Prancing Pony Farm Blog

Feeling Thankful in Spite of Life's Trials

11/23/2023

My daughter, Jessica, with my 5-year-old granddaughter, Ellie.

I hope you had a happy and blessed Thanksgiving. I had planned to write a nice Thanksgiving day post and have it posted by early this morning. However, life doesn't always go as planned, and this year was one of those years.

On Tuesday, one of my granddaughters, 5-year-old Penelope, was admitted to Valley Children's Hospital with suspected appendicitis. After a lot of tests, it was determined that her appendix had already ruptured, and she had quite a nasty infection. Right now, they are treating her with IV antibiotics and trying to get the infection under control enough to operate, but the whole recovery process will probably take a few months. I never realized how complicated treating such an infection is in a child.

My daughter Jessica spent Thanksgiving with Ellie today at the hospital while the rest of the family celebrated at home without them. This included my daughter's husband, David, and their three other daughters, Scarlett, Colette, and Genevieve. After we all ate, David and the girls headed to the hospital to take Thanksgiving dinner to Jess and to visit Ellie. (Ellie still isn't feeling well enough to eat.) Until Ellie is out of the hospital the rest of the family will be pitching in to help with her siblings and also driving back and forth to Fresno to visit her.

Even though Ellie is still feeling pretty bad, we are thankful that she is under the excellent care of the doctors and staff of VCH, and we are so grateful that her illness was caught in time to treat it. And we are so thankful to the many doctors, nurses, and other staff who are giving their time to care for Ellie and all the other sick children this Thanksgiving. This illness has been a lesson in how life can change in an instant, and we should be grateful for our blessings, big and small.

I'm so thankful for my family and friends and my animals that I love so much. And I'm grateful for my clients who have given such great homes to the Maremmas and goats I breed. But I will admit that sometimes, when life gets rough and scary, like this illness with Ellie, I question if I should even be running this business. Yes, I love what I do, but does it matter enough to devote so much time and work to this business when my family needs me?

Then, today, I received a text from Dave, a client in Texas who bought two Maremma pups from me in September. Reading Dave's words, I know that what I am doing matters--a lot. And I know that I can do both. I can be there for my family and continue breeding amazing animals for wonderful clients like Dave. It's just a matter of being flexible and finding the balance. Sometimes, life throws unexpected obstacles our way, but if we keep focusing on what matters, we can work through them.

Wishing you all a very blessed Thanksgiving!

0 Comments

Welcome to Honeybook: Our New Maremma Sheepdog and Dairy Goat CRM!

11/9/2023

0 Comments

To better serve our Maremma, dairy goat, and training clients, we have recently started using Honeybook as a CRM (customer relationship management system) and will be transitioning all of our current clients and recent contacts from our old system to Honeybook. From now on, when you come to the website, instead of filling out the puppy or goat questionnaire, you will fill out a simple contact form to add you to our Honeybook system. From there, we can supply you with whatever information you need and answer all your questions. You can also book a phone consultation if that would be more helpful to you.

Once you are in the system, you will have a client portal where you can see any communications you have had with us and any documents or important information we have shared with you. We will still send info via email, but you can access everything in your client portal. This will make things much easier for you and us since neither of us will need to search through our email inboxes to remember any important information. This will significantly improve your customer experience and streamline my workflow.

Below is a link to give you a little info on how the client portal works:

Client Portal Info

We will still use some of our current systems, including GoodDog for puppy payments and Breeder Cloud Pro for puppy contracts and medical records. (We will also be adding the goat program to BCP.) Those systems are set up for animal businesses and are still highly valuable for us and our clients. But everything else will be done through Honeybook and should make for a much better user experience.

We will be adding email sequences and FAQ emails that will be very useful for our clients before and after bringing home their Maremmas or goats. This will include things like feeding and training info, recommendations for supplies that will be helpful for you, reminders about medical care your animal has had or will need, and so much more. There will be lots of resources for other consulting clients, as well.

We are very excited about adding Honeybook to our business. This is just one more tool that will help us provide the best client experience in the Maremma and goat breeding industry. We can't wait to see how it will improve our customer journey and decrease our workload. That will give us more time to spend with what matters - our dogs, goats, and our awesome clients!

Please let us know if you have any trouble navigating the system or have ideas you think would be helpful for us to add, such as an email reminder or topic that you would find beneficial. We look forward to giving you even better customer service with Honeybook!

0 Comments

Training Your Livestock Guardian Dog Using the ABC Dog Training Method

10/25/2023

0 Comments

When training livestock guardian dogs (LGDs), it's important to remember that these noble animals have been bred for centuries to protect herds with minimal human intervention. However, we can still guide them in the right direction using proven scientific concepts. One such concept is the Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence (ABC) arrangement. The ABCs of behavioral training are a simple yet effective approach to understanding and shaping your dog's behavior. Once you understand the "Dog Training ABCs," it will make your job much more manageable, strengthen your bond with your dog, and help you to help your new puppy mature into the incredible LGD he was meant to be.

