Last Updated on April 1, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
Special Placement Maremmas
Every dog on this page has a story. Finding the right home is the priority.
Every once in a while, a dog comes through our program that doesn’t fit the usual mold.
Maybe they have a minor health issue that won’t affect their quality of life. Maybe they’ve retired from our breeding program or are a bit older, but still have plenty of good years left. Maybe they do best with a specific type of livestock, or they came back to us through our lifetime return policy and are ready for a fresh start.
These dogs aren’t broken. They’re not rejects. They’re just dogs with a particular story — and they deserve a home that understands that story and is genuinely the right fit for it.
I still charge a placement fee for these dogs. It’s not the same as a puppy or a fully mature adult in their prime years, but there is an adoption fee, because a zero-fee adoption would attract the wrong kind of interest, and these dogs deserve better than that.
Why I Place These Dogs Instead of Keeping Them
Honestly? I keep a lot of them. Some dogs retire here and live out their days on the farm, and I wouldn’t have it any other way — even when that means carrying the expense of a dog who isn’t working anymore.
But here’s the thing: when a dog stays here, they’re one of many. They’re cared for, they’re safe, and they’re loved — but they don’t get the kind of individual attention that a dog gets when they’re your dog. The one you notice first in the morning. The one who follows you around. The one the whole household knows by name.
These dogs deserve the chance to have that. To still do their job at whatever level they’re capable of. To be someone’s favorite. The right person for one of these dogs isn’t settling — they’re getting something genuinely valuable that just comes packaged a little differently than a puppy. My job is to find that person.
Who These Dogs Are For
There’s no single profile for the right home here — it truly depends on the dog. Each dog I place in this category has different strengths, different needs, and a different ideal situation.
What I’m looking for across the board:
- Someone who has read the dog’s full story and isn’t trying to work around it
- A home where the dog’s specific limitations won’t become problems
- An owner who asks good questions, not just “how much?”
- Someone who wants this dog — not just a cheaper Maremma
If you’re primarily motivated by the reduced fee, this probably isn’t the right fit. If you’re genuinely open to a dog with a particular situation and you think your farm or home might be exactly what they need, I’d love to talk.
What “Special Placement” Means
Every dog is different, but here are the kinds of situations that might bring a dog to this page:
Age — A dog who is seven, eight, or nine years old may still be working and healthy, but they’re not at the beginning of their career. The right home understands that and values what an older dog brings: settled temperament, proven instincts, and zero guesswork about who they are.
Minor health considerations — Something that doesn’t affect day-to-day life but is worth knowing about. I’ll always be fully transparent about what it is and what it means.
Specific livestock compatibility — Some dogs do beautifully with larger livestock, like horses or cattle, but haven’t had the right experience with smaller livestock or poultry, or vice versa. That’s not a flaw — it’s just a detail that matters for placement.
Specific pairing needs — Some dogs thrive with the right partner and struggle with the wrong one. I’ll tell you exactly what I know about what works for them.
Returned dogs — Occasionally, a dog comes back to us through our lifetime return policy — not because anything is wrong with them, but because life happens: divorce, illness, sold farms, long-distance moves. These dogs are fully evaluated before being placed again, more carefully than other dogs. They deserve for their second home to be forever and exactly right.
Currently Available
This section is updated as dogs become available. If the page is empty right now, check back or get on my email list — special placements are announced there first.
[Dog cards appear here when available]
No dogs listed right now? That’s actually normal — these placements are relatively rare, and they tend to move quickly when they do come up.
How to Express Interest
If you see a dog listed here who you think might be a fit, reach out through the contact form or send me a text. Tell me a little about your situation — your livestock, your property, any dogs you already have — and we’ll go from there.
I handle these placements the same way I handle all of my placements: with a real conversation, honest information, and a genuine attempt to find the right match. The fee is different. The process isn’t
Not what you’re looking for?
If you’re interested in a puppy, adolescent, or a fully trained adult in their prime, those are listed on separate pages. Or if you’re just starting to explore whether a Maremma is right for your situation, the best first step is getting on my email list.
Learn About Available Puppies →
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