Mar 12, 2026 | *Top Posts, All About Maremmas, Available Maremmas, Bringing Home Your LGD, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Starting With LGDs |
Your Maremma Match: A New Quiz to Help You Find the Right Age Dog for Your Farm If you’re considering a Maremma Sheepdog or another livestock guardian dog, one of the first questions you’ll face is whether to start with a puppy, an adolescent dog, or an adult...
Jan 15, 2026 | *Caia, Client Stories & Testimonials, Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Product Reviews, Starting With LGDs |
Today I’m thrilled to share a guest post from Sarah, one of my incredible puppy clients. Sarah is originally from France and brought her Maremma Sheepdog puppy, Caia, home from Prancing Pony Farm to live an adventurous life in Hawaii. As a first-time dog owner...
Jan 8, 2026 | Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Product Reviews |
It’s that time of year again – Karen Pryor Academy’s annual January sale is happening right now, and I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss it. This is one of only TWO times per year (January and September) that KPA offers 20% off their entire...
Nov 20, 2025 | *How Many LGDS, Available Maremmas, Bringing Home Your LGD, Client Stories & Testimonials, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Starting With LGDs |
Why This Client Got Two Puppies Twice—And Why You Should Too Almost two years ago, Amy made a decision that many people struggle with. She decided to bring home not one, but two Maremma Sheepdog puppies. Then last weekend, she did it again. Let me tell you why...
Oct 16, 2025 | Bringing Home Your LGD, Dog Health & Wellness, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Care & Training |
Why proper vaccination and parasite prevention during weeks 6–8 sets the foundation for a lifetime of health. At six weeks old, our current Maremma Sheepdog litter reached a critical milestone in their livestock guardian dog health journey—their first Neo-par...
Oct 9, 2025 | *Caia, *Top Posts, All About Maremmas, Bringing Home Your LGD, Client Stories & Testimonials, Companion Maremmas, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News, Starting With LGDs |
Six months ago, I got an email that started with: “I know this is crazy, but I live in Hawaii…” Sarah wasn’t wrong—getting a dog to Hawaii is a bit crazy. The quarantine requirements are extensive, the timeline is long, and the process is...
Sep 18, 2025 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Care & Training, Puppy Socialization Series, Starting With LGDs |
Most breeders focus on genetics. We’ve engineered an entire system that turns great genetics into exceptional livestock guardian dogs. When livestock owners ask me what makes Prancing Pony Farm puppies different, they expect me to talk about bloodlines, health...
Aug 5, 2025 | Book Reviews, Dog Health & Wellness, Grooming Dogs, LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Product Reviews |
A Game-Changer for Dog Grooming and Care As someone who began grooming dogs at age 14 and has spent decades working with animals, I can honestly say that Terrie Hayward, Jay Andors, and Anne Francis’s “Grooming Without Stress” represents a...
Jul 31, 2025 | *One Thing, Bringing Home Your LGD, Family Dog Mediation, Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training & Behavior, Product Reviews, Puppy Care & Training, Starting With LGDs |
As a Maremma Sheepdog breeder and trainer with years of experience, I’ve noticed a pattern among Livestock Guardian Dog owners. There’s a crucial step that separates those who struggle with their dogs from those who truly thrive – and surprisingly,...
Jul 10, 2025 | *Pet Insurance, Bringing Home Your LGD, Dog Health & Wellness, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Care & Training, Starting With LGDs |
Protecting your livestock guardian dog means safeguarding your peace of mind. You’ve done everything right. You researched reputable breeders and invested in health-tested parents. You brought home a beautiful Maremma Sheepdog puppy with a comprehensive health...
Jun 19, 2025 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
Your Maremma’s first birthday represents far more than just marking time—it’s a celebration of an incredible transformation from the puppy you first brought home to the developing livestock guardian dog or family companion they’ve become. At Prancing...
Jun 5, 2025 | *Ethical Breeding, *Top Posts, All About Maremmas, Available Maremmas, Bringing Home Your LGD, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Puppy Program, Puppy Care & Training, Starting With LGDs |
When Passion Meets Resistance: Reflections on Ethical LGD Breeding “I hate your business.” Those are the words I hear from my husband whenever challenges arise in my Maremma Sheepdog breeding business. He sees the stress, the late nights, the financial...
May 3, 2025 | LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
Livestock Guardian Dogs are incredibly devoted protectors who take their job seriously. But sometimes, they can display behaviors that might seem concerning, like barking aggressively at something on the other side of a fence, yet being perfectly calm when that...
Apr 24, 2025 | All About Maremmas, Available Maremmas, Bringing Home Your LGD, Client Stories & Testimonials, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Starting With LGDs |
Why Older Puppies Often Make the Best Livestock Guardian Dogs One of the most persistent myths in the Livestock Guardian Dog community is that puppies must be acquired at the youngest possible age to bond with their new owners and livestock properly. As the owner of...