*I will use dog, pup, and puppy interchangeably in this article. But I am usually referring to puppies or juvenile dogs. Any LGD under two years old is considered a puppy or juvenile, not an adult dog. They may look like adult dogs by six months, but they're not

What are the ABCs of Dog Training?

The 'Antecedent' or 'A' refers to what happens just before the dog's behavior, acting as the trigger for the subsequent response. The 'Behavior' or 'B' represents the dog's response to the antecedent, the action it undertakes in reaction to the trigger. Lastly, the 'Consequence' or 'C' is what happens immediately after the behavior, which can be a reward or lack thereof. By manipulating the Antecedents and Consequences, we can influence our dogs' behavior positively and effectively. This method is about training and building a trusting relationship with your Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD). It's all about communication, understanding, and respect.

Understanding the ABCs

To truly grasp the ABC method in training your Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD), it's essential to delve deeper into each component.

A for Antecedent

The 'Antecedent' is the event or environment that triggers a specific behavior in your dog. This could be anything from seeing a predator approaching the flock, hearing a noise, or even your own actions, such as opening a gate. The key here is to recognize what environmental factors are eliciting specific responses from your dog

B for Behavior

The 'Behavior' is your dog's response to the antecedent. It's what your dog does in reaction to the trigger. This can be barking, sitting, running, chasing stock, or any number of actions. By observing these behaviors, you start to understand your dog's natural responses to different stimuli.

C for Consequence

Finally, the 'Consequence' is what happens immediately after the behavior. This could be a treat, petting, or praise during a training session. Alternatively, it could be a lack of reaction, reinforcing the idea that the behavior was undesirable. A natural consequence could be the reaction of a predator, or even of the livestock itself, to the dog's behavior. The consequence plays a significant role in reinforcing or discouraging certain behaviors.

Understanding all three components of the ABC method is crucial for effective training. It lets you influence your dog's behavior by altering the antecedents and consequences. Over time, this can help shape your LGD's behavior to create a reliable, trusted guardian for your livestock.

The ABC method works because it taps into the natural learning process of your Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD). You can predict your dog's behaviors and prepare appropriate responses by identifying the antecedents. Controlling the consequences allows you to discourage undesirable behaviors and encourage more beneficial ones. For example, suppose your dog tends to chase certain livestock (the behavior). In that case, you can alter the antecedent (the triggering animal) by changing the dog's and the stock's arrangement. Similarly, you can control the consequence by rewarding when the dog stops, ignores the trigger, and exhibits calm behavior. I will delve more deeply into real-life examples later in this post.

This method is effective because it aligns with your dog's natural tendencies. Dogs learn from a cause-and-effect perspective and respond to consistent patterns. Controlling the antecedents and consequences guides your dog toward the behaviors you want to see. It's a non-confrontational, positive-reinforcement-based approach to training, making it highly effective and promoting a strong bond between you and your LGD. By utilizing the ABC method, you're setting your dog up for success, creating a safer environment for your livestock, and fostering a harmonious coexistence.

Applying the ABC Method for Livestock Guardian Dog Training

The first step in applying the ABC method is carefully observing your LGD's behavior and identifying the antecedents and consequences. Keep a log of the behaviors you want to change or reinforce, noting what happens immediately before (the antecedent) and immediately after (the consequence).

The next step is to manipulate the antecedents to discourage unwanted behaviors. For instance, a dog or pup* who exhibits any chase behavior with poultry, young sheep, or goats should be supervised with those animals until they are more mature and show a consistent, calm demeanor around them. The number one mistake new LGD owners make is giving their new LGD too much responsibility for their developmental stage. I rarely have a dog under two years old unsupervised with poultry or goat kids unless they have shown extreme maturity. I never allow a dog under a year to be with delicate stock, and even once the dogs are given more freedom, I continually monitor the situation to ensure things are going well.

I have learned to carefully observe my young dogs and livestock for any signs of trouble. Often, things are going well, and suddenly, I notice chase behavior. Here are some of the things I have observed in my dogs and how they relate to the ABCs:

Scenario 1

Pups suddenly start chasing one particular goat in the herd.

Antecedent - That goat is more "flighty" than the other goats, getting easily spooked when the pups run around and play with each other. The goat's flighty behavior triggers the young dogs and encourages them to chase.

Behavior - The dogs decide chasing goats would be a fun new game.

Consequence - The dog is learning undesired behavior, and the goat is acting increasingly flighty, encouraging the dogs to chase more. If I don't intervene, this could become a bad habit for the young dog. Chasing livestock is a self-rewarding behavior that results in a dopamine hit in the dogs and can quickly become addicting.

