Last Updated on February 7, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
Breeding Candidates: Pre-Tested Quality Dogs for Serious Breeders Only
All breeding candidates come with preliminary PennHip testing by us before sale. Some dogs may have final OFA hip and elbow testing, depending on the age of placement.
The Reality of Breeding Maremma Sheepdogs
Let’s be direct: breeding Maremma Sheepdogs is not for everyone.
It’s not a hobby. It’s not an easy money-maker. It’s a complex responsibility that requires years of hands-on experience, continuous education, substantial financial investment, and unwavering commitment to ethical breeding practices.
That’s why most of our puppies are placed on spay/neuter contracts. Successful Maremma breeding demands expertise that takes years to develop, and we won’t contribute to the breed’s problems by selling breeding stock to inexperienced owners.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive breeding dog or thinking you can “upgrade” a regular puppy to breeding rights later, this page isn’t for you.
Why We Changed Our Breeding Candidate Program
After nearly a decade of breeding Maremmas, we’ve learned some difficult truths. We used to sell puppies at regular prices, with buyers “earning” breeding rights through testing and dog training courses. The results were consistently disappointing—and sometimes harmful to the breed.
Inexperienced buyers created serious problems:
- Unauthorized litters before health testing was completed → unregistered puppies with unknown genetic risks
- Inadequate puppy socialization → behavioral problems and failed placements
- Buyers didn’t follow through on testing and education requirements
- Well-intentioned people wasted 2 years waiting → then got disappointing test results when the scores weren’t breeding quality
- Multiple unplanned breedings → overwhelmed new breeders who couldn’t handle the responsibility
- Cheap “disposal” of puppies → undermining the breed’s value and welfare
These outcomes aren’t just disappointing—they’re harmful to the Maremma breed and contribute to the livestock guardian dog failure rate that already exceeds 30%.
Those problems end now.
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Our New Approach: Pre-Tested Breeding Candidates Only
We only sell breeding candidates that we have already health-tested
Our New Approach: Pre-Tested Breeding Candidates Only
We only sell breeding candidates that we have already health-tested. You’ll know from day one that your dog has excellent hips confirmed by our veterinarian. No gambling. No fingers crossed. No wasted time. Just a quality breeding prospect backed by our expertise and investment.
This approach costs us significantly more. We keep dogs longer, test multiple puppies per litter, and absorb the financial risk when dogs don’t pass. Our prices reflect this real investment—and they should. Quality breeding stock has always been an investment, not an expense.
Our breeding candidate investment ranges from $4,000-7,500 depending on age and testing completion. If this seems unreasonable, breeding Maremmas may not be financially realistic for your program. Responsible breeding requires substantial resources beyond the initial dog purchase—including emergency veterinary funds, litter expenses, ongoing education, and marketing costs that add up to thousands of dollars annually.
If you understand that exceptional breeding dogs command premium prices and you’re committed to breed improvement over profit, keep reading.
A Better Approach to Breeding Candidates
We Test Before You Buy
Instead of selling you a puppy with “potential” and hoping the testing works out, we keep select puppies from specific litters and health test them ourselves through our veterinarian:
- 16-week to 6-month puppies: Minimum PennHip hip evaluation
- 12+ month dogs: Full PennHip hips + (possibly) OFA preliminary hips and elbows
- 24+ month dogs Full PennHip hips + final OFA hips and elbows
- We absorb the cost and risk of dogs that don’t pass
- You get a dog with proven excellent hips from day one and potentially also elbows tested, as well. (It depends on what we have available.)
You Complete Final Certification at Maturity
Breeding candidates still require:
- OFA hip and elbow evaluation at 2 years old (permanent certification)
- Submit results to us for our records
- But you already KNOW the hips are excellent since PennHip results are accurate from 16 weeks onward—you’re just getting official permanent certification
We Keep the Best, Offer the Rest
When we pull 2-3 female puppies from a litter for potential breeding candidates:
- We test them all
- We keep the one that best fits our program
- We offer the others as pre-tested breeding candidates
- All tested dogs have excellent results—we usually only keep one
This means you’re getting a puppy good enough for us to consider keeping. That’s the level of quality you’re buying.
Choose Your Investment Level
We offer three distinct breeding candidate tiers based on age and testing completion. The higher the tier, the less risk and waiting time for you. All tiers require the same owner qualifications and breeding program requirements.
