Last Updated on March 31, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
Your Journey to the Perfect Livestock Guardian Dog
Planning to add a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma to your farm and family? You’re in the right place. This page walks you through everything from your first contact with us to bringing your new livestock guardian dog home.
You’ll discover our simple 3-step process, understand what’s included with every dog, learn about investment and pricing, and see how we match you with the perfect Maremma for your specific family situation.
Whether you’re just exploring the possibility of adding a Prancing Pony Maremma to your life or ready to reserve your spot, you’ll find clear answers here—no pressure, no confusion, just transparency.
After You Apply: Reserve Your Puppy
Not Tied to a Specific Litter or Timeline Yet?
The Master Reservation List is designed exactly for you. Hold your chronological place in line for any dog from our program — puppy, adolescent, or adult — for $500 applied toward your purchase. No expiration, no commitment to a specific dog or date. Just your spot, secured, with direct access to Kim while you prepare.
Learn About the Master Reservation List →
Ready to see the full cost breakdown before you reserve?
How Much Does a Puppy Cost?
Investment in Your Family’s Peace of Mind
Our Maremma puppies start at $3,500 for 12-14-week-old pups. Older pups and adults are priced individually based on their age, training, and experience.
This investment reflects our commitment to ethical breeding, comprehensive health testing, professional training methods, and lifetime breeder and trainer support—everything you need for your family’s success with your livestock guardian dog.
We require a $500 non-refundable reservation fee to hold a spot on our waiting list for an upcoming litter or to reserve puppies that are not yet ready to go home. Final payment is due at 12 weeks of age. We require full payment to hold adult dogs or pups beyond 12 weeks. We do not offer multi-dog discounts.
*Occasionally, we have “adoptable” dogs and puppies available at a special rate due to special needs or circumstances. If you’re interested, let us know, and we’ll let you know what’s available.
How Does Selection Work?
We Match You With the Right Dog for YOUR Family
Every family is different—different animals, different kids, different property, different goals. We take time to understand your specific situation so we can match you with a Maremma who’ll thrive in your unique home and family.
Here’s how it works:
1. Fill out our Maremma Info Contact Form – this gets you into our system so we can send you information about our program and available dogs.
2. Complete our detailed puppy application – this gives us insight into your family, your animals, your property, and what you’re hoping a Maremma will add to your life.
3. Pay your reservation fee when ready – this secures your spot. Our Maremmas are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis based on when the reservation fee is paid. No Maremma can be held without a paid reservation.
4. We match you with your perfect dog – using your application, our conversations, and our observations of each puppy’s temperament, we’ll match you with the Maremma that fits your family best.
Puppies are ready to go home at 12 weeks of age, giving them the best foundation for success with your family.
“Can I choose my own puppy?”
Great question — and one we hear a lot. Here’s exactly how our matching process works →
Not sure what age dog to reserve? Take our free 2-minute quiz for a personalized recommendation before you apply. → Find Your Match
Ready to Reserve Your Spot?
Before paying your reservation fee, please make sure you’ve completed our Maremma application and had a chance to connect with me. Reservations are most successful when we’ve already talked through your farm setup, your livestock, and what you’re looking for — that conversation is what makes the matching process work.
If we’ve already connected and you’re ready to move forward, you can pay your reservation fee directly here:
Not quite there yet? Start with the application below and we’ll take it from there.
Didn’t See the Right Dog?
Older dog availability isn’t predictable — it happens when it happens, and it goes to whoever is already in line. For $500 applied toward your purchase, the Master Reservation List holds your place and starts our relationship now, while you’re still preparing.
Years in Business
Years Working Professionally With Dogs
Maremma Puppies Bred & Trained
Happy Families
What's Included With My Puppy?
Everything Your Family Needs for Success
When you welcome a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma into your family, you’re not just getting a dog—you’re getting comprehensive support designed to ensure your success from day one through your dog’s entire life.
Our goal is simple: to make your livestock guardian dog experience joyful and stress-free, not another source of worry. We’ve spent years perfecting our approach so your family can focus on enjoying your farm and family while your Maremma does what they do best—protect your beloved animals.
Here’s everything included with your Maremma:
Professional Puppy Training & Socialization Program
Our in-depth and comprehensive puppy socialization and training program takes advantage of the puppies’ critical socialization periods. Pups are socialized extensively with livestock and introduced to various people and experiences. Our unique program prepares our puppies for life as LGDs, companion dogs or both.
MSCA or UKC Registration
Pups come with registration with the Maremma Sheepdog Club of America and/or the United Kennel Club. We will register the puppy for you once you decide on a permanent name, then we will send the registration form to you via email for you to print out. We will also supply medical records for your Maremma
Puppy Contract
Our contract outlines what we will do for you as your breeder and our expectations of you as the owner of your puppy
24-Month Genetic Health Guarantee
Our 24-month genetic health guarantee protects you and your pup in the event of health issues arising. We will either replace your dog or assist you if a genetic health issue is identified.
