Last Updated on May 4, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
Maremma Sheepdog Training & Consulting
Expert support from a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Trainer, Licensed Family Dog Mediator, and Code of Ethics Maremma breeder with nearly a decade of experience.
Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
Most dog trainers have never owned a Maremma. Most LGD trainers have never worked with a companion placement. I've done both — and I've raised, placed, and supported Maremmas in working, companion, and mixed-role homes across the U.S. and Canada since 2016.
If you're struggling with your Maremma, or you want to get things right from day one, you're in the right place.
Primarily focused on Maremma Sheepdogs, with consultations available for other LGD breeds by request.
Maremmas Aren't Just "Big Dogs" — And They Can't Be Trained Like One
Most dog trainers — even good ones — don't have a framework for Maremma Sheepdogs. Traditional obedience methods frustrate these dogs. Approaches designed for herders or companion breeds miss the mark entirely. And generic "LGD advice" from Facebook groups often makes things worse.
Maremmas are independent thinkers bred for thousands of years to make their own decisions without human direction. That's exactly what makes them exceptional livestock guardians. It's also exactly what makes training them with conventional methods so difficult.
What actually works with Maremmas is understanding how they think — and building your relationship and environment around that. That's what I teach.
Working Maremmas
Boundary issues, livestock introductions, resource guarding, multi-dog dynamics, prey drive, teenage regression
Companion & Family Guardians
Leash training, manners and handling, household integration, socialization, reactivity, child and dog safety
Mixed-Role Maremmas
Modern "Family Farm Dogs" that live with your family AND guard your livestock — the most complex situation, and one I know well
Thinking about adding a Maremma to your farm? Take our free quiz to find out what age is right for your situation. → Find Your Match
Maremma Training Support at Every Level
Maremma Training and Consultations
One-on-one phone consultation for your specific situation — up to 60 minutes - $100
Whether you're dealing with a boundary problem, a livestock introduction that went sideways, a companion Maremma who's running the household, or just want an expert second opinion — this is where we dig into your specific dog, your property or home, and your goals.
You'll leave with a clear action plan, not vague suggestions.
✓ 45–60+ minute phone consultation
✓ Follow-up with resources and next steps
✓ Personalized guidance from a Maremma specialist
✓ Applicable to working, companion, and mixed-role dogs
I also work with other LGD breeds by request, but Maremmas are my specialty and the majority of my consult work.
Stop Guessing What Your Maremma Needs
Start Here Before Your Next Training Session
If you're looking for training support for your Maremma, the DIAL Method® is the foundation I recommend before anything else — for every dog, every situation, every household.
It's not a training course. It's the step that makes training actually work. Four short video modules that teach you how to see your dog as an individual, parent them with clear boundaries, get your whole household consistent, and build patterns your dog can count on. Under 40 minutes. Immediately applicable. Includes:
✓ 40-minute video program + workbook
✓ Works for all your dogs, not just your Maremma
✓ Science-based and LGD friendly
Once you've been through it, our coaching sessions go further, faster — because we're building on a shared framework instead of starting from scratch.
Program: $50 | Consultation: $100 | Both: $150
Works for ALL your dogs—Maremmas and other livestock guardians, other farm dogs, and family pets. One program for every dog in your life.
Training Consultation and Dial Course Package | $150
The most complete support package. Start with the DIAL Method® to build your understanding of how your dog thinks, then bring that foundation into your consultation. We go further, faster — because we're working from a shared framework instead of starting from scratch.
Training Credentials That Go Beyond the Breed
Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP)
Completed April 2024. The Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional program is one of the most rigorous certification paths in professional dog training — a six-month program built around science-based methods, positive reinforcement, and applied behavior analysis. I'm the only Maremma breeder to hold this credential.
Licensed Family Dog Mediator (LFDM) — LEGS Applied Ethology
Also completed April 2024. The Family Dog Mediator license through LEGS Applied Ethology equips practitioners to address complex household dynamics — the relationship between a dog and every person and animal in the home, including children, livestock and other dogs. This is relevant for both working and companion Maremma placements.
Certified DIAL Method® Guide
One of a small number of certified providers of the DIAL Method® through Family Dog. I don't just recommend this program — I teach it, use it with my own puppy families, and utilize it as part of my post-placement support system.
MSCA Code of Ethics Breeder | Nearly a Decade of Experience | 200+ Maremmas Bred and Trained
These credentials don't just make me a better trainer. They make me a different kind of breeder — one who can support you long after your puppy comes home.
Training Support Is Part of Every Prancing Pony Placement
If you're considering a Maremma Sheepdog, here's something most breeders can't offer: built-in training support from day one — and for the life of your dog.
Every puppy placement includes lifetime support from me directly. I also strongly recommend the DIAL Method® before your puppy comes home — it's a 40-minute, science-backed program that gives you a real framework for understanding your dog from the start. You're not just buying a well-bred dog — you're starting a relationship with someone who will still be there six months from now when adolescence hits, and ten years from now if you need me.
That's not standard in the breed. It's standard here.
Ready to Get Your Maremma on Track?
Whether you've hit a wall with your current dog or you want to get it right from the start, there's a path forward — and you don't have to figure it out alone.
Questions before you book? Email kim@prancingponyfarm.com — I'm happy to help you figure out which option fits.
Get the DIAL Method® — $50
Start here. Understand your dog.
Book a Consultation — $100
Bring me your situation. Leave with a plan.
Get Both — $150
The complete package.
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The Breeder Who's Still There When Adolescence Hits
Lifetime training support is included with every placement — because the hard questions don't all come on day one.
✅ Health-tested bloodlines ✅ Proven working genetics ✅ Lifetime support included