TIER 1: Young Breeding Prospects
Age: 16 Weeks to 6 Months | Investment: $4,000-4,500
What’s Already Completed:
- ✅ PennHip hip evaluation (excellent scores confirmed)
- ✅ Professional puppy socialization and development program
- ✅ Initial livestock exposure and livestock guardian instinct evaluation
- ✅ Temperament assessment showing breeding potential
- ✅ Selected from litter as a breeding candidate-quality puppy
Testing You’ll Complete:
- OFA hip and elbow certification at 2 years old (permanent final certification)
Best For:
- Breeders willing to wait 18-22 months before breeding
- Those wanting a young, adaptable prospect
- People comfortable completing the final OFA testing
- Breeders seeking lower initial investment with confirmed excellent hips
Timeline to Breeding: 18-22 months
Why This Price:
Our additional investment over a regular $3,500 puppy:
- PennHip testing by our veterinarian: $500-600
- Extended time in our care (4-14 additional weeks): $200-400
- Evaluation and selection as breeding quality
- Risk absorption if testing doesn’t pass
Total: $4,000-4,500 reflects $700-1,000 of direct additional costs plus selection expertise
TIER 2: Proven Breeding Prospects ⭐ Most Popular
Age: 7 Months to 23 Months | Investment: $5,000-5,500
What’s Already Completed:
- ✅ PennHip hip evaluation (excellent scores confirmed)
- ✅ 7-23 months of professional raising, training, and socialization
- ✅ Proven working ability with our goat herd
- ✅ Mature temperament evaluation (no puppy uncertainty)
- ✅ LGD instincts fully emerged and assessed
- ✅ Conformation evaluated at near-adult development
Testing You’ll Complete:
- OFA hip and elbow certification at 2 years old
Best For:
- Breeders wanting proven working ability before purchase
- Those seeking clear temperament assessment
- People wanting minimal waiting time
- Breeders valuing certainty over a lower price
Timeline to Breeding: 1-17 months, depending on age at purchase
Why This Price:
Our investment over a regular $3,500 puppy:
- PennHip testing: $600-800
- 7-23 months of feed, care, veterinary, training: $1,000-1,500+
- Proven working ability (you KNOW this dog guards livestock)
- Mature temperament (no puppy unpredictability)
- Lost opportunity cost (could have sold as a puppy)
Total: $5,000-5,500 reflects $1,500-2,000+ of real costs plus proven performance value
This is our sweet spot tier: Old enough to be proven, young enough to be affordable for serious breeders, buyer completes final OFA certification but knows hips are already excellent.
TIER 3: Fully Certified Breeding Dogs ⭐ Zero Risk
Age: 24+ Months | Investment: $6,500-7,500
What’s Already Completed:
- ✅ Final PennHip certification
- ✅ OFA hip certification (permanent, final)
- ✅ OFA elbow certification (permanent, final)
- ✅ 2+ years of professional raising and training
- ✅ Fully mature, proven working livestock guardian
- ✅ Established temperament and working style
- ✅ Complete health and genetic clearances
- ✅ Ready to breed immediately—NO MORE TESTING NEEDED
Testing You’ll Complete:
- Nothing. This dog is fully certified and ready for your breeding program.
Best For:
- Breeders wanting to breed immediately
- Those wanting zero testing risk or uncertainty
- People valuing proven, mature dogs over puppies
- Serious breeders with a budget for premium breeding stock
Timeline to Breeding: Immediately (can breed on next heat cycle)
Why This Price:
Our investment over a regular $3,500 puppy:
- Full PennHip and OFA hip and elbow testing: $1,000-1500
- 2+ years of feed, care, veterinary, training: $2,000-2,500+
- Fully mature working dog (highest value)
- All testing complete (zero buyer risk)
- Lost opportunity cost (could have sold at any earlier stage)
Total: $6,500-7,500 reflects $3,000-3,500+ of real costs plus premium breeding-ready status
This is executive-level breeding stock. If someone invests $7,000+ in a fully certified dog, they’re demonstrating serious commitment to quality breeding.
Who We Work With—and Who We Don’t
Pre-tested hips are just the beginning. Breeding exceptional Livestock Guardian Dogs requires experience, education, and unwavering commitment to breed improvement. These requirements apply to ALL breeding candidate purchases regardless of tier or price.
