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 bought a puppy from us (or are considering doing so) you can rest assured that the first two are covered.
We have selected our breeding stock from outstanding working dogs with the genetics that produce great LGDs. And our puppies are given the best start possible as future Livestock Guardian Dogs as well as members of their future families. We have a very careful and intentional puppy training and socialization program, which includes intensive early socialization with livestock as well as positive reinforcement training and socialization with humans (including children) and exposure to a wide variety of sights, sounds and experiences.
What happens in the first 12-16 weeks of a puppy’s life is vital to their success and a breeder can make or break a puppy as a LGD or companion dog.
Therefore we do our best to give our puppies an outstanding start and are always looking for ways to improve our program. If you haven’t yet decided to buy a puppy from us you can go here to learn more about our Puppy Training and Socialization Program.
The third component is what happens after you bring your LGD home.
There’s much more to it than simply bringing home a puppy and putting it in with your livestock. Through the use of positive reinforcement training and a carefully set up environment you can help shape your puppy into the LGD he was born to be.
Below are all the recommended courses, books, blog posts and other resources we recommend to help you raise and train a LGD that’s literally worth its weight in gold.
Your Number One Resource for Training Your LGD
Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations Course
This course is the number one resource we recommend for all of our puppy owners and all Livesstock Guardian Dog Owners. (Or owners of any breed.) Before you can train your LGD to livestock you have to learn the science of how dogs think and how to best communicate with your dog. Through this excellent course you will learn step-by-step how to train and communicate with your dog using Positive Reinforcement and you’ll have fun while you do it! Highly Recommended.
And no, we do not earn a commission if you buy the course. We just know it works!
Read the blog posts below to learn more about why we recommend this course so highly.
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Top Pick for Understanding Your LGD
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How to Safely Acclimate Your New LGD With Livestock
When you bring home your new Maremma we suggest you keep them in a smaller area like a barn stall or kennel the first night, so they can gradually get use to their new environment. After that you can gradually increase their available space until they are relaxed and comfortable in their new home.
Introductions to other dogs and livestock need to be done in a safe and controlled manner, allowing plenty of time for everyone to feel comfortable with the new arrangement. Below is a blog post and video on safely acclimating your new LGD with your livestock.
The Quick-Start Guide to Livestock Guardian Dogs
After many requests for concise, practical guidance on getting started with livestock guardian dogs, I’ve created a free 30-minute course that you’ll find valuable – even if you’re already experienced with LGDs.
Here’s what you’ll discover in this 30-minute course:
- Choosing your breeder wisely – Learn why the source of your livestock guardian dog is the most important decision you can make and determines whether your experience will be a blessing or a stressful decision you may regret.
- Should You Get Two LGDs or One? – Discover the pros and cons of one dog versus two that will help you make the right decision for you and your unique situation.
- Set Up a Safe Environment for Your Puppy – Learn how to create the ideal environment when bringing your new puppy home to ensure its success and safety from day one.
- Slowly Integrate Your LGD with Your Livestock – Master the careful, step-by-step process of introducing your puppy to the animals it will protect.
- Understand Dog Training & Behavior – Gain insights into effective training approaches and dog behavior. This allows you to work with your dog’s natural guardian instincts and makes training stress-free and fun for you and your dog.- Proper methods that work with these unique dogs
Helpful Info No Matter Your Experience Level
Even if you already have livestock guardian dogs, this mini-course contains practical tips that help improve your current setup or prepare you for future additions to your farm family.
What’s included in the course:
- Instructional videos with captions
- Transcripts of lessons
- Written guides
- Downloadable resources
Click below to access the course.
Dog Behavior & Body Language Books
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Top Pick
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Cartoon Drawings
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Great for Kids
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Written by Vets
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Family Dog Mediation - Understanding Your Dog's LEGS
There’s a reason most Livestock Guardian Dog owners cycle through multiple Facebook groups and other resources looking for help with their dog, hoping for a better outcome with the next one. These “free” resources often miss the point and lack the comprehensive picture that can finally provide clarity and relief for you and your dog. Even dog trainers frequently fail to see the whole dog and all his LEGS.
You Don’t Need Just Any Trainer. You Need a Licensed LEGS Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediator (That’s Me! ☺️)
Contrary to what you’ve been told, succeeding with your LGD is not just about the clicker or the dangle stick. It’s not about compliance, conditioning, and control. It’s not only about choosing between training with treats or shock collars. (But please, choose treats, not shocks!)
It’s about meeting your dog where they are, recognizing who they are, and appreciating all they bring to the table in their unique recipe of interacting L.E.G.S. (Learning, Environment, Genetics, & Self).
