more challenging than I anticipated. Luna wasn’t always the eager student I expected. I discovered I have ADHD (which explained why structured learning environments have always been difficult for me). I had to put significant parts of my business on hold—including skipping an entire kidding season—to devote time to my studies.

The final workshop presented the biggest hurdle. Though Luna is extremely friendly and confident at home, I discovered she was terrified in public settings. Despite my best efforts with anxiety medication, a Thundershirt, and pheromone sprays, she remained extremely anxious during the workshop. When it came time for our final training assessment—a 10-behavior chain—Luna became overwhelmed by the industrial noises surrounding the training center and refused to do the chain.

I was devastated. After six months of hard work, we couldn’t complete the final assessment. While I received a certificate of completion and knew I could retry the assessment via Zoom from home later, I was heartbroken.

Once home, life took over again. Family obligations, my animals, and business demands made finding time to practice with Luna difficult. Honestly, I was also afraid to try again and potentially fail, so I kept putting off the reassessment.

But as the deadline approached, I finally mustered the courage to schedule my reassessment. And guess what? We PASSED—with a score of 98! (A score of 90 is required to pass.) I couldn’t have been more proud of Luna and myself for persevering through all the challenges.

What This Means for Prancing Pony Farm

This certification isn’t just a personal achievement—it will transform how I serve my clients and care for my dogs.

As a KPA CTP, I can now proudly say that Prancing Pony Farm Maremmas will be professionally trained using science-based positive reinforcement methods and come with lifetime professional training support. No other Maremma breeder can offer this level of expertise and ongoing assistance.

I’m developing a comprehensive puppy socialization and training curriculum that combines livestock socialization with all the benefits of programs like Puppy Culture. I’m also creating a digital membership and course for my puppy clients and other LGD owners who need guidance.

Additionally, I’ll be expanding my online coaching services for people with Livestock Guardian Dogs, whether they purchased their LGDs from me or elsewhere.

This is just the beginning. I’m already enrolled in several other courses to continue expanding my knowledge and skills. The Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional program has been the gateway to so many opportunities that will help me become an even better breeder and trainer.

A Journey Worth Taking 

I truly believe we grow the most when we step outside our comfort zones. When I first considered the KPA Professional program, I wasn’t confident I could finish it. Between running a farm, managing a business, and family responsibilities, adding an intensive six-month program seemed almost impossible. But I decided that even if I didn’t complete the program and become a certified dog trainer, I would still learn valuable skills along the way.

The truth is, I almost didn’t make it. There were moments when I seriously considered giving up. But I kept going, one assignment at a time, one video submission at a time, one quiz at a time. And now, looking back, I’m so glad I persisted.

If there’s something you’ve been dreaming of doing—a course you want to take, a skill you want to learn, a certification you want to pursue—I hope my story encourages you to take that first step. You might struggle. You might even fail at first. But the journey itself is worth it, and you might surprise yourself with what you can accomplish when you refuse to give up.

For those who have supported me along this journey, thank you from the bottom of my heart. And for those of you embarking on your own journeys of growth and discovery, know that I’m cheering you on every step of the way.

Stay tuned for exciting new developments at Prancing Pony Farm as I put my certification to work. If you have a Livestock Guardian Dog that needs training support, reach out—I’m now professionally equipped to help! And if you are looking for the best professionally trained Maremma Sheepdog money can buy, you can find it here, at Prancing Pony Maremmas.

With gratitude and excitement for what’s ahead,
Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP
Prancing Pony Farm