Microchipping
Prepaid microchip registered to you with lifetime enrollment in the Petlink pet recovery system. As guardian on the account, if your dog is lost and you can’t be located, we can help get them back home.
Vaccinations
Pups are on an age-appropriate vaccine schedule, starting at six weeks. Rabies vaccine not included.
Parasite Prevention
Pups are on a regular parasite prevention program starting at 2 weeks old.
Trupanion Health Insurance
Pups come with a breeder code for 30 days of free health insurance through Trupanion.
Lifetime Breeder Support
We are ALWAYS available for any questions or concerns you have about your dog. You can reach us by phone, text, or email. If at any time you can no longer keep your dog we will take them back.
Lifetime Professional Training Support
As a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, I offer free professional training support and services for as long as you own your dog. I am always here to offer advice, share resources, and help troubleshoot any issues you may encounter.
Your Dog’s Safety Net for Life
What happens when life throws you a curveball?
Job transfers, health crises, farm sales, family changes – life doesn’t ask permission before it disrupts your plans. While other breeders disappear after the sale, we believe ethical breeding means taking responsibility for every dog we bring into the world.
That’s why every Prancing Pony Farm Maremma comes with our Lifetime No-Fault Return Policy.
If you ever cannot keep your dog for any reason – at any age, for any circumstance – we will either take them back or help find them an appropriate new home. No judgment, no guilt trips, no questions asked.
Because livestock guardian dogs don’t adapt to new homes like pets do, we use our expertise and network to ensure proper placement. Some dogs have even retired here permanently rather than face the stress of multiple moves.
This isn’t just good customer service – it’s our ethical commitment. As the breeder who chose to bring these puppies into the world, I’m responsible for their welfare forever, not just until someone writes a check.
The peace of mind? Priceless.
Buying a Maremma Sheepdog From Us is Easy!
Step 1
Get on the email list
This is where everyone starts. You’ll receive several emails over the next week or two covering our program, our dogs, and what successful Maremma ownership actually looks like. This gives you everything you need to decide if we’re the right fit — before either of us invests more time.
Step 2
Apply and book a call
When you’re ready to move forward, you’ll fill out a short application and schedule a phone call with me at the same time. The application helps me understand your situation before we talk. The call is where we actually figure out if one of our dogs is the right match for you.
Step 3
Reserve your dog
If we both feel confident it’s a great fit, I’ll walk you through current availability and next steps for reserving your Maremma. Reservations are made through our website and require a $500 non-refundable fee that applies to your purchase price.
Just curious and not ready to commit? That’s completely fine — stay on the email list and read at your own pace. My weekly newsletter covers training tips, farm stories, and practical LGD advice. You’re welcome here as long as you like, and you can apply when the timing is right.
🚨 IMPORTANT: PAYMENT TIMELINE
We usually have multiple people interested in our dogs at the same time. When you’re ready to move forward, I’ll send you a direct payment link to our secure website checkout. Dogs are held for 24 hours once that link is sent as a courtesy.
You must complete payment within 24 hours to secure the dog.
If payment isn’t received within 24 hours, the reservation is automatically cancelled, and the dog becomes available to other buyers. This policy ensures fairness and keeps dogs from sitting in limbo.
What Happens After You Reserve Your Maremma?
Once you’ve reserved your Maremma, we’ll guide you through every step of bringing your new livestock guardian dog home. From contracts and health records to shipping arrangements and preparing your property, we’ve created a comprehensive guide to make the transition smooth and stress-free. Want to see what the complete journey looks like? Check out our detailed guide for families bringing home their Maremma.
Start Strong: Prepare for Success Before Your Puppy Arrives
Getting a Maremma puppy is a significant investment—in time, money, and emotion. The difference between a successful working LGD and a frustrated owner often comes down to understanding your dog from day one.
The Dial Method® helps you:
- Understand what your Maremma actually needs (they’re fundamentally different from other dogs)
- Set up your environment and routines for success before the puppy arrives
- Communicate clearly with your independent thinker
- Build confidence instead of second-guessing every decision
Available as an add-on to your puppy reservation. Think of it as insurance on your investment—a framework you’ll use for your dog’s entire lifetime.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
The best way to begin is by filling out our Maremma contact form. We’ll send you information on available dogs and our puppy application. The application helps us understand your family and your needs so we can match you with the perfect guardian dog.
No pressure—just honest answers and guidance to help you make the right decision for your family.
Join Our Email List!
Sign up for our email newsletter, and we’ll keep you posted on upcoming litters and available dogs! Our email list members are always the first to know and get first dibs on available dogs. We also send out helpful Maremma Sheepdog care and training articles and links to useful resources.
