Last Updated on October 27, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
Gianna: Brave Retired Maremma for a Quiet Chicken or Duck Farm
My first registered female, now 8, and still one of the toughest dogs on my farm.
Gianna brought imported champion bloodlines to my farm. Some of my best working dogs are her puppies and grandpuppies, and three of her daughters are in my breeding program today. Now she's retired from breeding and looking for a quiet place with chickens or ducks to guard and a friendly male dog to work beside.
Gianna at a Glance
| Registered name | Sky Island's Gianna |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female, spayed |
| Born | October 1, 2018 (8 years old) |
| Registration | MSCA Registered |
| Parents | Evo (Italian champion) × Silessia's Ballsey (Finnish champion) |
| Health testing | PennHIP R 0.32 / L 0.32 · OFA Hips: Good · OFA Elbows: Normal (see her reports) |
| Status | Retired breeding female · Special Placement (age) |
| Placement fee | $2,000 alone or $1,500 when she goes home with another Prancing Pony dog or puppy |
| Location | Lemoore, California. Pickup or shipping available. |
Where Gianna Came From
I'd been breeding Maremmas for several years when Gianna joined my farm. She was my first registered dog. She was imported in utero and came from an Italian champion sire and an imported Finnish champion dam. She has excellent hips, as shown by PennHIP testing. She added those bloodlines and that health testing to a program already built on proven working dogs.
Gianna came to me at 4 months old, so her early puppyhood happened before she arrived here. She's lived on my farm ever since.
Her daughters Parma, Aurae and Lia are in my breeding program today, and her puppies include some of the best working dogs I've placed.
What to Know Before You Apply
She's a fierce predator fighter. Even at 8, Gianna is one of the toughest dogs on my farm. If a predator comes onto the property, she's one of the dogs I'd count on to deal with it. She won't let anything in and never backs down from a fight.
Noise and commotion set her off. Gianna reacts strongly to sudden sound and movement. When goats get loud and start running around, especially at feeding time, she sometimes gets worked up and chases them. Most days she's fine with them. But she's easily triggered by a busy, noisy environment, which is why she's best suited to quiet livestock.
No cats, no horses, and no other female dogs. These are firm. Please don't apply if you have any of the three.
She's 8. She's healthy and active, and she'll benefit from regular senior vet checkups and a softer bed as the years go on.
Gianna needs exactly the right home. If you're interested, apply, and we'll set up a call so I can tell you more about her and help you decide if she's a good fit.
Who Gianna Is Now
- Livestock: Best with chickens and ducks. She lives with both here. She ignores them, and she still protects them, because nothing gets onto her property.
- Other livestock: Calm, quiet goats or sheep might work in the right setup, which we'd talk through first. Geese are probably too loud for her sound-sensitive ears. I haven't tested her with cattle, but I don't expect her to do well with them since she has severe phobias with horses.
- Predators: She's fierce, tough, and serious against predators. One of my most reliable deterrents.
- People: Gentle, a little shy, and never aggressive with people.
- Other dogs: Good with all males. Not with other females.
- Young dogs: Fine with one or two male adolescents or older pups (5 months or older). Not with a group of rowdy or very young puppies.
The Right Home for Gianna
Gianna will thrive with:
- A quiet homestead with chickens, ducks, or both
- Possibly a few quiet goats or sheep
- Predators to keep off the property
- A friendly male dog to work with, or a home ready to add one
- Someone who values a tough, settled older livestock guardian dog
Gianna is not the right dog for:
- Homes with cats
- Homes with horses (or likely cattle)
- Homes with another female dog of any breed
- Busy, noisy properties or loud, flighty livestock
Pairing Options for Gianna
- A calm adult male
- One or two male adolescents or older puppies
Going home together. Adult dogs settle into a new home faster with a partner they know, so I’d love to see Gianna go home with another of my dogs. When she goes home with another Prancing Pony dog, adolescent or puppy, her placement fee is $1,500. Otherwise, her placement fee is $ 2,000.
See who's available on:
The Placement Fee Is Different. The Support Isn't.
Gianna's fee reflects her age, not her value. She comes with everything every Prancing Pony Maremma gets:
- Lifetime one-on-one support from me
- The Maremmas Made Easy membership
- A transition plan for her move
- Complete health and veterinary records
- Our Lifetime No-Fault Return Policy
I'm a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, a Licensed Family Dog Mediator and an MSCA Code of Ethics breeder, with more than 200 Maremmas placed in working and companion homes.
Before you apply, read what to expect when you bring home an adult Maremma.
"If you are looking to get a Maremma I would challenge you to call Kim and talk to her and you will find a person who truly loves these dogs. She has made this her life and if you spend a couple minutes with her on the phone you will find out exactly what I’m talking about. She is constantly trying to improve her training and her dogs so that she has the best LGD’s that can be found. She is always there for the new owners that are just getting LGD’s for the first time. She has a lot of great resources she can steer you to when you tell her what your problems are that can help you get past your obstacles and I cannot thank her enough for that. We have chickens, cows, and grandkids and they all love these pups we bought from Kim. They are amazing animals around the chickens and the cows are now playing with the dogs (what an unbelievable site to see). When your making this kind of an investment and it is an investment if it’s what your gonna depend on to protect your other animals, you want to make sure you are getting a great dog and she has top of the line dogs. She takes care to make sure her dogs are all cared for and produce good healthy dogs you can depend on for many years. Not only are you going to find the best breeder to buy your LGD from but a great resource and most of all I guarantee you’ll find a new friend to help you with your new journey. Best of luck."
Dave from Google (Owner of Bear and Chief, two of Gianna's pups from 2023)
Bear & Chief - 2023 Gianna Pups
Gianna is the dam of two of the best pups we've ever bred. Bear and Chief are outstanding LGDs. They guard 300 chickens and a small herd of beef cattle on Dave and Susan's Texas ranch. Bear and Chief inherited their affinity for chickens from their mom and proved themselves completely trustworthy with all those birds at 10 months old.
Think Gianna Could Be Your Dog?
Tell me about your property, your poultry, and any dogs or other animals you have. If there are no cats, horses, or female dogs in the picture, and you think your place could be right for her, I'd love to talk.