Solution: Remove the flighty goat from the pasture, put it with mature adult dogs, and do not allow it to encourage inappropriate behavior and bad habits in the pups.

You would be amazed how removing just one animal from the situation can change things. Don't ever put flighty animals with puppies or young dogs. Remember, protecting the stock is not a young dog's job. They are still in training. Keeping the stock safe until the puppy is fully mature is your job. At the same time, you must set your puppy's environment up so they can reach maturity without developing bad habits.

Scenario 2

Dogs chase goats at feeding time when they are otherwise calm and quiet.

Antecedent - The goats know it's feeding time, and they get excited, yelling and running around.

Behavior - The goats' behavior excites the dogs, eliciting the same self-rewarding chase behavior outlined above.

Consequence - The same as above. The dogs are learning undesired behavior, egged on by the goats themselves.

Solution: I started feeding my dogs before the goats were fed when I noticed this pattern. Because my goats eat dog food, I have to feed the dogs in separate feeding areas to prevent resource guarding. (And so I don't waste money feeding expensive dog food to greedy goats.) So, I put the dogs in their feeding areas while my son feeds the goats. By the time I let the dogs back out, the goats are quietly eating, and the dogs don't get triggered by their silly behavior.

This is usually only a temporary issue with some dogs. They are no longer triggered once they get desensitized to the goats' excited behavior at feeding time.

Scenario 3

I noticed a lot of chase behavior among young dogs in the fall when they hadn't previously behaved this way with the goats. It took me a bit to figure it out.

Antecedent - I realized that when it was breeding season for the goats, they began all their antics of head-butting, jumping around, and acting silly. (Both the does and bucks engage in this behavior.) These young dogs had never seen such behavior in the goats and didn't understand what it meant. But it did look like a fun game to them.

Behavior Unfortunately, when the dogs tried to join the game, the goats didn't appreciate it. Some just ignored them, but others began acting flighty and fearful. All this silly goat behavior only encouraged the pups to chase more.

Consequence - This started a vicious cycle of goats acting flighty and pups chasing and on and on.

Solution - Remove the pups from pastures with goats in heat or rut. I put those goats with the mature dogs and the puppies to work guarding different stock or in adjacent fields where they could observe the goats' antics but not join in the fun. Once the breeding season was over, I could return the young dogs to the goats without further problems.

Scenario 4 - Variation on Scenario 3

*Another ABC arrangement that can cause problems during breeding season is that the bucks can start to harass the dogs, treating them like does. (A) This can annoy the dogs and cause them to get aggressive toward the bucks to defend themselves from their advances. (B) I want my dogs to refrain from developing antagonistic feelings towards the bucks (C). I usually remove them from the buck pasture until they are out of rut. No dog deserves to be bullied by a stinky buck!

Reinforcing the Behavior You Do Want - the Power of Poisitive Reinforcement

Use positive reinforcement methods like clicker training to encourage desired behaviors in your Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs). This technique involves rewarding your dog for behaviors you want to promote, increasing the chances of them being repeated.

During training, start with short, supervised sessions using high-value treats like baked chicken, meatballs, or cheese as rewards. You can gradually transition to using praise, snuggles, or favorite toys as reinforcement. Remember to provide the reinforcement immediately after the desired behavior to create a strong association. Using a clicker will help expedite the learning process.

Positive reinforcement is a powerful method that improves your LGD's responsiveness and strengthens the bond between you and your dog. It promotes good behavior, reduces the risk of fear or anxiety, and facilitates learning new behaviors. Through consistent rewards for desired behavior, your LGD will associate learning with positive emotions, leading to cognitive development and a willingness to learn.

It might take some time, but you'll start seeing results in your dog's training by patiently using the ABC arrangement and positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement can significantly improve your LGD's behavior, fostering trust, mutual respect, and effective communication. Remember, the goal is to guide your dog's behavior, not control it.

In Conclusion

Finally, consistency is critical for this method to be effective. Ensure you consistently apply the same antecedents and consequences to the same behaviors, allowing your dog to understand and learn from the cause-and-effect relationship. Also, look for unintentional antecedents in the environment that may encourage behavior you don't want from your dog. Adjust the situation (A) to get the Behavior (B) you want out of your dog, and in time, the consequence (C) will be a fantastic LGD that is worth its weight in gold.

We'd love to hear your stories! If you've tried the ABC method with your Livestock Guardian Dogs, share your experiences with us. Your feedback is invaluable, and your stories are a source of inspiration and learning for our community. So, whether you've seen drastic changes or are just starting to notice subtle differences, every experience is worth sharing. Together, we are improving our LGDs' lives and creating a more compassionate world for all dogs. Share your ABC stories with us, and let's make a difference together!