Apr 14, 2025 | Available Maremmas, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program |
Born: June 20, 2024 | Female | Current Weight: 70 lbs | Expected Adult Weight: 80-90 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...
Apr 14, 2025 | Available Maremmas, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program |
Born: July 26, 2024 | Female | Current Weight: 70-80 lbs | Expected Adult Weight: 80-100 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...
Apr 10, 2025 | *Planning Ahead, Available Maremmas, Bringing Home Your LGD, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Starting With LGDs |
Planning Ahead: Why Timing Matters When Adding a Livestock Guardian Dog to Your Farm Unlike bringing home a pet dog – where you might only need a few days off work to help a puppy settle in – adding a Livestock Guardian Dog to your farm requires careful...
Mar 28, 2025 | Available Maremmas, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program |
Born: June 20, 2024 | Male | Current Weight: 90 lbs | Expected Adult Weight: 120-130+ 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...
Jan 23, 2025 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, *Top Posts, Family Dog Mediation, LGD Training & Behavior |
Livestock guardian dog owners, this is the game-changing resource you’ve been waiting for. Kim Brophy’s “The Dog’s Truth” offers a revolutionary approach to understanding dogs that goes far beyond anything you may have heard. It is...
Jan 18, 2025 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, *Top Posts, Book Reviews, Bringing Home Your LGD, Karen Pryor Academy, LGD Training & Behavior, Starting With LGDs |
There are three key components that are required in order to produce an outstanding Livestock Guardian Dog. The first two – genetics and early training and socialization (or Nature and Nurture) – are the responsibility of the breeder. If you’ve...
Jan 18, 2025 | *How Many LGDS, *Top Posts, Bringing Home Your LGD, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Starting With LGDs |
Ask this question of dog breeders, livestock owners and even pet dog owners and you will get a lot of different opinions, some of them very strong. New puppy buyers are trying to do their research so they can the best thing for their dogs and their stock....
Jan 16, 2025 | Livestock Guardian Dogs |
As a dedicated Maremma Sheepdog breeder and positive reinforcement trainer specializing in livestock guardian dogs (LGDs), I’ve always believed in the power of community. Today, I’m thrilled to announce a program that will strengthen our connections while...
Jan 2, 2025 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, Maremma Breeding Program, Prancing Pony Maremmas News |
It's a New Year It’s hard to believe that 2025 is finally here. Where did the time go? Looking Back at 2024 Electra had three lovely pups in February. Lucy is now guarding chickens in Massachusetts and Levi and Jocelyn are guarding goats in Texas. Completion...
Dec 5, 2024 | Client Stories & Testimonials, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
Meet Oliver, the excellent chicken guardian. Oliver is a dog from our first Maremma litter, born in 2017. When Oliver’s owners came to me for an LGD, they had never bought a dog from a breeder because they strongly believed in rescuing dogs. However, they needed...
Nov 26, 2024 | Dog Health & Wellness, Livestock Guardian Dogs, Product Reviews |
🦃🐾 Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Livestock Guardian Dogs 🐾🦃 Thanksgiving is a season of joy, gratitude, and indulgent feasting. It’s a time when we gather with family and friends to celebrate the abundance of life. But while you’re enjoying pumpkin pie and...
Nov 20, 2024 | LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Guardian Dogs |
This post was inspired by a question asked by a member of my Living and Working With Maremma Sheepdogs Facebook group. This was her question. My reply is below! Question “Hello! I’m new to the group and looking for all the info I can on breed-specific...
Nov 7, 2024 | Book Reviews, LGD Training & Behavior, Product Reviews |
What are calming signals in livestock guardian dogs? Understanding calming signals in livestock guardian dogs is essential for anyone who owns these remarkable animals. These dogs are not just protectors of livestock and beloved companions; they are also complex...
Nov 6, 2024 | Livestock Guardian Dogs, *Top Posts, Bringing Home Your LGD, LGD Training & Behavior, Livestock Integration, Starting With LGDs |
Ensuring harmony between livestock and Livestock Guardian Dogs is essential for the safety and well-being of all animals involved, and the peace of mind of their owners. In this post I will walk you through a crucial aspect of farm life – safely acclimating...
Oct 31, 2024 | LGD Training & Behavior, Product Reviews, Puppy Care & Training |
Are you wondering how to keep your Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) puppy happy and active? LGD breeds like Maremma Sheepdogs, Great Pyrenees, and Anatolian Shepherds need appropriate play outlets to prevent boredom, which can lead to rowdy behavior around livestock and... 