Experience Demonstration:
You must have:
- ✅ Minimum 3 years actively owning Maremma Sheepdogs or a similar LGD breed
- ✅ Successfully raised a minimum two LGDs to working maturity
- ✅ Current dogs must be proven, trustworthy livestock guardians
Why we require this: Breeding livestock guardian dogs is infinitely more complex than owning them. New Maremma owners consistently make mistakes that experienced owners don’t. We won’t contribute to the 30% LGD failure rate by selling breeding stock to inexperienced owners.
Professional Standards:
You must maintain:
- ✅ MSCA membership in good standing
- ✅ Signed adherence to the MSCA Code of Ethics
- ✅ Commitment to positive reinforcement training methods only
Why we require this: These demonstrate your commitment to breed standards, ethical practices, and modern training science. If you’re not willing to join MSCA and follow their Code of Ethics, you’re not serious about improving the breed.
Required Education:
You must complete:
- ✅ Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations (mandatory before puppy pickup)
- ✅ Puppy Culture Program (essential puppy development knowledge)
Why we require this: The data is clear—educated breeders succeed, uneducated breeders create problems. This isn’t optional.
Breeding Commitment:
You must agree to:
- ✅ All offspring MSCA registered (supporting breed registry)
- ✅ Primarily breeding working dogs with appropriate livestock socialization (breeding dogs may not be companions only)
- ✅ No large-scale pet market breeding or commercial sales
- ✅ Responsible breeding practices (appropriate frequency, retirement planning—details in contract)
- ✅ Approved breeding partner if both breeding dogs are not bought from Prancing Pony Farm
Why These Prices Reflect Real Value
“Can’t I just buy a regular puppy and get breeding rights later?”
No. Here’s why:
Breeding candidates require different selection, evaluation, and investment from day one:
- We evaluate puppies for breeding potential at 8-12 weeks
- Selected puppies stay with us for additional weeks, months, or years
- We invest in health testing and extended professional training
- We absorb the financial risk if the testing doesn’t meet expectations
- Regular puppies go home at 12-14 weeks on Limited Registration
These are fundamentally different paths from the start. Breeding candidates and regular puppies are not the same product at different price points. They’re completely different commitments.
“Why can’t I test the dog myself and save money?”
You could—if you can find a breeder selling untested breeding prospects. But here’s what you’re actually “saving”:
❌ $500-1,000 in testing costs → that you’ll pay yourself
❌ 2 years of uncertainty → waiting to see if your investment was worth it
❌ Emotional attachment → to a dog that might fail testing
❌ Time and opportunity → wasted if testing reveals problems
❌ Breeding program delays → if you have to start over
Our approach costs more upfront because it protects everyone:
- ✅ You know immediately you have excellent hips
- ✅ No heartbreak from failed testing after years of waiting
- ✅ No wasted time or money on unsuitable dogs
- ✅ You’re choosing from dogs good enough for us to keep
- ✅ Our reputation ensures we only sell quality breeding stock
“Other breeders sell breeding puppies for $3,500-4,000.”
Yes, and they’re selling you hope and uncertainty.
They’re hoping:
- The puppy will mature well
- Testing will come back excellent
- You’ll actually complete the testing
- The dog will develop proper temperament
- Everything will work out in 2 years
We’re selling you certainty backed by our investment and expertise. There’s a reason our prices are higher—because we’ve already done the work and absorbed the risk.
“I can’t afford $4,000-7,500 for a breeding dog.”
Then you’re not in a financial position to breed Maremmas responsibly. Breeding requires:
- $4,000-7,500 for quality breeding stock
- $1,000+ per litter in health testing, vet care, puppy raising
- $1000+ annually in health maintenance, feed, and care
- Emergency veterinary fund ($2,000-5,000)
- Marketing, website, screening costs
- Time investment worth thousands of dollars
If the initial investment in quality breeding stock seems prohibitive, the ongoing costs of responsible breeding will be overwhelming. We’re actually protecting you from financial problems by being transparent about real costs upfront.
At-a-Glance Comparison
| What You’re Buying | Testing Completed by Us | You Complete | Investment | Wait to Breed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Puppy (no breeding rights) | None | N/A – No breeding allowed | $3,500 | Never |
| Tier 1: Young Prospect | PennHip hips only | OFA hips & elbows at 2 yrs | $4,000-4,500 | 18-22 months |
| Tier 2: Proven Prospect | PennHip hips only | OFA hips & elbows at 2 yrs | $5,000-5,500 | 1-17 months |
| Tier 3: Certified Adult | COMPLETE (OFA & PennHip done) | Nothing – ready now | $6,500-7,500 | 0 months |
Protecting the Breed, Ensuring Success, Supporting Working Dogs
Protecting the Breed
Maremma Sheepdogs maintain their working integrity because they haven’t been overbred for the pet market. Our standards help preserve their livestock guardian instincts and working ability. Although our experience shows that Maremmas can thrive as companions and we occasionally sell puppies to pet homes, we breed primarily for working homes and socialize our puppies accordingly.
