Last Updated on February 7, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
Maremma Blog
🐶These Puppy Owners Did Everything Right (Including This One Critical Thing)
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 loving families doing the work they were bred to do never gets old! 💜 An 11-week-old Prancing Pony Maremma with two of my Mini Nubian puppy trainers But what makes me especially proud is seeing how well-prepared these new owners are….
Protect Your Valuable Livestock Guardian Dog: Why Insurance Can’t Wait
You’ve done everything right—researched reputable breeders, invested in health-tested parents, and brought home a beautiful livestock guardian dog with a comprehensive health guarantee. Yet despite all your careful planning, there’s still one crucial protection you might be overlooking.
Even the most responsible breeding practices cannot eliminate every health threat your LGD might face. Debilitating conditions like hip dysplasia can still occur in puppies from parents with excellent genetic testing, and livestock guardian dogs face unique risks that suburban pets never encounter: environmental dangers from farm equipment and fencing, gastrointestinal issues from outdoor living conditions, potential confrontations with predators, and greater exposure to diseases.
The statistics are sobering—puppies are significantly more likely to experience health problems than adult dogs, with the first year being the highest-risk period. Parvovirus alone affects more than 330,000 puppies annually, with treatment costs ranging from $2,000 to $10,000. Emergency surgeries for broken bones, bloat, or foreign body removal can easily cost $3,000-$8,000.
This is where pet insurance becomes invaluable. Even with a comprehensive health guarantee from your breeder, you could face thousands in veterinary bills that exceed the original purchase price of your dog. Pet insurance provides the financial safety net that allows you to focus on getting your dog the best possible care without hesitation.
Learn about the top insurance options for LGD owners, including exclusive breeder discount codes, and discover why protecting your livestock guardian dog investment is one of the smartest decisions you can make for your farm’s security and your peace of mind.
🛫 Romeo and Pele flew home yesterday (and why planning ahead made all the difference)
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 couldn’t help but think about how this perfect placement didn’t happen by accident… Nine months ago, Noelle contacted me looking for livestock guardian dogs for the new farm in the Bay Area she was moving to with her husband and…
Why Smart Planning Makes All the Difference: Your Guide to Maremma Success
The families who get perfect livestock guardian dogs all share one secret: they don’t wait until they desperately need a dog to start looking. Discover why the best Maremma placements happen months before the dogs go home, and how smart planning turns livestock protection dreams into reality.
🐐🏆 Goat Giveaway Mix-Up! We’re On It…
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 person responded to winning the mini Nubian wether contest, and I thought the other winners weren’t interested? Turns out I made a classic communication error. In my excitement to get those contest winner emails out, I told the winners I…
Contest Winner Update + Free Wethers Available (First Come, First Served!)
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 announce that we’ve had our first winner from the Mini Nubian Wether Giveaway Contest! The lucky winner turned out to be a wonderful client who has already been part of our Prancing Pony Farm family. They had purchased two Maremma puppies from us…
🐶 🎉 Celebrate June ’24 Maremma Pups’ 1st Bday!
Celebrate with us as our June 2024 Maremma litter reaches their first birthday! See how these six fluffy pups have developed into reliable LGDs.
Celebrating Success – Marcella’s 2024 Maremma Litter Turns One
Celebrate with us as our June 2024 Maremma litter reaches their first birthday! See how these six amazing guardians have developed from puppies to reliable livestock protectors across the country.
Celebrating Your Maremma Sheepdog’s Remarkable First Year
Celebrate your Maremma’s first birthday milestone with insights on their development from puppy to young livestock guardian. Learn what to expect in year two and how to support continued growth.
‼️The surgery that could save your LGD’s life (Romeo & Pele’s story)
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 north in a couple of weeks. They stayed here in training for a couple of extra months while their new owners finished building fences and setting up their farm. Since they’ll be working as an LGD team, but we don’t want accidental breeding, their…
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!
