Jun 19, 2025 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, 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 12, 2025 | Bringing Home Your LGD, Client Stories & Testimonials, Dog Health & Wellness, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Starting With LGDs |
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 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, 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, *Top Posts, All About Maremmas, Available Maremmas, Bringing Home Your LGD, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Care & Training, Starting With LGDs |
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 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...
May 1, 2025 | Bringing Home Your LGD, Client Stories & Testimonials, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Starting With LGDs |
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 | All About Maremmas, Available Maremmas, Bringing Home Your LGD, Client Stories & Testimonials, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Starting With LGDs |
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 | Available Maremmas, Bringing Home Your LGD, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Starting With LGDs |
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 | 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, Maremma Breeding Program |
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, Maremma Breeding Program |
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, Maremma Breeding Program |
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, Maremma Breeding Program |
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, Available Maremmas, Bringing Home Your LGD, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Starting With LGDs |
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 Maremmas, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program |
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, Maremma Breeding Program |
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 6, 2025 | All About Maremmas, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, 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 6, 2025 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, 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 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, 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...
Jan 18, 2025 | *How Many LGDS, *Top Posts, Bringing Home Your LGD, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Starting With LGDs |
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 | Livestock Guardian Dogs |
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 9, 2025 | Client Stories & Testimonials, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Starting With LGDs |
Prancing Pony Maremmas We Make Livestock Guardian Dog and Dairy Goat Ownership Joyful and Stress-free ABOUT US WHY US? OUR PUPPY PROCESS AVAILABLE PUPS BLOG Hi Reader, When I wake up each day, one of the first things I do is check my phone to see if I missed any...
Jan 2, 2025 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, 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 Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program |
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 & Testimonials, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
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 & Wellness, 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 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 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 24, 2024 | Client Stories & Testimonials, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hello Reader, Wow, it’s hard to believe it’s almost November! Soon, it will be Christmas! Where has 2024 gone?! It’s also hard to believe that the Maremma puppies who were born in...
Oct 23, 2024 | Livestock Guardian Dogs |
Last Updated on October 25, 2025 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM Hello, and welcome to my brand-new website and blog! For those who don’t know me, my name is Kim Crawmer, and I am a breeder and trainer of MSCA-registered Maremma Sheepdogs. I also breed Mini Nubian...
Sep 12, 2024 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, If you’re anything like me, you probably have a soft spot in your heart for your “naughty” animals. You know, the ones who are sweethearts deep down but have an...
Sep 5, 2024 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, 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. Mine is good now, but wow, did it ever start out bad! I have had Maremmas on this farm for nine years, and though a few of my Maremmas are escape artists...
Aug 29, 2024 | Available Maremmas, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Starting With LGDs |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I hope you’re having a great week. We have had a few nicer (cool) days lately so I think it’s safe to say it will be fall soon! I can’t wait. Having a farm and breeding...
Aug 15, 2024 | All About Maremmas, Companion Maremmas, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, Last week, I received an email from a subscriber named Renee asking if Maremmas make good companion dogs. I am very passionate about this topic and have been meaning to write about it for...
Aug 8, 2024 | Grooming Dogs, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Puppy Care & Training |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I had grand plans to write an awesome blog post for you this week. A few days ago, someone emailed to ask if Maremmas can be kept as pets. She said there was a lot of conflicting...
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...
Nov 30, 2023 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hello Reader, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. It’s crazy to think it’s almost December, and the Christmas countdown is already on! 🎄 I love the holidays, but not the busyness that...
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... 
