Born: July 26, 2024 | Female | Current Weight: 70 lbs | Expected Adult Weight: 70-80 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 Violet, a guardian who offers all the protection of a Maremma in a more compact package from our carefully bred lineage.

A Foundation Built on Health and Genetics

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

As one of the smaller pups in a litter of 11, Violet is expected to mature into a small to medium-sized dog, reaching an estimated adult weight of 70-80 lbs. While more compact than some Maremmas, she still provides effective protection with the advantage of a more manageable size.

Balanced Temperament and Size Advantage

Violet has a moderate energy level and medium confidence. She can be a bit shy with new people but becomes very affectionate once she knows you—a balanced trait for a guardian who needs to be appropriately cautious but also bond with her family.

Her more moderate size can be advantageous for certain properties and livestock situations, particularly:

• Smaller farms and homesteads
• Properties with smaller livestock breeds
• Situations where a less physically imposing guardian is preferred
• Farms where maneuverability and agility are priorities
• Owners who find large dogs hard to manage

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, Violet 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

Violet 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 Violet Right for Your Farm?

Violet 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 more moderate size makes her an excellent choice for smaller properties or situations where a less imposing guardian is preferred.

The ideal home for Violet would provide:

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

Reserve Violet

If you’re interested in bringing Violet 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.