Oct 2, 2025 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Socialization Series, Training LGDs to Livestock |
The critical weeks when puppies learn the “language” of livestock – and why choosing the right teachers matters more than you think. At 5 weeks old, our current litter has reached one of the most exciting milestones in livestock guardian development:...
Sep 25, 2025 | Dog Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Socialization Series |
Why Puppy Socialization Matters for LGDs There’s a critical difference between dogs that work confidently with their families and those that become fearful liabilities. One of the most damaging myths in the livestock guardian dog (LGD) world is that puppy...
Sep 18, 2025 | Dog Health, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Care, Puppy Socialization Series |
Most breeders focus on genetics. We’ve engineered an entire system that turns great genetics into exceptional livestock guardian dogs. When livestock owners ask me what makes Prancing Pony Farm puppies different, they expect me to talk about bloodlines, health...
Sep 11, 2025 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Socialization Series |
In just 84 days, blind, helpless newborns transform into confident young livestock guardian dogs. Here’s the week-by-week science behind this incredible metamorphosis. If you’ve ever wondered how a 2-ounce newborn Maremma Sheepdog puppy becomes a 100-pound...
Sep 8, 2025 | *Puppy Vaccination, Dog Health, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Care |
As a livestock owner, you understand the devastating impact of losing animals you’ve invested your heart, time, and resources into. When it comes to protecting your new Maremma Sheepdog puppy—your future livestock guardian—making informed decisions about...
Sep 4, 2025 | Dog Behavior, Dog Training, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Socialization Series, Training LGDs to Livestock |
The difference between a reliable livestock guardian dog and a costly mistake happens in just 84 days. When livestock owners invest in a livestock guardian dog, they’re not just buying a puppy—they’re investing in peace of mind. The ability to sleep...
Aug 5, 2025 | Book Reviews, Dog Grooming, Dog Health, Dog Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Product Reviews, Puppy Care |
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...
Aug 2, 2025 | Dog Grooming, Dog Health, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Product Reviews, Puppy Care |
When I first started breeding Maremma Sheepdogs years ago, I quickly realized that new livestock guardian dog owners faced a unique challenge: how do you properly groom a 100+ pound working dog with a thick double coat who’s designed to be independent and...
Jul 31, 2025 | *One Thing, Dog Behavior, Dog Health, Dog Safety, Dog Training, Family Dog Mediation, Karen Pryor Academy, LEGS Applied Ethology, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
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,...
Jul 10, 2025 | *Pet Insurance, Dog Health, Dog Safety, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Maremma Breeding 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 | *Smart Planning, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Maremma Breeding 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 19, 2025 | Announcements, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Puppy Care |
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 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
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 5, 2025 | *Ethical Breeding, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Maremma Breeding Program |
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 4, 2025 | Announcements, Dog Training, Family Dog Mediation, Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Success Stories |
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 | Aggression in Dogs, Client Stories, Dog Behavior, Dog Safety, Dog Training, 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...
Apr 24, 2025 | Client Stories, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Maremma Breeding Program, Success Stories, Training LGDs to Livestock |
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 14, 2025 | Dog Behavior, Dog Safety, Dog 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 Maremma Sheepdogs, 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 Maremma Sheepdogs, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
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 Maremma Sheepdogs, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
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 Maremma Sheepdogs, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
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 | *Planning Ahead, 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...
Mar 28, 2025 | Available Maremma Sheepdogs, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
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 | Announcements, Available Maremma Sheepdogs, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
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 | Livestock Guardian Dogs |
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...
Feb 6, 2025 | Announcements, Dog Training, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
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 | Announcements, Dog Behavior, Dog Training, Family Dog Mediation, LEGS Applied Ethology, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Product Reviews, Videos |
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 | Dog Behavior, Dog Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, 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 | Dog Grooming, Dog Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, 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 | Announcements, Dog Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
As a dedicated Maremma Sheepdog breeder and positive reinforcement trainer specializing in livestock guardian dogs (LGDs), I’ve always believed in the power of community. Today, I’m thrilled to announce a program that will strengthen our connections while...
Jan 2, 2025 | Announcements, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
It's a New Year It’s hard to believe that 2025 is finally here. Where did the time go? Looking Back at 2024 Electra had three lovely pups in February. Lucy is now guarding chickens in Massachusetts and Levi and Jocelyn are guarding goats in Texas. Completion...
Dec 12, 2024 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Invest in Your Education as a Breeder and Trainer It’s no secret that I am an avid reader and researcher, with one of my favorite topics being dog training and behavior. To be your best at anything, you should always seek to improve yourself through education. ...
Dec 5, 2024 | Client Stories, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding |
Meet Oliver, the excellent chicken guardian. Oliver is a dog from our first Maremma litter, born in 2017. When Oliver’s owners came to me for an LGD, they had never bought a dog from a breeder because they strongly believed in rescuing dogs. However, they needed...
Nov 26, 2024 | Dog Health, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Product Reviews |
🦃🐾 Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Livestock Guardian Dogs 🐾🦃 Thanksgiving is a season of joy, gratitude, and indulgent feasting. It’s a time when we gather with family and friends to celebrate the abundance of life. But while you’re enjoying pumpkin pie and...
Nov 22, 2024 | *Puppy Parasite Control, Dog Health, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Care |
Why Parasite Prevention Is Critical for Your Livestock Guardian Dog Puppy As a livestock owner investing in a livestock guardian dog, you understand that losing animals to predators is devastating. But what many people don’t realize is that parasites pose an...
Nov 20, 2024 | Dog Behavior, Dog Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Product Reviews |
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, Dog Behavior, Dog Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, 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 | Dog Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Top Posts |
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 young...
