Last Updated on February 7, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
Maremma Blog
Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Livestock Guardian Dogs
Thanksgiving is a season of joy, gratitude, and indulgent feasting. It’s a time when we gather with family and friends to celebrate the abundance of life. But while you’re enjoying pumpkin pie and turkey with your loved ones, don’t forget about another important member of your farm family—your hardworking livestock guardian dog (LGD).
Whether you have a loyal Maremma Sheepdog or another breed, your livestock guardian dog deserves as much care and attention during the holidays as the rest of your flock.
Holidays can bring extra chaos with visitors, food, and distractions, which may present unexpected risks for your LGD. With extra preparation, you can ensure your dog stays safe, happy, and stress-free this Thanksgiving.
Here are six thoughtful tips to keep your LGD protected and comfortable during the festivities.
The Complete Livestock Guardian Dog Puppy Parasite Prevention Protocol: Protecting Your Investment From Day One
At Prancing Pony Maremmas, we understand that raising healthy and happy livestock guardian dog puppies begins with loving care and smart prevention practices. Our easy parasite prevention protocol helps create the perfect environment for puppies to thrive. We emphasize the importance of regular check-ups, getting the right doses of essential medications like Fenbendazole and Toltrazuril, and introducing high-quality probiotics to keep their tummies happy after treatment. We’re also here to share helpful tips with other puppy owners and recommend trustworthy products like Cocciguard to keep coccidiosis at bay. We start our puppies right, putting their health and happiness first!
Helping Your Livestock Guardian Dog Accept Visitors
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I hope you’re having a great week. It’s crazy to think it’s almost Thanksgiving! Christmas will be here before you know it! Question: are you one of those people who decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving? These days, so many people (including some of my family) seem to decorate for Christmas the day after Halloween. No shade to those of you who do that, but I just can’t! I love Christmas, but I’ll wait for the…
FAQ: How do I Get My Livestock Guardian Dog to Accept Visitors in My Home?
Does your livestock guardian dog struggle with guests? Learn how to help your LGD accept visitors calmly and confidently using positive reinforcement, clear boundaries, and training that builds trust instead of tension.
🚙‼️Farm Crash! A Wreckless Driver Wreaked Havoc on My Farm! 😳🫣
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I hope you are having a good week. My week is going good, but oh boy, did it ever get off to a crazy start! I was sitting at my desk working on office work Sunday afternoon when I heard a loud boom outside. I looked out the window and saw a bunch of dust, so I went outside to see what had happened. And what did I find? A driver had run off the road, hit one of our decorative light posts by the driveway, and…
💜🐶Happy Endings and New Beginnings
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hi Reader, I hope your week is going well. Here it’s puppy go-home time! 💜🐶 Earlier this year, my client Amy lost one of her Great Pyrenees, Alexei, leaving her other LGD, Rosie, grieving and alone to guard her sheep. Losing a beloved dog is hard enough, but losing a valuable LGD that keeps your other animals safe is an even harder blow. Amy and her husband, Peter, visited my farm in May to meet me and my dogs and discuss what…
Understanding Calming Signals in Livestock Guardian Dogs and Product Review of “On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals” book by Turid Rugaas
Learn how to recognize and respond to your livestock guardian dog’s calming signals — the subtle body language dogs use to communicate stress, comfort, and peace. This review of On Talking Terms with Dogs by Turid Rugaas explains how these signals can transform your relationship with your LGD.
How to Safely Acclimate Young Livestock Guardian Dogs with New Livestock
Ensuring harmony between livestock and Livestock Guardian Dogs is essential for the safety and well-being of all animals involved, and the peace of mind of their owners. In this post I will walk you through a crucial aspect of farm life – safely acclimating young Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) with your livestock. Whether you’re a seasoned farmer and LGD owner or new to farm life and Livestock Guardian Dogs, these steps will help create a peaceful and safe farm environment (including urban farms) for you and your animals.
Best Toys and Enrichment Ideas for Livestock Guardian Dog Puppies
At the Sign of the Prancing Pony The Prancing Pony Farm Newsletter Hello Reader, I hope you’re having a good week! Twice this week, I was asked about toys and activities for Livestock Guardian Dog puppies.💜🐶 The first was a member of my Living and Working with Maremma Sheepdogs Facebook group, who wanted to know what toys were recommended for a 3-month-old puppy. The second was one of my puppy clients who lives in Connecticut and to whom I sent two puppies last week. She wanted to know what…
Best Toys and Enrichment Ideas for Livestock Guardian Dog Puppies: Ultimate Guide
Keep your LGD puppy happy, calm, and mentally engaged with safe enrichment activities designed for working dogs. This ultimate guide shares the best toys, chews, and creative play ideas to build confidence and prevent boredom — without undermining their guardian instincts.
Ready to Join the Family?
The best way to start the process is by filling out our Maremma contact form. Then, we can send you information on available puppies and dogs. You’ll also be able to fill out our puppy application. The application helps us better understand you and your needs so we can match you with the perfect puppy!
