Finding a Trustworthy, Dependable LGD Isn't Easy
Livestock Guardian Dogs are one of the best forms of protection against predators available. However, only some dogs make trustworthy, dependable Livestock Guardians. If you're not careful, you may end up with a dog unsuited for the job, making training harder than it should be. The dog could even endanger or kill the animals it is supposed to guard. Or devastating health problems like hip dysplasia can cause unexpected vet bills and affect your dog's ability to do its job and live a comfortable life. Below are some issues you should watch out for when evaluating puppies or adult dogs.
- Breeder doesn't do any health testing, particularly no PennHip or OFA testing to screen for Hip Dysplasia. Puppies could develop crippling arthritis, rendering them unfit to work. The dog could require expensive surgeries and lifelong medications, resulting in a financial burden. Some dogs are in so much pain they must be euthanized, which is a devastating outcome, financially and emotionally.
- The parents of the puppies do not live with and actively guard livestock. If this is the case, it's likely because they have an untrustworthy temperament with livestock, making them unsuitable for producing LGDs. It could also be because the breeder doesn't know how to train LGDs properly. Anyone who doesn't know how to train LGDs shouldn't be breeding them.
- The puppies get little to no exposure to livestock while under the breeder's care. All puppies have critical socialization windows in the first weeks. What they are or aren't exposed to during this period affects them for the rest of their lives. LGD puppies must begin learning their jobs as soon as they can see, hear and walk. Breeders who do not expose their puppies to livestock during this period either don't understand puppy development or care about its impact on the dogs their puppies will become.
- Breeder neglects to socialize puppies with people and expose them to novel experiences. Some breeders use the excuse that they aren't selling pets to justify ignoring their puppies' socialization with humans and exposure to various novel experiences. This "hands-off" approach to puppy rearing can produce unsafe, fearful, and aggressive dogs. And it is unnecessary. Livestock Guardian Dogs can bond equally with their human families and the stock they guard.
- Breeder uses or recommends aversive training methods. Science shows that all dogs respond best to positive training methods. LGDs, in particular, thrive with positive training. Breeders who use harsh and aversive training methods take shortcuts that could harm the dog and its owner.
- Breeder offers little to no ongoing customer support. Raising and training an LGD to maturity can be confusing and a bit scary, especially for first-time owners. A breeder who leaves the owner to figure things out alone is not supporting their puppy or client.
You and your animals deserve better and we can help!
How Our Breeding Program Ensures Your Success
- Our breeding dogs have all had their hips evaluated by the superior PenHip method and have scores that far exceed the breed average, minimizing the chance that they will pass Hip Dysplasia on to their puppies. They have also been DNA tested to screen for genetic defects. All of our dogs' health test results are listed on their individual pages on our website.
- Our breeding dogs are proven working Livestock Guardian Dogs who live full-time with and actively guard our dairy goats and other animals. Working ability and safe, reliable temperaments are a top priority in our program.
- Our puppies live with and are well-socialized with livestock from birth. We utilize Puppy Culture and positive reinforcement training methods and expose our puppies to various people and novel experiences to be well-socialized and build resilience and adaptability. Our program capitalizes on the puppies' critical socialization window, maximizing their chances of maturing into successful Livestock Guardians and well-rounded family dogs.
- Raising your Prancing Pony Maremma Sheepdog to maturity is a team effort. We provide a 2-year health guarantee and lifetime support for our puppies and their owners. We have a carefully laid out training plan we recommend our puppy owners follow, which makes training easy and fun. We are also available by phone, text, or email for advice and encouragement. We will be there for you every step of the way!
As farmers who rely on our dogs to keep our livestock safe, we understand the importance of LGDs that are reliable protection against predators and trustworthy with livestock. As breeders, we know what it takes to produce such dogs. As trainers we have completed several courses on dog training and behavior in order to better train our puppies and support our puppy owners. We breed and train the dogs we need, which are precisely the dogs our clients need.
