Born: July 26, 2024 | Female | Current Weight: 80 lbs | Expected Adult Weight: 90-110 lbs

At Prancing Pony Farm, we believe the source of your livestock guardian dog is the single most important decision determining whether your experience will be a blessing or a curse. Today, we’re excited to introduce you to Rose, a young guardian with impressive size and potential from our carefully bred Maremma lineage.

A Foundation Built on Health and Genetics

Rose’s parents have undergone comprehensive health testing, including PennHip, OFA, and DNA screening. This isn’t just an extra step we take—it’s fundamental to developing dogs who can work effectively for years without being sidelined by preventable genetic conditions.

As one of the larger pups in a litter of 11, Rose is expected to mature into a substantial guardian, reaching an estimated adult weight of 90-100+ lbs. This size advantage provides an imposing presence that can deter even the boldest predators.

Balanced Energy and Temperament

Rose has a moderately energetic temperament paired with confidence—an ideal combination for a guardian who must remain vigilant while conserving energy for when it truly matters. She’s friendly and affectionate with people while maintaining her focus as a working guardian.

Her training foundation already includes:

• Basic clicker training
• Manding (politely requesting attention)
• Targeting behaviors
• Voluntary eye contact
• Sitting for attention

She walks well on a long line and harness and has experienced various environments beyond her home territory. While not crate trained, she’s accustomed to spending time in kennels for feeding.

Livestock Experience

From birth, Rose has been raised alongside goats, developing the proper respect and protective instincts needed in a guardian. Her experience extends to horses, mini horses, mini donkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and barn cats—giving her valuable exposure to the varied livestock she may encounter in her working life.

She currently requires medium supervision with livestock, which is completely appropriate for her age. Like many young guardian dogs, she occasionally gets the "zoomies," especially during high activity or when with multiple other puppies. This is typical developmental behavior that will continue to mature with consistent handling.

Adaptability and Transition

Rose will need time to adjust to a new environment but will do well once she adapts. Her transition would be smoother if she could be placed with a partner she already knows. She has been socialized with children of various ages and has had exposure to non-Maremma companion dogs and cats.

This thorough socialization creates a well-rounded guardian capable of handling the varied situations that arise on a working farm, from visitors to new animals.

Is Rose Right for Your Farm?

Rose is suitable for all property types and would work best as part of a guardian team, though she could succeed as a solo guardian in the right home with proper support. Her size and developing confidence make her an excellent choice for properties needing a substantial guardian presence.

The ideal home for Rose would provide:

• Secure fencing
• Ongoing positive training
• A clear working role with livestock
• Regular human interaction
• Ideally, another compatible guardian dog 

Reserve Rose

If you’re interested in bringing Rose home to your farm, we encourage you to contact us to begin the reservation process. Our puppies are in high demand, and we carefully match each one with the right home to ensure success.

Prancing Pony Farm is located in Central California and specializes in breeding and training Livestock Guardian Dogs using force-free methods. All our breeding dogs undergo comprehensive health testing to ensure we’re producing the healthiest, most capable working partners possible.