Now is the perfect time to start if you have not tried using ABCs with your Livestock Guardian Dogs. Remember, this is more than just a training tool--it's a science-backed way to deepen your bond with your dogs, make training more manageable for you and your dog, and help your dog mature into the fantastic LGD it was meant to be! You have nothing to lose and so much to gain. So, let's take the first step towards a happier, healthier future for your LGDs with the ABC method. Start today!

Reserve Your Maremma!

0 Comments

Improving Myself as a Dog Breeder Through the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional Program

10/4/2023

0 Comments

Hello, amazing clients, followers, and email subscribers. I have an exciting announcement to share with you. As you know, I have been breeding top-quality Maremma Sheepdogs for several years. Maremmas I produced are successfully living and working all over the United States and Canada in every setting imaginable, guarding all types of livestock from predators of all kinds.

Three things are needed to excel in any field. Hands-on experience, hard work, and the dedicated pursuit of knowledge in that field. I have learned much from living and working with hundreds of Maremma Sheepdogs. I have also worked on my education through dedicated study, excellent books, and online courses. After much thought and planning, I have decided to take my business and education to the next level by enrolling in the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional course.

Why am I doing this? Simply put, I want to provide better training for my Maremma Sheepdogs and better support my clients and anyone else who needs help training their Maremma Sheepdogs.

Why I Chose the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional Course

In my efforts to improve myself as a breeder and trainer, I have taken many dog training courses, including the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations course, Karen Pryor Academy's Puppy Start Right for Instructors, Karen Pryor Academy's Better Veterinary Visits, Karen Pryor Academy's Hesitant Hounds, Karen Pryor Academy's weeklong Across Species at the Ranch Workshop, Puppy Culture, Suzanne Clothier's Introduction to CARAT, and more.

Investing time and money in professional education and training sets professionals apart from amateurs, no matter what field you are in. Anyone who says they don't need to educate themselves to be great at what they do is lying to you and themselves. Those who believe they can learn everything they need through free YouTube videos and social media miss many stellar improvement opportunities and expose themselves to misinformation and questionable advice from self-appointed but uneducated "experts." Those venues can be a great addition to your professional education if used with a heavy dose of discernment, but they should not be the extent of it.

Everyone can benefit from reading great books written by experts in their field, taking comprehensive step-by-step courses, and through dedicated hands-on practice. You must spend the money and time to educate and improve yourself to be the best. Since I aim to be the best Maremma Sheepdog breeder in North America, I always look for ways to improve myself, better serve my animals and clients, and reach that goal.

Therefore, after much thought and planning, I have decided to take my business and education to the next level by enrolling in the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional course.

Here is a Description of the Professional Program From the KPA Website:

"This comprehensive program offers an in-depth curriculum that teaches both the science and the practice of dog training in particular and animal training generally, client teaching, canine behavior problem-solving, and dog training business management. The DTP program is based on the most up-to-date behavior science and modern training and teaching practices. Earn the confidence to help others and learn from our top-notch faculty the best practices that distinguish our graduates as leading dog trainer professionals."

This is a 6-month intensive course that includes online home study through reading, watching videos, and hands-on practice with a canine training partner and an animal of another species. It requires approximately 4 to 5 hours of daily study, daily training practice with a dog and one other type of animal, written homework, tests, and video submissions to be graded. There are also in-person workshops to attend with your canine training partner.

The program is run by various KPA faculty members, with clinics held in multiple locations worldwide. The program I chose runs from October through April, with the final workshop in Los Angeles. The program costs $5600, plus hotel and travel fees to the in-person workshop. And lots and lots of training treats will be required for my training partners! Thank goodness for Amazon Subscribe and Save and Costco! (I use a combination of dog treats and people food for training dogs.)

After completing the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional course, I will be the only current Maremma Sheepdog breeder in North America who is also a certified dog trainer. The Maremma Sheepdogs I breed will benefit from a whelping box to new home training and socialization experience by a breeder who is also a certified professional dog trainer. This will set my puppies and their new owners up for maximum success. This will also allow the puppies the continuity of care of having the same person rearing and training them, as opposed to breeders or owners who send their pups off for training elsewhere.

Going from one home to another is confusing and stressful for dogs, especially puppies. And this includes a puppy going from a breeder to a "board and train" trainer and then to their new home, or from the breeder to the new home to the trainer and back to the new home. Every move is stressful for the dog. No matter how talented the trainer or how dedicated the owner is to having a well-trained pup, it's kinder and more effective for a puppy to go directly from the breeder/trainer to its new home rather than making multiple transitions. It's also more effective for the new owner to train their own dog, under the supervision of a good trainer, than to send the dog off and have someone else do all the training. Your new puppy needs to learn how to interact and bond with you, not a stranger. Now, with the skills and concepts I will learn in the Professionals program, I will be able to give my puppies a thorough training experience and better coach and support my puppy owners as they take over the training of their new pups.