We will not sell breeding candidates to anyone who wants to breed primarily for the pet market. There are other breeders who focus on that market—seek them out instead.
Ensuring Success
The data is clear: experienced LGD owners with proper education succeed. New owners without education consistently create problems that proper training would have prevented. Even when these owners mean well, the poor outcome is the same—failed placements, returned dogs, and damage to the breed’s reputation.
Supporting Livestock Protection
Every well-bred, properly socialized Maremma strengthens the livestock protection community. Every poorly bred or inadequately trained dog undermines confidence in LGDs and contributes to the 30% failure rate of working guardian dogs.
Every breeding candidate we place either strengthens or weakens the breed. That’s why we’re extremely selective about who we work with.
Essential Education for Serious Breeders
Breeding Livestock Guardian Dogs requires the same dedication you’d expect from any professional endeavor. Education isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of responsible breeding.
Required Before Puppy Pickup:
✅ Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations – Mandatory
Learn modern training science, positive reinforcement methodology, and essential puppy development principles.
✅ Puppy Culture Program – Essential puppy development knowledge
Understand critical socialization periods, stress resilience building, and optimal puppy raising protocols.
Investment in education isn’t an expense—it’s the foundation of responsible breeding. If you’re willing to invest $4,000-7,500 in a breeding dog but unwilling to invest $300-700 in education, your priorities need reassessment.
Advanced Learning (Highly Recommended):
While not required, serious breeders continue education through:
- From Newborn to New Home (advanced puppy development)
- Suzanne Clothier’s Enriched Puppy Protocol
- Karen Pryor Academy’s Puppy Start Right
- Canine Neonatology and Reproduction (comprehensive breeding science)
The best breeders never stop learning. If you’re committed to breed improvement, you’re committed to ongoing education.
FAQs About Our Breeding Candidate Program
Q: Why did you change your breeding candidate program?
A: After nearly a decade of breeding, we learned the old approach (selling untested puppies, buyers “earn” breeding rights) created too many problems:
- Buyers invested emotionally and financially for 2 years, then got disappointing test results if their test results aren’t breeding quality
- People didn’t follow through on testing and education requirements
- Some dogs ended up in unauthorized breeding programs
- The uncertainty hurt both buyers and dogs
By testing first, we protect everyone and set serious breeders up for success.
Q: Can I buy a regular 12-14 week puppy with breeding rights?
A: No. We no longer sell untested breeding candidates under any circumstances. This policy protects you from wasting years on a dog that might fail testing, and protects the breed from dogs entering breeding programs without proper health clearances.
Q: Why can’t I upgrade my regular puppy to breeding rights later?
A: Because breeding candidates and regular puppies follow different paths from day one:
- Breeding prospects are selected at 8-12 weeks based on specific criteria
- They receive extended evaluation, testing, and raising
- Regular puppies go home at 12-14 weeks on Limited Registration
Breeding rights must be part of the original contract. If breeding isn’t in your plan at purchase, your puppy goes home on Limited Registration and is not eligible for upgrade later—ever.
Q: What happens if there’s an accidental litter on Limited Registration?
A: That violates your contract. The dog becomes permanently ineligible for breeding rights upgrade, and puppies cannot be registered with MSCA. We enforce these standards because breeding is a serious responsibility, not an accident.
Q: I’ve owned dogs for years, just not Maremmas or any LGD breed. Can you waive the experience requirement?
A: No. Marremas and other LGDs are unique. Experience with other breeds doesn’t transfer directly. The 3-year Maremma (or approved LGD) ownership requirement ensures you understand this specific breed’s needs, development, and training requirements.
Q: I don’t want to join MSCA or complete those courses. Can you make an exception?
A: No. If you’re not willing to invest in education and breed organization membership, you’re not serious about breeding improvement. These are the bare minimum requirements for responsible breeding.
Q: Your prices seem high compared to other breeders selling breeding stock.
