Breeding Candidate Puppy Program
Most of our puppies go on spay/neuter contracts on Limited Registration. We will consider breeding placements with experienced Maremma breeders who align with our values and beliefs about best practices for managing, training, and breeding LGDs. When considering placing a puppy in a breeding candidate home, we will look at such things as the potential buyer's experience level with the breed (or similar breeds), their preferred training methods, past experience in training and breeding LGDs, their reasons for wanting to breed Maremmas, their willingness, and commitment to educate themselves on topics that will make them a good Maremma owner, trainer and breeder, and more.
*Please note - We have previously sold puppies on breeding contracts to those new to the breed. This has proven problematic for several reasons. Going forward, we will only consider breeding placements with experienced Maremma breeders or those with at least a few years of experience using the breed as LGDs and meeting our other requirements. Maremmas are complicated dogs, and new owners need to spend adequate time getting to know their dogs and learn more about the breed before even thinking about breeding.
*Please note - We have previously sold puppies on breeding contracts to those new to the breed. This has proven problematic for several reasons. Going forward, we will only consider breeding placements with experienced Maremma breeders or those with at least a few years of experience using the breed as LGDs and meeting our other requirements. Maremmas are complicated dogs, and new owners need to spend adequate time getting to know their dogs and learn more about the breed before even thinking about breeding.
The Terms of Our Breeding Contract are as Follows:
- All puppies will be sold with Limited Registration papers initially. No puppy leaves here with Full Registration, no matter who the buyer is. These papers may be changed to Full Registration later, after the dog and the owner have met all the requirements. The owner will be responsible for the processing fee to update the registration certificate.
- PPF will select a puppy with breeding potential in conformation, temperament, and working ability. However, no guarantees can or will be made that the puppy will mature into a breeding-quality dog, as that is impossible to predict with accuracy at such an early age.
- We do not charge extra for breeding potential puppies; therefore, if the puppy does not turn out to be a suitable breeding candidate for any reason or if the owners do not meet the terms of the agreement required to procure breeding rights, then no compensation will be given.
- Completion of the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations is required to obtain a breeding placement from us. Taking this course is the most important thing you can do to successfully train the puppy you buy from us, as well as any future puppies you breed. (We may accept the completion of a similar, positive-reinforcement-based course such as Fear Free. This is totally at our discretion.)
- Completion of the Puppy Culture program is required before full registration will be awarded.
- Rewarding of Breeding Rights is at our sole discretion and is not in any way guaranteed.
Requirements the Dog Must Meet to Obtain Breeding Rights
- The dog must be registered with the MSCA before being bred. Initial registration will be Limited, which may be changed to Full registration once all the other terms are met.
- The dog must be at least two years of age before they are bred for the first time. If a dog is allowed to be bred before reaching this age or before the Limited Registration has been revoked, then breeding rights will be forfeited for the life of the dog.
- The dog must have a PennHip score of .41 or better or a permanent OFA score of fair or better, and an OFA Elbow score of Normal. A preliminary OFA score will not be accepted. The registration status of the dog cannot be changed until they have passed their permanent hip and elbow evaluations. If the dog is bred before they have had their permanent hip and elbow evaluations with a passing score as outlined above, then breeding rights will be forfeited for the life of the dog.
- The dog must have Embark or another DNA testing panel completed before breeding rights are rewarded.
- Proof must be given that the dog is a livestock guardian successfully living with and guarding livestock before they are bred. The dog will not be awarded breeding rights if it is a companion dog or estate guardian. It must show a temperament that is trustworthy and safe with livestock to ensure it passes good temperaments on to its offspring.
- Any dog with which the PPF dog is to be bred must be a purebred Maremma Sheepdog, fully registered with the MSCA and must be approved of by PPF before Full Registration is given. The PPF dog may not be bred to an unregistered Maremma Sheepdog or with a dog of any other breed or with any mixed breed dog. Using a PPF Maremma to breed "doodles" or any other "hybrid" is expressly forbidden.
- Any dog with which the LGD is bred must be a successful Livestock Guardian Dog, not a companion Maremma or estate guardian. Proof will be required to show working ability. The intended mate must have a PennHip score of .41 or better. In lieu of a passing PennHip score, the intended mate may have a permanent OFA score of fair or better with the stipulation that two dogs with a fair score may not be bred together, as this increases the chances of passing hip dysplasia to the puppies. The intended mate must also have OFA Normal elbows.
- Female dogs should not be overbred, bred too often, or produce more litters than is healthy in their lifetime. They should be retired from breeding at a reasonable age and spayed to prevent health problems or accidental matings. The specifics of this will be outlined in the puppy contract.
- Male dogs should be bred selectively to quality MSCA-registered bitches who meet the MSCA breed standard.
Requirements the Owner Must Meet to Obtain Breeding Rights
- The BUYER must have at least two years of experience owning and training the breed and using them as LGDs.
- The BUYER should have successfully raised and trained at least two working Maremma Sheepdogs to full maturity. (We require two dogs because not all Maremmas are the same, and raising and training one dog is not a true test of one's training skills.)
- The BUYER's current LGDs must be proven trustworthy and safe with livestock. They must live with the livestock, not be estate guardians.
- We will no longer consider giving breeding rights to those brand new to the breed as this has proven to not be in the best interests of the dogs or their owners. Maremmas are complicated dogs, and new owners need to spend adequate time getting to know their dogs and learn more about the breed before even thinking about breeding.
- The BUYER must be and remain a member in good standing with the MSCA.
- The BUYER must sign the MSCA Code of Ethics and adhere to it at all times.
- The BUYER must complete the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations Course before breeding rights are granted. (Completion of a similar positive-reinforcement-based program (like Fear Free or a higher level KPA course) may be substituted at the BREEDER's discretion.)
- The BUYER must complete the Puppy Culture program before breeding rights will be awarded. (This may be waived at the BREEDER's discretion if the BUYER has adequate experience breeding dogs.)
- The BUYER agrees to use only Positive Reinforcement training methods on their dog and any puppies they produce. No aversive methods or "balanced" training is allowed.
- All puppies whelped or sired by a PPF Maremma Sheepdog must be registered with the MSCA.
- The BUYER agrees that any puppies resulting from the breeding(s) will be placed in caring,
responsible homes where they will work as Livestock Guardian Dogs unless proven unfit in temperament, physical health, or condition. - The BUYER will not breed for the pet market nor sell puppies to pet shops, brokers, or dealers.