Read below if you would like to learn more about the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional course and why I chose it.

Understanding Canine Behavior

The Karen Pryor Academy's curriculum is built on modern scientific concepts that have been proven effective for positive dog training. This approach is rooted in understanding canine behavior, motivation, and the proper usage of positive reinforcement. By understanding their behavior, I can effectively communicate with my Maremma Sheepdogs, encourage their willingness to learn, and set them up for success as Livestock Guardian Dogs or companions.

Practical Training

One of the things I look forward to is practical training. I will be going through the program with a canine training partner (and another species), allowing me to get hands-on experience. This approach is critical; it will help me develop practical skills in real-life scenarios.

The dog I have chosen to work with is our family's 6-year-old Boxer, Luna. I will practice the skills I am learning at home with Luna, and then she will accompany me to the Training Center in April for the final workshop.

I chose Luna as a training partner because starting with a more biddable dog is more manageable when learning new training skills. I want to make this as easy as possible so I can focus on learning. But I also plan to practice everything I'm learning with my Maremmas and to make many helpful videos to share with my clients, followers, and email list subscribers. Hopefully, by the end, I'll have an excellent compilation of "How to Train Your Maremma Sheepdog" videos for you all!

Luna

Clicker Training Goats in a Dog Training Course?!

Another course requirement is that you also work with a non-canine training partner. (Because working with different species improves your skills with your chosen species.) So, you guessed it, I will be working on clicker training a goat! This has been something I've been planning to do ever since I attended Karen Pryor Academy's weeklong Across Species at the Ranch Workshop in August 2022. So, having this as a course requirement will force me to stop procrastinating and finally do it!

I have many goats to choose from and will probably work with several of them, but my leading goat training partner will be Pearl. She is the last daughter of my beloved doe, Jessie, whom I lost in 2022. Clicker training Pearl will be a special way to honor Jessie.

In future posts, I will write more about Luna, Pearl, and my experiences with the Professionals program and post videos of what I'm learning and teaching the Maremmas and goats, so stay tuned!

Prancing Pony Jessie's Pearl

Benefits to My Clients

As one of my current or future Maremma clients, you will benefit highly from my training with Karen Pryor Academy. The skills and knowledge gained from this course will allow me to train my Maremma Sheepdog puppies to the highest level in the industry. This will benefit anyone who buys a Maremma Sheepdog from me. As my puppy client, you will have free access to lifetime support from a certified trainer for your dog's entire life, no matter where you live. You can receive my training support via phone, text, email, FaceTime, or Zoom. No need to hire a trainer. Professional training services come included with your Maremma Sheepdog puppy!

The failure rate for Livestock Guardian Dogs is about 30%, primarily due to training problems. Many claim to be Livestock Guardian Dog "trainers" and "experts." Unfortunately, most of them have no actual education or experience. Much of their advice is sketchy at best and downright dangerous at worst. I know only one person in the United States who is a certified dog trainer with credentials, training, and experience with Maremma Sheepdogs. One person cannot serve an entire breed. And no one can serve my Maremmas and my clients like I can. I'm doing this for my Maremmas and for you, my clients!

Benefits to Other Maremma Owners

I will continue to work hard to serve all owners of all Maremma Sheepdogs everywhere. I have been working on making my blog and email list more helpful to all Livestock Guardian Dog owners through the training articles and information I share. By becoming a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner, I'll better understand dog behavior, training, and effective communication with owners. This will help me better serve all Livestock Guardian Dog owners.

And this is regardless of whether your dog is a working Livestock Guardian Dog or a companion dog. I welcome them all! Livestock Guardian Dog is a "classification" of dog breeds, not just a job description. Just as "herding dogs" or "terriers" or "hounds" can be working dogs or pets, so, too, can Livestock Guardian Dogs fit either role in the right circumstance with the proper training and socialization, owner education and breeder/trainer support.

As a breeder and trainer of working Maremma Sheepdogs and a breeder and owner of companion Maremmas, I will be qualified to assist owners of both working and companion Maremmas and owners of other Livestock Guardian Dog breeds.

The Future of My Business

After completing the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional certification, I intend to grow my business further by providing an even more in-depth, high-quality training program for my puppies than I currently offer. I will provide lifetime training support to my Maremma clients and training services to anyone needing assistance training their Maremma Sheepdog or other Livestock Guardian Dog. I plan to take other follow-up courses to further my education and expand my skills. I already have several planned courses on my list! Learning never ends, and I intend to learn all I can to best serve my clients and those who love the breed.

Because my business is going in a new direction, I will also be transitioning my goat breeding program. I could never give up my beloved goats; I love them dearly! And they are valuable partners in training my Maremma puppies, so a portion of the herd will be retained for that purpose. I want to expand into working more with the goats using Clicker Training and serving the community through that project. I also love producing high-quality kids for milking, showing, or pets, so I will continue to breed.