A: Other breeders are selling you hope and uncertainty. We’re selling you proven quality backed by testing and expertise. Our prices reflect:
- $500-1,500+ in health testing already completed
- Months or years of professional raising and evaluation
- Eliminated risk—you know immediately what you’re getting
- Our reputation and commitment to breed improvement
Cheap breeding stock is expensive in the long run. Ask yourself why those other breeders charge so little—what aren’t they doing?
Q: What if I want to breed only pet-quality puppies, not working livestock guardian dogs?
A: Then we’re not the right breeder for you. We breed working Maremmas and raise them accordingly. While our dogs can and do thrive as companions, we select breeding stock for working ability first. If your primary market is pets, seek a breeder who shares that focus.
Q: Do you offer payment plans for breeding candidates?
A: No. If you need a payment plan for the initial dog purchase, carefully consider whether you have adequate financial reserves for:
- Emergency veterinary care ($2,000-5,000 minimum)
- Breeding and litter costs ($2,000+ per litter)
- Ongoing care, feed, and maintenance ($1000+ annually per dog)
Responsible breeding requires substantial financial resources beyond the initial breeding stock investment.
Q: I’m not ready to breed yet, but I want to get on your waiting list. Should I buy a regular puppy or wait for a breeding candidate?
A: Start with a regular puppy. Gain the required 3 years of Maremma experience, complete the educational requirements, and establish your program and reputation. Then, approach us about adding breeding stock when you’re truly ready.
This path ensures you’re prepared, educated, and experienced before taking on the serious responsibility of breeding.
Q: How often do you have breeding candidates available?
A: Irregularly and unpredictably. We don’t breed frequently—typically 2-4 litters per year maximum. Breeding candidates become available when we test multiple puppies and keep only one, or when a mature dog doesn’t fit our specific breeding direction.
We maintain a priority list of pre-qualified serious breeders and contact them first when dogs become available.
Q: Will my breeding candidate puppy go home with Full Registration?
No. All puppies go home on limited registration initially, even breeding candidates. Once all the terms of the breeding contract have been met, the registration status will be changed to Full, so that the dog may be bred and litters registered.
Q: Why do puppies go home on Limited Registration?
To protect the breed and make sure only dogs that meet strict health, temperament, and working standards are bred.
Q: What happens if there’s an accidental litter on Limited Registration?
That violates the contract; the dog becomes ineligible for upgrade to Full Registration, and the puppies cannot be registered.
Q: Can I breed my dogs and have you sell the puppies?
No, I don’t sell puppies I didn’t raise myself, or broker referrals to other breeders.
Why not?
When you buy from Prancing Pony Farm, you’re not just buying a puppy—you’re buying my guarantee, my reputation, and my lifetime support. I can only stand behind puppies I’ve raised myself from birth through 12 weeks using my specific protocols during that critical socialization window.
I’ve learned (the hard way, with goats years ago) that putting my name behind someone else’s work—even with the best intentions—puts my reputation at risk for things outside my control.
Next Steps for Serious Breeders
Breeding exceptional Livestock Guardian Dogs isn’t for everyone—and that’s exactly the point.
It requires:
- ✅ Substantial financial investment (thousands annually)
- ✅ Years of dedication to education and breed improvement
- ✅ Unwavering commitment to ethical practices
- ✅ Deep respect for the Maremma breed and its working heritage
- ✅ Willingness to prioritize breed improvement over profit
If you’re ready for that level of commitment, we’d be honored to work with you.
If We Have Breeding Candidates Available:
- Review available dogs (listed below or information sent on request)
- Contact us with specific questions about dogs and your program
- Complete our screening process (we evaluate all breeding homes carefully)
- If approved, reserve your breeding candidate with a $1000 reservation fee. (We require a higher reservation fee for breeding candidates than for our non-breeding dogs. Full payment required for dogs 12 weeks and up.)
If No Dogs Currently Available:
- Contact us to discuss your breeding goals and timeline
- Complete screening process to pre-qualify for the priority list
- If approved, reserve your future breeding candidate with a $1000 reservation fee. (We require a higher reservation fee for breeding candidates than our usual $500 fee.)
- We’ll contact you first when suitable candidates become available
Not Ready Yet?
We recommend starting with a pair of non-breeding Maremmas first. Gain the required 3 years of experience, complete educational requirements, and establish your program. Then return when you’re prepared to add breeding stock to your established operation.
