Jul 24, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, It’s been an incredible week watching our Maremma families take the next step in their journeys toward livestock protection, family companionship, and peace of mind. Six precious dogs have gone to their new homes, and the updates we’re already...
Jul 17, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, I’m writing this Thursday afternoon instead of my usual Wednesday night schedule (to be in your inbox Thursday morning). Why you might ask. Because honestly, sometimes farm life has other plans for us. This week has been one of those reminders...
Jul 10, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, This week has been both exciting and bittersweet as our 12-week-old Maremma puppies prepare to head to their new homes next week. Watching these little livestock guardians head off to...
Jul 10, 2025 | *Pet Insurance, Dog Health & Wellness, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Product Reviews |
Protecting your livestock guardian dog means safeguarding your peace of mind. You’ve done everything right. You researched reputable breeders and invested in health-tested parents. You brought home a beautiful Maremma Sheepdog puppy with a comprehensive health...
Jul 3, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, Yesterday, I said goodbye to one-year-old Maremma pups, Romeo and Pele, as they loaded into their airline crates for the flight to their new home in the Bay Area. As I watched them go, I...
Jul 3, 2025 | *Smart Planning, Client Stories & Testimonials, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program |
The difference between getting any dog and getting YOUR dog lies in one thing: planning ahead. This week, I watched Noelle load Romeo and Pele into airline crates for their flight home to the Bay Area. These weren’t just any dogs—they were the perfect...
Jun 26, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, Well, this is embarrassing! I need to make a correction to my newsletter from earlier today, and it’s actually GOOD news. My Communication Mix-Up Remember how I said that only one...
Jun 26, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I hope you’re staying cool during this hot summer weather! I have some exciting updates to share with you this week. 🏆 Contest Winner Celebration First, I’m thrilled to...
Jun 19, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Dear Reader, This week marks a very special milestone – the first birthday of our wonderful June 2024 litter! 🎂 A year ago, six beautiful Maremma puppies entered the world in our Puppy Parlor, and today I’m thrilled to share how these incredible guardians have...
Jun 19, 2025 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program |
This week marks a milestone that fills my heart with pride and joy – the first birthday of our June 2024 Maremma Sheepdog litter. One year ago, six beautiful puppies took their first breaths in our Puppy Parlor, marking the beginning of a journey that would...
Jun 19, 2025 | LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program |
Your Maremma’s first birthday represents far more than just marking time—it’s a celebration of an incredible transformation from the puppy you first brought home to the developing livestock guardian dog or family companion they’ve become. At Prancing...
Jun 12, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, I’m writing this email from our puppy parlor, where Pele—one of our year-old Maremmas—is recovering from surgery that could very well save her life someday. Here’s what happened: Romeo and Pele are littermates heading to their new farm up...
Jun 5, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, “I hate your business.” Those are the words I often hear from my husband whenever I face challenges in my Maremma Sheepdog breeding business. (And my goat business.) He sees the stress, the late nights, the financial investment, and the...
Jun 5, 2025 | *Ethical Breeding, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Care & Training |
When Passion Meets Resistance: Reflections on Ethical LGD Breeding “I hate your business.” Those are the words I hear from my husband whenever challenges arise in my Maremma Sheepdog breeding business. He sees the stress, the late nights, the financial...
May 29, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, What a whirlwind these past few weeks have been! As I sit down to write this email, my youngest daughter and her family have arrived home in North Carolina, my middle son and his new wife are off on their honeymoon, and the house has that...
May 22, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I hope this email finds you well! I wanted to let you know about some exciting updates from Prancing Pony Farm. Contest Extension – More Winners Than Expected! First, due to some...
May 17, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, You might have noticed I missed my usual Thursday email this week. There’s a good reason—I just returned from a wonderful family vacation at Disneyland! 🎊 My youngest daughter and...
May 6, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I’m bursting with excitement to share some incredible news with you today! After a year and a half of intense study, practice, video submissions, and assessments, I’ve...
May 4, 2025 | Family Dog Mediation, Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program |
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...
May 3, 2025 | Dog Behavior, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
Livestock Guardian Dogs are incredibly devoted protectors who take their job seriously. But sometimes, they can display behaviors that might seem concerning, like barking aggressively at something on the other side of a fence, yet being perfectly calm when that...
May 1, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, Happy May 1st! April has been quite a whirlwind here at the farm, and this past week especially has kept me on my toes. Usually, I’d share a detailed blog post with you, but after my 4...
Apr 24, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I recently received a video that perfectly captures why I do what I do, despite the challenges of ethical LGD breeding. The video came from Dave in Texas. It shows Bear and Chief—two...
Apr 24, 2025 | Available Maremmas, Client Stories & Testimonials, Dog Behavior, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program |
Why Older Puppies Often Make the Best Livestock Guardian Dogs One of the most persistent myths in the Livestock Guardian Dog community is that puppies must be acquired at the youngest possible age to bond with their new owners and livestock properly. As the owner of...
Apr 17, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, I wanted to send a quick update following last week’s email about our Maremma Sheepdog breeding program and reservation process. The response has been incredible! In just one week, we’ve received four new reservations for our future litters...
Apr 14, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, I’m sending my weekly email early to share a very important topic with you. This week (April 13th-19th) marks National Dog Bite Prevention Week, which offers us an excellent opportunity to discuss safety considerations specific to Livestock Guardian...
Apr 14, 2025 | Dog Behavior, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
National Dog Bite Prevention Week (April 13th-19th) is the perfect time to discuss safety around all dogs, including our beloved Livestock Guardian Dogs. At Prancing Pony Farm, we’re committed to breeding well-socialized, stable Maremma Sheepdogs that excel as...