However, I will need to reduce the size of my dairy goat herd, and the number of kids produced to focus more on the Maremmas and my education as a dog trainer.

I will be writing more about this pivot in future blog posts, but you can expect fewer available kids but higher quality ones in the future. In 2024, the available goats will be extremely limited because of my commitment to the Professional program and some other exciting events I plan to write about soon. So, if you've been thinking about buying a goat from us, now is the time to get them before they all go! (We still have a few 2023 kids and adult goats available.)

Inspiring Others

When I applied to the Karen Pryor Academy Professional program, one of my first thoughts was whether I should publicly announce my plans. On the one hand, it's something to be proud of, but on the other hand, getting accepted is not the same as finishing the program. I still have a long way to go! What if my attempts result in failure? What if I don't complete the course for one reason or another? That would be hard to explain to people. But on the other hand, I tend to be positive and don't expect to fail, so why not share?

I asked several friends and family members what they thought I should do. Interestingly, most of them said they thought I should keep it a secret until I was completely done, and then I should make a "big reveal" to the world.

Only two people told me they thought I should share what I was doing while doing it. One is a Maremma client whom I frequently talk to. Another is a friend and colleague who knows a lot about me, my dogs, and my reasons for being so motivated to do the program and share the journey with others. Both understood my reasons for wanting to share and agreed that those reasons far outweighed any possible drawbacks.

I thought long and hard about all the advice I got from everyone, and in the end, I knew that sharing this journey with my clients and followers was the right path. And why did I choose to do that? Here's why:

I don't plan to fail! Yes, I know it could always happen. I am a cancer survivor, so I know firsthand that anything could happen to derail me: life, illness, overwhelm, and many unforeseen circumstances. But I'm not spending $5600 with the plan of not completing the program. I'm not rearranging my entire life and business (delaying and significantly reducing kidding season, for starters) to goof off. I am working hard to ensure I have the time to devote to this program and see it through.
Making my plans public also makes me more accountable. It's harder to give up on something if you've told several hundred or even a few thousand people about it! Between my clients, my email list, and my social media followers, I will be telling many people. That's a bit scary, but I can use all of you to motivate me to keep going. In fact, I'm counting on it!
Even if I do "fail, I firmly believe "it's better to have tried and failed than to have never tried." And people should know you've attempted to achieve something than not. At least you took action.
Again, I don't plan to fail!
I can help so many people by sharing what I am learning and experiencing while I'm doing it. Yes, I could hoard everything I'm learning, save up any videos I make, write any articles inspired by my learning, and stash them for later. I could go through the entire 6-month course and then later share what I learned from it all. But what if someone needs to learn something while I'm learning it. What if they need that information now, not 6 months from now? Six months can make or break a Livestock Guardian Dog. What if I selfishly or fearfully held back or delayed sharing, and a dog and their owner needlessly struggled because of that choice? I am not going to be responsible for that. I will share as much as possible while I am in the moment. I want to help as many dogs and owners as possible while learning to be a trainer, not just after I am one.
I have a responsibility and privilege to lead by example. I always tell my Maremma clients and other dog owners that they should educate themselves through programs like the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations course. Therefore, I should lead by example! And what better model than for them to see me tackling this massive program?! My story could encourage more people to take the leap and educate themselves to benefit their dogs and themselves. My example could inspire someone to tackle a project or goal they've wanted to take on. It doesn't even have to be dog-related. We all have goals and dreams, and they are all valuable. I have been inspired by many people who went before me to achieve their goals and accomplish great things. And if my sharing of my journey will encourage and inspire others to go after theirs, it's worth putting myself out there!
This will give me a lot of great content to write about and share with my clients and followers. And that is something I'm always looking for!

In conclusion, this is a significant move forward in my business, and I'm thrilled about the opportunity to embark on this new adventure. I cannot wait to share my newfound knowledge with all my clients, followers, and email subscribers. I am excited to learn new techniques and details about canine behavior. I will use this knowledge to enhance my dog breeding and training and help clients train their dogs most effectively. This new knowledge and skill set will enable me to better understand what makes each dog unique and how to develop tailored training programs to meet their specific needs. Thank you for your continued support. I'm excited to see how this journey enhances my business in providing outstanding Maremma Sheepdogs and exceptional service to all Maremma owners.

Reserve My Maremma!

0 Comments

Join Our Family - Bring Home Your Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog

9/14/2023

4 Comments

When it comes to finding the perfect Maremma Sheepdog puppy for your farm or homestead and your family, many options exist. However, not all dogs are created equal when it comes to being able to do the critical work of protecting your livestock and becoming a faithful member of your family. If you're looking for a dog that is not only well-bred and properly trained to protect your animals but also great with children and family pets, a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog is just what you're looking for. At Prancing Pony Farm, we have been breeding and raising Maremma Sheepdogs for years. We genuinely believe that our dogs are like family. We breed puppies that will be excellent livestock guardians and loyal companions. And that sense of family extends to our puppy owners, as well. This post will explore how buying a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog is like becoming part of our family.

