Aug 18, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, Good Monday morning from the puppy parlor! I don’t usually send emails on Mondays, but when puppies decide to make their grand entrance at 4 AM, well… normal schedules go out the window! ...
Aug 14, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, I hope this newsletter finds you and your animals well. This week’s message is different from our usual farm updates – it’s one of the most bittersweet I’ve ever written. The End of an Era After much deliberation, I’ve made the tough...
Aug 7, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, Here’s a question I get asked constantly: “How do I groom my livestock guardian dog without it turning into a wrestling match?” Whether it’s one of my Maremma puppy clients, an LGD consultation client, someone from this list, or...
Aug 5, 2025 | Book Reviews, Dog Health & Wellness, Grooming Dogs, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Product Reviews |
A Game-Changer for Dog Grooming and Care As someone who began grooming dogs at age 14 and has spent decades working with animals, I can honestly say that Terrie Hayward, Jay Andors, and Anne Francis’s “Grooming Without Stress” represents a...
Aug 2, 2025 | Book Reviews, Dog Health & Wellness, Grooming Dogs, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Product Reviews |
When I first started breeding Maremma Sheepdogs years ago, I quickly realized that new livestock guardian dog owners faced a unique challenge: how do you properly groom a 100+ pound working dog with a thick double coat who’s designed to be independent and...
Jul 31, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, The journey to success with a Livestock Guardian Dog begins with selecting a well-bred, properly socialized puppy from an ethical breeder – that’s step one, and it’s absolutely crucial. But over years of breeding and training Maremmas,...
Jul 31, 2025 | *One Thing, Book Reviews, Dog Behavior, Family Dog Mediation, Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Product Reviews |
As a Maremma Sheepdog breeder and trainer with years of experience, I’ve noticed a pattern among Livestock Guardian Dog owners. There’s a crucial step that separates those who struggle with their dogs from those who truly thrive – and surprisingly,...
Jul 24, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, It’s been an incredible week watching our Maremma families take the next step in their journeys toward livestock protection, family companionship, and peace of mind. Six precious dogs have gone to their new homes, and the updates we’re already...
Jul 17, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, I’m writing this Thursday afternoon instead of my usual Wednesday night schedule (to be in your inbox Thursday morning). Why you might ask. Because honestly, sometimes farm life has other plans for us. This week has been one of those reminders...
Jul 10, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, This week has been both exciting and bittersweet as our 12-week-old Maremma puppies prepare to head to their new homes next week. Watching these little livestock guardians head off to...
Jul 10, 2025 | *Pet Insurance, Dog Health & Wellness, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Product Reviews |
Protecting your livestock guardian dog means safeguarding your peace of mind. You’ve done everything right. You researched reputable breeders and invested in health-tested parents. You brought home a beautiful Maremma Sheepdog puppy with a comprehensive health...
Jul 3, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, Yesterday, I said goodbye to one-year-old Maremma pups, Romeo and Pele, as they loaded into their airline crates for the flight to their new home in the Bay Area. As I watched them go, I...
Jul 3, 2025 | *Smart Planning, Client Stories & Testimonials, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program |
The difference between getting any dog and getting YOUR dog lies in one thing: planning ahead. This week, I watched Noelle load Romeo and Pele into airline crates for their flight home to the Bay Area. These weren’t just any dogs—they were the perfect...
Jun 26, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, Well, this is embarrassing! I need to make a correction to my newsletter from earlier today, and it’s actually GOOD news. My Communication Mix-Up Remember how I said that only one...
Jun 26, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I hope you’re staying cool during this hot summer weather! I have some exciting updates to share with you this week. 🏆 Contest Winner Celebration First, I’m thrilled to...
Jun 19, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Dear Reader, This week marks a very special milestone – the first birthday of our wonderful June 2024 litter! 🎂 A year ago, six beautiful Maremma puppies entered the world in our Puppy Parlor, and today I’m thrilled to share how these incredible guardians have...
Jun 19, 2025 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program |
This week marks a milestone that fills my heart with pride and joy – the first birthday of our June 2024 Maremma Sheepdog litter. One year ago, six beautiful puppies took their first breaths in our Puppy Parlor, marking the beginning of a journey that would...
Jun 19, 2025 | LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program |
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 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
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 | 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, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Care & Training |
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 29, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Hi Reader, What a whirlwind these past few weeks have been! As I sit down to write this email, my youngest daughter and her family have arrived home in North Carolina, my middle son and his new wife are off on their honeymoon, and the house has that...
May 22, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I hope this email finds you well! I wanted to let you know about some exciting updates from Prancing Pony Farm. Contest Extension – More Winners Than Expected! First, due to some...
May 17, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, You might have noticed I missed my usual Thursday email this week. There’s a good reason—I just returned from a wonderful family vacation at Disneyland! 🎊 My youngest daughter and...
May 6, 2025 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I’m bursting with excitement to share some incredible news with you today! After a year and a half of intense study, practice, video submissions, and assessments, I’ve...
May 4, 2025 | Family Dog Mediation, Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program |
I’m beyond thrilled to share some exciting news with all of you today. After a year and a half-long journey of countless hours of study, practice, video submissions, and assessments, I’ve officially completed the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer...
May 3, 2025 | Dog Behavior, LGD Training, 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 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
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 | Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I recently received a video that perfectly captures why I do what I do, despite the challenges of ethical LGD breeding. The video came from Dave in Texas. It shows Bear and Chief—two...
Apr 24, 2025 | Available Maremmas, Client Stories & Testimonials, Dog Behavior, LGD Training, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program |
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... 