We’ve been breeding, training and using Maremmas on our farm since 2016. We have raised and trained over 150 Maremmas, including pups we bred as well as Maremmas we’ve acquired from other breeders. This has really taught us what is necessary to maximize the chances of success with LGDs, as well as the pitfalls to look out for when choosing a breeder. It’s our honor to share what we have learned with our customers and to use that knowledge to help them succeed with Maremmas.
Testimonials From Google
To see more testimonials from our Maremma clients you can go to our Testimonials Page or check out Google Reviews
Cynthia Jolicoeur Rood
So what you get when you buy a Maremma puppy from Prancing Pony Farm is a pup with excellent breeding (including all the essential health testing on both the sire’s and dam’s sides), raised with all of the benefits of Puppy culture (which gives puppies confidence when they encounter new experiences) and exposed to livestock from Day 1. That’s a terrific foundation to build upon...I have been immensely impressed with the puppies I purchased from Kim. They are bonding easily with me and my family, with my GSDs and with the livestock (horses, goats and chickens). They are good-natured, affectionate and VERY smart and even at just 5 months old are showing their guardian traits.
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Ashley Wilkes
I just purchased our third puppy from Kim, after buying two puppies from her last year to start our farm. Kim met, and continues to meet the criteria of things that are important to me when looking for a breeder...
We love our dogs that came from Prancing Pony Farm. They were among the first members of the family to join the farm, because we knew the importance of having well-bred LGDs to protect our stock. We have not had a single issue with predators on our farm, and we live in an area with coyotes, bears, foxes, wolves, hawks, etc, etc. They guard sheep, pigs, chickens, guinea fowl, and ducks. |
Violet Qu
The reason I decided to invest in an LGD from Kim is because she sets up her puppies for success as LGDs from the day they are born....I also wanted to vouch for the validity of the puppy lifetime support policy that comes with the sale. Since I’ve brought the puppy home, I have been in daily communication with Kim... I’ve received advice on integrating the pup with my resident LGD, fencing, introducing her to the goats, worming, vaccination, etc...Having purchased my first LGD pup from an oopsie litter from a hobby farm, and now the second pup from Kim, I can see for myself what a difference a well bred, well started pup makes. Kim’s puppies aren’t cheap, but they are such a worthwhile investment!
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Buying a Maremma Sheepdog from us is easy!
Step 1Fill out our Maremma Questionnaire. Be sure to answer all the required questions and hit SUBMIT.
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Step 2We will reply to your questionnaire by email within 24 hours. If you don't hear from us check your spam folder. If our reply isn't there you can text us at (559) 904-5193 or email at kim@prancingponyfarm.com and we will figure out what the issue is. In our reply will be the info on available Puppies or dogs. Once you've received our reply we will discuss your needs and answer any questions you have.
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Step 3When your questions have all been answered and you are ready to make a reservation for a currently available or upcoming Maremma we will send you a payment request through Good Dog's secure payment system for the reservation fee. Then we will guide you every step of the way through the process to get your new Maremma home and be there to support and encourage you for the life of your dog!
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The True Cost of "Affordable" Livestock Guardian Dogs
Some people believe a Livestock Guardian Dog should be cheap and "affordable." They elect to buy an inexpensive dog to save money for other things. We get it. Starting a farm or homestead is expensive. However, a Livestock Guardian Dog is an investment in your livestock's safety and your peace of mind. Many breeders are willing to sell you an "affordable" puppy. But is that a wise use of your money or will that decision come back to haunt you?
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Get Our Maremma Sheepdog Buyers' GuideThis guide will give you all the important topics you need to consider when choosing a Maremma Puppy.
Buying a Livestock Guardian Dog is a serious undertaking. More is at stake than would be if it were only a companion dog you were shopping for. Choosing the wrong breeder and puppy can have devastating consequences. This guide will make it super easy for you to maximize your chances of success and ensure you get the best LGD possible to guard your valuable livestock.
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Prancing Pony Maremma Puppies Learning Their Jobs!
Our pups love their goats!
Oliver the Excellent Chicken Guardian!
Oliver is a dog from our very first litter, born in 2017.