Like a Family, We Take Time to Get to Know You

One of the things that sets Prancing Pony Farm apart from most other breeders is that we take the time to get to know each potential buyer before we sell them a puppy. This is because we want to ensure that our puppies go to the best homes, where they will be truly loved and cared for. We also want to ensure the puppy will fit your family, your livestock, and your unique situation well. Just like bringing a new child or partner into your family, you want to ensure your new puppy will be a good fit. And we are here to help you do just that!

How do we do this? We start with our puppy questionnaire. Some people have expressed surprise at how long and detailed our questionnaire is. Every question is there to help us learn as much as possible about a potential buyer and what they are looking for in a Maremma. Every situation is unique. Your answers help us determine if one of our puppies is a good fit for you and also help us when it comes time to choose your specific puppy.

After you've completed the questionnaire, we continue the conversation by phone, text, or email. We discuss your situation and needs in more detail and answer all your questions. This lets us understand what kind of home our puppies will go to and ensures the puppy and their new family will be happy. We also enjoy getting to know many interesting people with farms and ranches throughout the US and Canada. We have met some fantastic people through our Maremmas!

Maremma Questionnaire

We Provide Lifetime Support, Just Like a Family

Our relationship doesn't end once you take your new Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog home. We provide ongoing lifetime support to all our buyers, just like family. We encourage our puppy owners to stay in touch and keep us updated on their puppy's progress. There's no pressure from us; we respect that people are busy, but getting updates and photos from our puppy owners is always a delight.

We have clients we hear from at least weekly and others only occasionally. We are in contact with clients from our first litter, born in 2017. We never tire of hearing how our pups and their families are doing, and this contact truly makes us feel like these pups and their owners are part of our family.

We are always available to answer any questions or concerns our buyers may have about their puppy. We also offer training advice and support and are happy to help our buyers find resources that can help them train and care for their puppy. We aim to ensure that every puppy we sell is healthy, happy, and loved for their entire life.

This support doesn't just extend to the original buyers of our puppies. We occasionally have buyers who need to rehome the dogs they bought from us. We are here to assist with the rehoming, or we can take the dog back ourselves, no matter how old it is or why it's being rehomed. Then, we extend that same lifetime support to the dog's new owner. In most cases, we haven't made a dime off the new owner, but we still give them the same level of support as any first-time puppy buyer. They are welcomed into the family just as the original owner was.

Our Maremma Puppies are Raised and Socialized in a Busy and Active Family Farm Environment

Prancing Pony Farm's dogs are more than just breeding or working dogs. They are faithful family members, and we treat them as such. Our adult dogs and puppies run and play together and are socialized with our animals, including goats, horses, and poultry. When you bring a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog puppy home, they will already have experience interacting with other animals and be well socialized. Our puppies are also raised around our grandchildren and introduced to other visiting children, so they are used to being around kids and know how to interact gently and patiently with them.

Our farm is a busy, active place. We live on a busy road with all kinds of vehicles going by regularly, including cars, trucks, and farm equipment. Clients regularly come to pick up their goats and Maremma puppies. Delivery vehicles (Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and more) stop several times a week. We have our own tractor, mower, and farm vehicles in daily use. Hay deliveries, repair vehicles, and more show up. This activity happens in plain view of the puppies as they grow and develop, desensitizing them to loud noises, strange sights and sounds, and various people.

This unique manner of raising puppies is something you will find from only select breeders. In our experience, most Maremma breeders raise their puppies as companion dogs, living full-time in their house or backyard. These pups receive little to no interaction with livestock, especially during their critical socialization period in the first 2-3 months. These puppies struggle mightily when introduced to livestock. Often they never really bond with the stock and can exhibit agression towards the animals they are meant to guard.

Other breeders raise their puppies in a barn, shed, or small pen with livestock, but with little to no human interaction and no real exposure to the sights and sounds they may encounter later in life. This scenario makes for an unbalanced, fearful and sometimes dangerous dog. Such a puppy will have difficulty acclimating to its future home, job, and family, especially if it's meant to live in close proximity to humans and a lot of activity.

From birth, our puppies live full-time with livestock in our specially-built whelping and training facility (Puppy Parlor). They also get extensive exposure to sights and sounds a companion dog might encounter. They are trained with positive reinforcement training methods and given a well-rounded socialization experience. This makes for resilient dogs that excel as full-time Livestock Guardian Dogs, general farm/ranch dogs, family companions, or as some unique combination of the above.