Apr 14, 2025 | Available Maremmas, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
Born: July 26, 2024 | Female | Current Weight: 70 lbs | Expected Adult Weight: 70-80 lbs At Prancing Pony Farm, we believe the source of your livestock guardian dog is the single most important decision determining whether your experience will be a blessing or a...
Apr 14, 2025 | Available Maremmas, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
Born: June 20, 2024 | Female | Current Weight: 70 lbs | Expected Adult Weight: 80-90 lbs At Prancing Pony Farm, we believe the source of your livestock guardian dog is the single most important decision determining whether your experience will be a blessing or a...
Apr 14, 2025 | Available Maremmas, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
Born: July 26, 2024 | Female | Current Weight: 70-80 lbs | Expected Adult Weight: 80-100 lbs At Prancing Pony Farm, we believe the source of your livestock guardian dog is the single most important decision determining whether your experience will be a blessing or a...
Apr 14, 2025 | Available Maremmas, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
Born: July 26, 2024 | Female | Current Weight: 80 lbs | Expected Adult Weight: 90-110 lbs At Prancing Pony Farm, we believe the source of your livestock guardian dog is the single most important decision determining whether your experience will be a blessing or a...
Apr 10, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, I hope you’re having a great week. We are in the thick of kidding season and had our first vet emergency last night due to a stuck kid. Luckily, my vet lives literally within viewing distance from my house, so she was there within minutes. We lost...
Apr 10, 2025 | *Planning Ahead, Available Maremmas, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program |
Planning Ahead: Why Timing Matters When Adding a Livestock Guardian Dog to Your Farm Unlike bringing home a pet dog – where you might only need a few days off work to help a puppy settle in – adding a Livestock Guardian Dog to your farm requires careful...
Apr 4, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, I’m sorry I’m late with my weekly email. You can blame it on the kids..the goat kids, that is! 💜🐐, It’s kidding season, and the place is hopping with cute baby goats. 💞We are up to around 40 kids and aren’t done yet! Kidding...
Mar 28, 2025 | Available Maremmas, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
Born: June 20, 2024 | Male | Current Weight: 90 lbs | Expected Adult Weight: 120-130+ lbs At Prancing Pony Farm, we believe the source of your livestock guardian dog is the single most important decision determining whether your experience will be a blessing or a...
Mar 25, 2025 | Available Maremmas, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
Born: July 26, 2024 | Male | Current Weight: 80 lbs | Expected Adult Weight: 120-130+ lbs At Prancing Pony Farm, we believe the source of your livestock guardian dog is the single most important decision determining whether your experience will be a blessing or a...
Mar 24, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Make Your Homestead Dreams Come True This Spring! Spring is in the air at Prancing Pony Farm, and with it comes the pitter-patter of tiny hooves! We’re thrilled to announce the beginning of our 2025 kidding season and this year; we want to make someone’s...
Mar 20, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I hope your week is going well. My week has been a bit rough. My husband was sick last week with some kind of cold/flu bug, and I thought I had dodged the bullet until Saturday night when...
Mar 13, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I hope you’re doing great this week. I wanted to share this cute photo I got of one of my 7-month-old Maremma puppies on Wednesday. Kidding season is due to begin any day now, so...
Mar 6, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, It is with a heavy heart that I write to you this week. Our beloved 9-year-old Maremma, Olaf, died Tuesday night. Many of you who have followed our journey for a while know that Olaf was...
Feb 27, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I hope your week is going well. Spring has already come to Central California, so we are making the best of it. Last week, my new farm helper (Kiley) and I took six Maremma puppies on...
Feb 24, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdogs Mini Nubians & Nigerian Dwarfs Livestock Guardian Dog Training Dear [FIRST_DOG_NAME GOES HERE] [SECOND_DOG_NAME GOES HERE] Here’s wishing you a very happy birthday filled with all your favorite treats and lots of hugs...
Feb 20, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, Have you ever taken your livestock guardian dog for a walk? I’ve often heard the advice that you shouldn’t walk your LGD, or they will learn that there is an interesting world...
Feb 13, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, How’s your week going? We had the craziest “adventure” here on the farm last Saturday. I have this old mobile office trailer in my barnyard that I use as a dog grooming...
Feb 6, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I hope your week is going well. I have been working on a big project for a long time and am finally ready to announce it. I’ve created a free membership site for LGD and dairy goat...
Feb 6, 2025 | Dog Behavior, Family Dog Mediation, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
At Prancing Pony Farm, we’ve always believed that successful livestock guardian dogs and thriving dairy goat herds are built on a foundation of knowledge, support, and community. Today, we’re excited to announce a new chapter in our journey – the...
Jan 23, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I hope you’re having a great week. I have two exciting bits of news to share. First up, I hired a new farm hand! 🎉🎉🎉 Her name is Kiley. She will come out a few days a week to help me...
Jan 23, 2025 | Dog Behavior, Family Dog Mediation, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Product Reviews |
Livestock guardian dog owners, this is the game-changing resource you’ve been waiting for. Kim Brophy’s “The Dog’s Truth” offers a revolutionary approach to understanding dogs that goes far beyond anything you may have heard. It is...
Jan 18, 2025 | Book Reviews, Dog Behavior, Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Product Reviews, Top Posts |
There are three key components that are required in order to produce an outstanding Livestock Guardian Dog. The first two – genetics and early training and socialization (or Nature and Nurture) – are the responsibility of the breeder. If you’ve...
Jan 18, 2025 | *How Many LGDS, Dog Behavior, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Top Posts |
Ask this question of dog breeders, livestock owners and even pet dog owners and you will get a lot of different opinions, some of them very strong. New puppy buyers are trying to do their research so they can the best thing for their dogs and their stock....
Jan 16, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I hope you and your dogs are having a great week! I wanted you to be among the first to know about an exciting new opportunity I’ve come up with for fellow dog lovers like you to... 