Discover the Truth About Your Dog and Live in Partnership with him by Understanding his L.E.G.S.
Every dog owner knows that along with the joy can come the stress and frustration of behavioral problems, which are expensive to diagnose and treat. Enter Kim Brophey, award-winning canine behavior consultant. Using cutting-edge research, Brophey has developed a groundbreaking system that allows owners to identify what their dog is struggling with, why, and how they can fix it. Brophey's approach is unlike anything published before and will give dog owners a new understanding of what motivates and affects their dog's behavior. Brophey's innovative technique rethinks how we categorize dogs and distills information from over twenty scientific disciplines into four comprehensive elements: learning, environment, genetics, and self. With revolutionary tips for specific dog breeds, this book will change every dog owner's life and lead to happier human-canine relationships.
Join Our Free LGD Membership
In a world where finding reliable information about livestock guardian dogs can feel overwhelming, the Prancing Pony Farm Fellowship offers a sanctuary of trusted knowledge and community support.
What Makes Us Different?
- No Social Media Required. Connect directly with other LGD enthusiasts in a safe, bully-free discussion forum.
- Searchable Knowledge Base. Search our site via topic or keyword.
- AI-Powered Assistance. Use our custom chatbot to look for answers to your questions on our site.
- Expert-Led Community. Learn from real-world experience, professional knowledge, and proven methods.
What You’ll Get
Immediate Access to:
- A Netflix-style catalog of articles on livestock guardian dog training and care.
- A keyword searchable library of videos on various LGD topics, with transcripts included.
- Recommended resource pages of products, companies, and websites that are useful and helpful for LGD owners.
- A safe, welcoming private discussion area.
- Regular content updates.
Supportive Community Features
- Direct access to an experienced LGD breeder and trainer.
- Private discussion area where you can network with other LGD owners.
- A safe place to ask questions about LGDs.
- Answers that are based on science, proven methods, and professional experience rather than urban legends and old wives’ tales.
Smart Resource Finding
- AI-powered search assistant
- Topic-based organization
- Easy-to-navigate content library
- Quick answers to common questions
Join Our Growing Community
The Prancing Pony Farm Fellowship is more than just a resource library – it’s a living, growing community of like-minded farmers, homesteaders, and animal lovers. Click the button below to learn more.
Great Puppy Books for Your New Puppy
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Must-Read Dog Training Books
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Positive Reinforcement Training Only Please!
At Prancing Pony Farm, we are huge advocates of Positive Reinforcement training for all animals. Punishment-based training only causes animals to mistrust and fear you, whereas Positive Reinforcement creates a partnership built on communication, love, and respect with your animals.
LGDs, unlike typical dogs, possess unique traits. Bred over millennia to be independent thinkers, they guard livestock from serious predators, often with minimal human supervision. These dogs have had to make life-or-death decisions to ensure the safety of their charges. These inherent traits remain a crucial part of modern-day LGDs, particularly in breeds like the Maremma Sheepdog, which haven’t been overbred for pet or show purposes. This distinctiveness underscores the necessity for a specialized approach like positive reinforcement training.
What’s more, LGDs are big, strong, powerful dogs with the tenacity and ferocity to fight off apex predators. Humans who think they can “show the dog who’s boss” will likely get seriously hurt! Your dog will learn not to trust you and will not be safe to handle. A wild, uncontrollable LGD is not an asset to anyone; it’s a liability.
Positive Reinforcement Training is a powerful tool that can help you earn your dog’s trust and loyalty in a safe and enjoyable manner. While you can’t change a tiger’s stripes – or a Maremma’s independent nature – a dog that loves and trusts you is more likely to exhibit behaviors you appreciate. The beauty of this approach is its versatility-the basic principles apply to all animals, from cats and horses to goats and goldfish. So, no matter what kind of animals you have and love, positive reinforcement is the way to go!
Need More Help With Your LGD?
Companion dog trainers are not equipped to address the unique needs of working Livestock Guardian Dogs who live with livestock 24/7.
Trainers specializing in working LGDs are extremely rare. The only ones I know believe that “Livestock Guardian Dogs shouldn’t be kept as pets.” If a trainer doesn’t believe you should OWN your companion LGD, they can’t or won’t help you and your dog.
As a Maremma breeder, trainer, Licenced Family Dog Mediator, and owner of both working and companion Maremmas, I support ALL Livestock Guardian Dog owners.
Whether you have a working LGD, a companion, or a dog that is a bit of both, I understand their distinct needs and can provide tailored advice and get you and your dog on the right track.
