Hi Reader,
I’m going to be honest with you: the last few weeks have had me a little stressed.
I had 20 puppies to place this summer, and sales felt slow. I kept telling myself this was normal — summer is always our slowest season. It happens every year with the goats, and I think it’s been true for the dogs too; I just haven’t had enough summer litters at once to really feel it before now. People are traveling. Kids are out of school. It’s over 100 degrees here, and nobody wants to be outside with a new puppy in that heat.
So I kept waiting for things to turn. And this week, they turned.
Why Do Maremma Sheepdog Puppy Sales Slow Down in Summer?
Some of my grandkids went back to school this week, and that was my first real sign that the season is shifting. It’s still super hot, it’s still technically summer — but that back-to-school stretch always seems to be the tipping point where people start settling back into routines and thinking ahead again.
This week, I sold four puppies — two pairs. Both families called for a Discovery Call, we had great conversations, and within an hour or so of hanging up, they’d reserved. One pair is headed to Colorado, the other to Michigan. One family came into the call planning for 2 pups, the other was sure one pup was what she needed, but decided on two.
One of these families has an older Maremma who recently lost her longtime partner. The other is brand new to livestock guardian dogs entirely. Different starting points, same decision — and it’s the right one for both of them.
I also had other really good conversations this week that didn’t end in a reservation yet — and that’s completely fine. One family is still deciding between one puppy and two. Another person is thinking things over a bit longer. No pressure, no harm done — I always want people to make the right call for themselves. But it’s a good illustration of the range I’m seeing right now: some people are ready to move almost instantly, and others need more time. Both are valid. The only thing I’d gently say is — don’t let “more time” turn into missing the window, because these puppies are going quickly.
A Hidden Advantage of These Three Litters: Cheaper, Better Ground Transport
Here’s something worth knowing if you’re out of state: it’s still too hot for puppies to fly, so all of my long-distance placements are traveling by ground transport right now. And because these three litters were all born within two weeks of each other, that actually works in your favor.
When multiple clients book transport for the same window, you can share a private transport rather than each paying for a separate trip — real savings, and a better experience for the puppies since they’re not riding with strange dogs along the way. So if you’re considering a puppy from any of these three summer litters and know you’ll need shipping, reaching out sooner rather than later could save you real money.
When Will These Maremma Sheepdog Puppies Be Ready to Go Home?
Marisa’s litter turned 12 weeks this week, and their go-home window opens next week. Electra’s litter follows about a week after that, Nova’s litter the next — so I’ll have puppies ready to head home in a steady wave from next week through early September. Where you land in that timeline often comes down to your own readiness and, when it fits, which litter or traits you’re hoping for.
Prancing Pony Farm Maremma siblings show why two Maremmas are better than one.
Why I Always Recommend Two Maremma Sheepdog Puppies
In ten years of breeding, I have never once had a client regret getting two puppies. Not once. Every single person who’s brought home a pair has done great with them and are thankful they got two puppies together.
I can’t say the same about single placements. I’ve had clients bring home one puppy and end up with a bored, lonely dog barking constantly, chasing stock and struggling — sometimes even coming back for a second dog later because they realized their first one needed a partner after all.
And when someone adds a single puppy to an older livestock guardian dog, I’ve watched it go exactly the way I warned it would: the adult dog resents the intrusion, the puppy has no one to play with, and a bored, understimulated puppy often starts chasing livestock and pestering the older dog out of sheer restlessness.
Often, these lonely puppies are labeled “bad” or “difficult” when the reality is they are perfectly normal puppies without an appropriate outlet for play and companionship. A “good” puppy that doesn’t chase stock or bark from boredom is no better off. She’s still a sad, lonely puppy. She just accepts her sad fate more easily than her more rebellious siblings.
Most people mean well and don’t understand the impact their choices have on their dog, or that their decision to have only one puppy makes the whole process harder than it needs to be, for the dogs the stock and the people.
So when someone asks me whether they should get one puppy or two, my answer is always the same: two. I recommend two puppies every time, without exception. I got a message recently from a client with puppies from my February litter that sums it up better than I ever could:
“Thank you again and again for encouraging us to get 2 of them. It would have been a HORRIBLE idea to only have 1. They depend on each other so much.”
That’s the pattern, every time. If you’re on the fence between one puppy and two, I’d love to talk through your specific situation on a Maremma Discovery Call.
More Puppy Stories Coming
I’ve been getting wonderful updates lately from clients who brought puppies home over the last few months — photos, videos, stories about what these dogs are already guarding and how they’re doing in their new homes. If I haven’t replied to yours yet, I will — I absolutely love every single one of them. 💜 I’m just slow at replying sometimes. Especially with 20 puppies out in the Puppy Parlor. 😆 I’m working on dedicated stories featuring some of these families and their pups, so keep an eye out for more of that in the coming weeks.
Ready to Reserve Your Maremma Sheepdog Puppy?
If you’ve been on the fence about adding a Prancing Pony Maremma to your farm or as a family companion, this is the moment. Summer is loosening its grip, life is picking back up, and I have real puppies ready to go home starting next week — but availability is moving fast. And if you’re out of state, reaching out soon could mean a shared transport and real savings too.
- Ready soon? Book a Discovery Call and let’s find out if one of my current puppies is the right fit.
- Not quite ready for pickup, but ready to reserve? Ask me about our Extended Stay Program — you can secure your puppy now and bring them home when the timing is right for you.
- Not quite ready, but you know your time is coming? Join the Master Reservation List so you’re first in line when the right litter comes along.
Either way, I’d rather talk to you now than have you reach out in a few weeks to find the puppy you had your eye on is already headed home with someone else.
Talk soon,
Kim
P.S. — I’m continuing to work behind the scenes on the Maremma membership site I’ve mentioned — a single place for breed info, reservation and go-home processes, training resources, dog care guides, and more, plus a non-social media community space for owners to connect with each other and ask questions. I’m also exploring group Zoom calls, both for prospective new Maremma owners wanting to learn about the breed and for current owners who want an ongoing place to talk training and troubleshooting. Nothing to sign up for yet, but it’s coming soon — here’s a peek at the home page.
Ready to find out if a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma is right for you? Book a free Maremma Discovery Call. |
