Last Updated on October 24, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
Carina: Gentle Young Female Maremma for a Flat-Terrain Farm
Good with goats, poultry, horses, cats, kids and other dogs. She just needs level ground and a manageable job.
Carina is one of the most versatile young dogs I've raised. She's lived with goats since she was tiny, grown up alongside all kinds of poultry, and spent her whole life around horses, cats, and children. One of her hips didn't develop as we'd hoped, so she needs a thoughtful home. In the right one, she has every chance at a long, productive, comfortable life.
Carina at a Glance
| Registered name | Prancing Pony Carina |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Born | September 23, 2025 |
| Registration | MSCA Registered |
| Parents | Benson Ranch Pax × Prancing Pony Parma |
| Health | Hip dysplasia with mild arthritis in her left hip. Right hip clean. Full PennHIP report shared with serious applicants. |
| Good with | Goats, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guineas, horses, cats, children, other dogs including females, adolescents |
| Placement fee | $2,500. A sound dog of Carina's age, training and background would be $4,000. This price reflects her hip health, not her value as a working dog. |
| In photos | Carina wears purple markings in our photos and videos. |
Where Carina Came From
Carina was one of our most anticipated keeper prospects. Her parents, Benson Ranch Pax and Prancing Pony Parma, have some of the best hip scores in our program. Pax scored a DI of R 0.28/L 0.28 with no arthritis. Parma scored a DI of R 0.29/L 0.28 with no arthritis and an OFA Good on traditional hip evaluation. We kept Carina because we believed in her, and we still do.
When we PennHIP tested her at 12 months, she didn't pass. She has hip dysplasia, with mild arthritis confirmed in her left hip. Her right hip is clean.
We're sharing this openly because that's what responsible breeding looks like. Hip dysplasia can happen even from parents with outstanding hips. It's a complex genetic condition that doesn't follow simple math. Breeders who tell you it can never happen in their lines are either not testing or not being honest with you. We test every dog we plan to breed, and we tell you the truth about what we find.
Her parents' full health testing results are available on their profile pages. Carina's complete PennHIP report will be shared with serious applicants.
What Her Hips Mean for Her Future
Carina moves well and works well right now. You would not look at her and know anything was different. But her left hip has early arthritis, and her overall laxity puts her at moderate risk for progression over time. That means she needs a thoughtful placement: flat terrain, a manageable job, and an owner who understands she may need veterinary monitoring and potentially some management as she ages. She is not the right dog for steep, rugged terrain or an extremely demanding working environment.
Who Carina Is Now
Carina has been living and working full-time with goats since she was a tiny puppy. She's gentle, attentive, and does her job well. She's been around horses and has been side by side with poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and guineas) since she was young. She's also been socialized with cats. She's friendly with people, easy with other dogs including other females, and adaptable across a range of pairings. She still has the playfulness of a young dog, which makes her a good match for a dog slightly younger or close to her age, as well as young adults. She's growing into a steady, confident guardian.
She's been extensively socialized with children since she was a tiny pup. She's an easy, sweet dog who happens to have one hip that didn't develop the way we hoped.
One more thing worth mentioning: Carina has a beautiful coat. Short, smooth and sleek, the kind that sheds out cleanly in summer rather than staying thick and woolly year-round. Her grooming requirements are minimal. If you live somewhere hot or deal with foxtails, this kind of coat matters more than people realize. It was one of the things I loved most about her before we got her results back, and it still is.
The Right Home for Carina
Carina will thrive with:
- A working LGD partner of similar age
- Flat terrain with no deep snow
- A mixed farm: goats, sheep, poultry, horses, etc
- A family with children
- A farm with cats, possibly companion dogs
- A hot climate, where her sleek coat is a real advantage
- An owner ready for vet monitoring as she ages
Carina is not the right dog for:
- Steep, rugged terrain
- Heavy snow and ice in winter
- An extremely demanding working environment
- Breeding
What You're Getting
Everything that comes with a Prancing Pony Farm dog: the socialization, the livestock development from puppyhood, MSCA registration, and lifetime support from a certified trainer and Licensed Family Dog Mediator. You also get the Maremmas Made Easy membership and our Lifetime No-Fault Return Policy. The price reflects her health picture. The dog and the support behind her do not change.
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 adolescent Maremma.
Could Carina Could Be Your Dog?
If you think your home could be the right match for her, I'd love to talk. Tell me about your land, your animals, and the people and pets she'd be living with.
