Apr 9, 2026 | *Top Posts, Bringing Home Your LGD, Family Dog Mediation, LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Starting With LGDs |
What’s New (Quick Answer) After years of working with LGD puppies and their owners, I’ve made an important change: ✔ Every Prancing Pony puppy now includes the DIAL Method® ($150 value) ✔ Plus a personal training consultation with me Because the right support at...
Jan 15, 2026 | Bringing Home Your LGD, Client Stories & Testimonials, LGD Training & Behavior, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Starting With LGDs |
Hi Reader, I have something special for you this week—a guest post from Sarah, the wonderful human who took Caia (one of my Maremma puppies) all the way to Hawaii to live with her and her husband, Casey. Sarah is a first-time dog owner who did what many of us do:...
Jan 15, 2026 | *Caia, Client Stories & Testimonials, Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Product Reviews, Starting With LGDs |
Today I’m thrilled to share a guest post from Sarah, one of my incredible puppy clients. Sarah is originally from France and brought her Maremma Sheepdog puppy, Caia, home from Prancing Pony Farm to live an adventurous life in Hawaii. As a first-time dog owner...
Jan 8, 2026 | LGD Training & Behavior |
Hi Reader, Quick heads up: Karen Pryor Academy’s January sale just started, and I don’t want you to miss it. This is one of only TWO times per year (January and September) that KPA offers 20% off everything – courses, training gear, books, all of...
Jan 8, 2026 | Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Product Reviews |
It’s that time of year again – Karen Pryor Academy’s annual January sale is happening right now, and I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss it. This is one of only TWO times per year (January and September) that KPA offers 20% off their entire...
Oct 23, 2025 | Bringing Home Your LGD, LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Care & Training, Puppy Socialization Series, Starting With LGDs |
The overlooked element of LGD development that determines whether your dog can safely coexist with farm families. Last week, I received a photo that perfectly illustrated why child socialization isn’t optional for livestock guardian dogs—it’s essential....
Aug 5, 2025 | Book Reviews, Dog Health & Wellness, Grooming Dogs, LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Product Reviews |
A Game-Changer for Dog Grooming and Care As someone who began grooming dogs at age 14 and has spent decades working with animals, I can honestly say that Terrie Hayward, Jay Andors, and Anne Francis’s “Grooming Without Stress” represents a...
Jul 31, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Bringing Home Your LGD, Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training & Behavior, Product Reviews, Starting With LGDs |
Hi Reader, The journey to success with a Livestock Guardian Dog begins with selecting a well-bred, properly socialized puppy from an ethical breeder – that’s step one, and it’s absolutely crucial. But over years of breeding and training Maremmas,...
Jul 31, 2025 | *One Thing, Bringing Home Your LGD, Family Dog Mediation, Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training & Behavior, Product Reviews, Puppy Care & Training, Starting With LGDs |
As a Maremma Sheepdog breeder and trainer with years of experience, I’ve noticed a pattern among Livestock Guardian Dog owners. There’s a crucial step that separates those who struggle with their dogs from those who truly thrive – and surprisingly,...
May 29, 2025 | LGD Training & Behavior, Maremma Breeding Program, 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 4, 2025 | Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training & Behavior, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
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 | LGD Training & Behavior, 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...
Apr 14, 2025 | LGD Training & Behavior, 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...
Jan 23, 2025 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, *Top Posts, Family Dog Mediation, LGD Training & Behavior |
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 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, *Top Posts, Book Reviews, Bringing Home Your LGD, Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training & Behavior, Starting With LGDs |
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...
Nov 21, 2024 | LGD Training & Behavior, 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. It’s crazy to think it’s almost Thanksgiving! Christmas will be here before you know it! Question: are you one of those people who...
Nov 20, 2024 | LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
This post was inspired by a question asked by a member of my Living and Working With Maremma Sheepdogs Facebook group. This was her question. My reply is below! Question “Hello! I’m new to the group and looking for all the info I can on breed-specific...
Nov 7, 2024 | Book Reviews, LGD Training & Behavior, Product Reviews |
What are calming signals in livestock guardian dogs? Understanding calming signals in livestock guardian dogs is essential for anyone who owns these remarkable animals. These dogs are not just protectors of livestock and beloved companions; they are also complex...
Nov 6, 2024 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, *Top Posts, Bringing Home Your LGD, LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Integration, Starting With LGDs |
Ensuring harmony between livestock and Livestock Guardian Dogs is essential for the safety and well-being of all animals involved, and the peace of mind of their owners. In this post I will walk you through a crucial aspect of farm life – safely acclimating...
Oct 31, 2024 | LGD Training & Behavior, Product Reviews, Puppy Care & Training |
Are you wondering how to keep your Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) puppy happy and active? LGD breeds like Maremma Sheepdogs, Great Pyrenees, and Anatolian Shepherds need appropriate play outlets to prevent boredom, which can lead to rowdy behavior around livestock and...
Oct 10, 2024 | LGD Training & Behavior, Puppy Care & Training |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hello Reader, I hope you’re having a good week. First up, I have exciting news to share. I have a new WordPress website just for the Maremmas and dog training! I have wanted to build this for...
Aug 1, 2024 | LGD Training & Behavior, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, Guess what I have been doing all night? Writing the first in a new series of blog posts inspired by my readers! Why have I been at this all night, you ask? See, I have two problems. I am a...
Jul 25, 2024 | LGD Training & Behavior, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Starting With LGDs |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hello Reader, I hope you’re having a great week. It’s been a busy week for me, so I am just dropping in to say a quick “hello” and share a new page I made on my website with...
Jul 9, 2024 | LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Starting With LGDs |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hello Reader, I hope you had an awesome Fourth of July! Mine was great, other than a scare when my husband texted me while I was at the fireworks show to say he thought he saw one of my Maremmas run...
Jul 2, 2024 | Bringing Home Your LGD, LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Starting With LGDs |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hello Reader, I am sooooo excited about what I have to share with you this week! Probably the number one question I get from EVERYONE – my Maremma puppy clients, my email list, my social media...
Jun 6, 2024 | Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training & Behavior, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hello Reader, I hope you’re having a great summer! The last couple of months have been so busy! In April, Luna (my Boxer and training partner) and I spent a week in Corona, California, at the...
Feb 8, 2024 | Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training & Behavior, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hello Reader, Can you believe it’s February already?! I can’t. Time is just flying by! So fast, in fact, that I have found myself on the homestretch of the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer...
Nov 9, 2023 | Bringing Home Your LGD, LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hello Reader, How is your week going? Mine is going great! I am in the second unit of the Karen Pryor Professional Program and learning so much. I am so glad I made the leap and enrolled in this...
Oct 13, 2023 | Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training & Behavior, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Starting With LGDs |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hello Reader, How is your week going? Mine is busy but great! After a few months of anticipation, I finally started the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional program this week! If you...
Oct 5, 2023 | Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training & Behavior, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hello Reader, How’s it going? Life on the farm has been busy but great. Fall is finally here – yay! Of course, fall on a dairy goat farm means stinky bucks in rut, but oh well,... 
