Last Updated on April 10, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
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 the beginning changes everything.
I’ve been breeding Maremma Sheepdogs since 2016. In that time, I’ve learned a lot — about the dogs, about the breed, about what it takes to raise livestock guardian dogs well. But some of the most important things I’ve learned have come from watching what happens after the puppies go home.
I always recommend specific courses and books to every client. I send emails full of resources. I answer questions at all hours. I’ve built entire email sequences, blog posts, and educational programs specifically to help my puppy families succeed. I pour an enormous amount of time and energy into preparing people before their dog ever arrives.
And still — sometimes it’s not enough.
Not because the dogs aren’t good. Not because the families don’t care. Because caring about your dog and having the tools to understand your dog are two very different things. And without the right tools, even the most well-intentioned owner can find themselves frustrated, confused, and wondering what went wrong — while their dog wonders the same thing.
I’ve watched this happen more than once. A family gets a puppy, they’re excited and committed, life gets busy, the dog hits adolescence and gets harder, and suddenly everything feels like it’s falling apart. They didn’t fail because they didn’t love their dog. They struggled because they never learned to truly understand their dog — as an individual, with specific needs, in a specific environment, with a specific family dynamic.
That’s been sitting with me for a while. And recently it came into sharp focus in a way I couldn’t ignore.
Without going into details — because it’s not my story to tell — I found myself in a conversation with a client who was struggling with one of my adolescent dogs. He’s a wonderful young dog who received an excellent start from me. His family loves him, but they just don’t understand who he is as a unique individual. Especially since he’s very different from his “easy” sister. (Even dogs get compared to their siblings.)
He’s just a lot “more” dog than his easy-going, well-mannered sibling. Not a “bad” dog, he just has different strengths and (yes) challenges. And a LOT of energy. The adolescent period can be challenging, and some dogs simply struggle more than others – especially those rowdy boys! The thing is, dogs want to communicate with their humans, but they don’t speak our language. Understanding changes everything.
As I listened, I kept thinking: every single thing she’s describing is addressed in the DIAL Method®. If she had gone through that program when her dog came home, this conversation might look completely different.
And then I thought: I recommended it specifically to her. I promoted it. I made it available. But I didn’t just give it to her. I thought if she wanted it, she would buy it. It’s only $50, after all. But she didn’t.
I’m not sure if it was the cost holding her back, if she felt she didn’t have time to watch three 15-minute videos (about the length of time many people spend scrolling TikTok or YouTube), or if she simply didn’t understand the incredible value of the program.
But that conversation was the moment I made my decision.
Starting now, every Prancing Pony Farm puppy reservation includes complimentary access to the DIAL Method® program — plus a LGD training consultation with me to help you apply it.
That’s a $150 value, included with every reservation. Not as a bonus. Not a limited-time offer. Just part of what I believe every dog and every owner deserves from the very beginning.
What is the DIAL Method®?
The DIAL Method® is a science-based program created by The Family Dog. It’s not a dog training course — it’s something I think is actually more valuable. It’s the step you need to take before you train your dog. It teaches you four human skills that directly impact your dog’s behavior:
See Your Dog — understand your dog as a thinking, feeling individual, not just a breed or a behavior problem
Parent Your Dog — be their guide, set kind boundaries, give them the space to just be a dog
Teach Your Crew — get everyone in your household or farm (kids, spouses, partners, employees) on the same page, because consistency is everything
Create a Plan — build clear, repeatable patterns so your dog knows what to expect in a busy life, on a busy farm, or in an active home with kids, sports, and all the extracurricular activities of modern life
The whole program is four short cartoon-style video modules — less than 40 minutes total — plus an interactive digital workbook you’ll come back to again and again. And it works for all your dogs, not just your Maremma. If you have other breeds on your farm or in your home, the DIAL framework helps you understand each one as an individual.
I’m not just recommending this program. I’m a certified Dial Guide — which means I’ve been trained and licensed to help you work through it and apply it to your specific situation and your unique dog. No other Maremma breeder offers this. I paid to get that certification specifically so I could offer this level of support to my families.
When you reserve a Prancing Pony Maremma, you’ll receive a separate email from me within a day or two of your reservation being confirmed. That email will walk you through how to claim your access. I ask that you reply to confirm you want it and let me know which version fits your home — there’s one designed for families with children and a standard version for adults.
Please don’t wait until your puppy comes home to start it. The whole point is to be ready before they arrive.
What about past clients?
If you’ve already brought home a Prancing Pony Maremma and you don’t yet have access to the DIAL Method® — this offer is for you too.
I’ve always given my clients concrete resources, specific recommendations, and ongoing support — that hasn’t changed, and it won’t. But I’ve learned that even when everything is in place, people are more likely to actually use something when it’s already in their hands. So now I’m making sure it is.
If you want the course, just reach out to me directly — by email, text, or however you normally get in touch. Tell me you want it and which version is right for your household, and I’ll get your access sent over. No cost, no catch.
I’m extending this to past clients because the dogs deserve it. They deserve to be seen and understood. If there’s something I can do right now to give your dog a better chance at thriving in your home and make your job easier, I want to do it. No strings, no cost, no catch.
If you’ve already purchased the DIAL Method® — whether through me or directly through The Family Dog — you already have access, and nothing changes for you. I hope you’ve found it as valuable as I do.
👉 If you’re planning to bring home a livestock guardian dog, this is exactly the kind of support that makes the difference between struggling and succeeding.
The age of the dog you start with matters more than most people think. Take our free 2-minute quiz for a personalized recommendation based on your experience, timeline, and situation.
Why I’m telling you all of this
I could have just quietly started including the course with reservations and not made a big announcement about it. But that’s not really how I operate.
I want you to know this is intentional. I want you to understand why I made this decision. And I want you to actually use it — because a program sitting unopened helps nobody, least of all your dog.
When humans know better, dogs do better. That’s not just a tagline on a pretty poster. It’s the reason I got certified as a Dial Guide. It’s the reason I became a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner and a Licensed Family Dog Mediator. It’s the reason I spend as much time as I do supporting my families long after the puppies go home.
Your dog is counting on you to show up for them. This program is one of the best ways I know to help you do exactly that.
If you have questions about the DIAL Method® or want to know more before you dive in, reach out directly or book a free Maremma Discovery Call with me — that’s exactly what it’s there for.