Our Dogs Offer Protection and Loyalty, Just Like Family

One of the most unique things about Maremma Sheepdogs is their natural instinct to protect. Maremma Sheepdogs were originally bred to protect flocks of sheep from wolves. This protective instinct is still ingrained in them, especially compared to more common LGD breeds. When you bring a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog into your home, they will protect your livestock and become fiercely loyal to your family. They will go to great lengths to protect you and those you love. This makes them excellent family guard dogs, as they bark and alert you to potential threats. They are incredibly loyal and loving to their families and will always be by your side.

Many clients have expressed how their Maremmas make them feel safe outside caring for their livestock. One client told me her dog always follows her when she goes to the barn at night to feed her horses. Another family takes their dog camping and hiking in the mountains, where the dog protects his humans from mountain lions and bears out on the trail. Other clients have had their dogs jump between them and large predators on their own farms.

I know how safe my own Maremmas make me feel. I am regularly outside late at night and always feel safe with my dogs on the job. I also feel entirely safe in my house with my companion Maremma on the job, protecting my human family and house pets. Between the outside Maremmas and the house Maremma, no predator, human or animal, is getting past. With a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma, you can feel that peace of mind.

Communal Support and a Sense of Belonging

You become part of our extended family when you bring a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog into your home. You are not just a customer but a member of the community of Maremma owners who value these special dogs. This includes our private Prancing Pony Farm Families Facebook group and Maremma Sheepdog Open Forum group. You can share photos, ask questions, and connect with other Maremma owners and enthusiasts on these groups. This wonderful community of owners provides information, support, and encouragement. Moreover, we have zero tolerance for bullying and fiercely protect our members from Facebook trolls.

Often times I will share some resource I have heard about from one client with another client. (Like the two new ground transporters my client Mayra found, which subsequent clients used to ship their pups.) Sometimes, one client has an issue or question I know another client can help with. In that case, I will encourage them to contact each other.

Mayra expressed it well (and inspired this blog post) when she said, "I do feel like we are a big family."

If you have a question about the breed, need advice, or want to share your experiences, there is always someone in our community willing to help. The Maremma breed is relatively rare, and having a community of like-minded people can be invaluable. Being a part of such a close-knit group enhances the experience of owning a Maremma Sheepdog. It provides a support system that lasts a lifetime.

You and Your Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog Will be Part of Our Mission

Buying a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog means you'll be part of our mission. Our farm is dedicated to preserving the ancient Maremma Sheepdog breed and their lineage through selective breeding and training of the highest quality Maremma Sheepdogs available. By buying a dog from us, you're helping to continue our work and preserve the breed for future generations.

You and Your Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog Will Always be a Part of Our Family

Buying a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog makes you part of our family. We take the time to get to know you, your family, and your unique needs. We ensure that our Maremmas are well-socialized and raised in a family farm environment so that they will thrive in your family. You'll receive personalized attention, lifetime support, and access to a community of other Prancing Pony Farm Maremma owners. Whether you are brand new to the breed or a seasoned owner, you will never be alone in this journey. We've got you!

We care deeply about every puppy we breed and want to ensure they go to the best possible homes. We hope our puppies will bring peace of mind, joy, and love to their families for many years. We will be privileged to share that journey with our puppy families. We know our dogs are extraordinary, and we hope you will consider welcoming a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog into your home and family.

Reserve My Maremma!

4 Comments

How an Ethical Breeder Helped Save Seven Livestock Guardian Dogs Who Lost Their Home

8/16/2023

2 Comments

Chico in his new home in Missouri

As an ethical breeder, I am committed to keeping dogs I breed out of shelters. I will take back any dog I bred at any time in their lives if their owners can no longer keep them, or I will help their owners find new homes for their dogs if they can't do it alone.

Fortunately, most of my puppy owners adore their dogs and would never dream of giving them up. But occasionally, life happens - farms are sold, couples get divorced, neighbors complain too much about barking - and a dog loses its home. In these cases, I am always willing to step in and do what I can to help the dog and its owner. Having to give up a dog is hard enough. Having to go through it alone is worse. And totally unnecessary if the dog was bought from an ethical breeder.

Recently one of my clients was put in this heartbreaking situation. They owned 6 Maremmas that came from me and one from another breeder. They also owned a large herd of dairy goats, most of which they bought from me, as well as a variety of poultry and other animals. When they purchased their animals, I'm sure they thought they would live on their California farm forever. I sure did when I sold them the dogs and goats. But life happened, and they found themselves moving out of state and not to another farm but to a subdivision. The farm dream was over, permanently. All of the animals had to go.

They reached out to me less than a month before they were to move, asking if I knew anyone who would be interested in the dogs or goats. I told them that I did not know anyone off the top of my head. I also told them I would take my six Maremmas back if they couldn't find homes for them. I told them they were not, under any circumstances, to send those dogs to a shelter.

I also contacted the breeder of the other Maremma, whom I knew from Facebook, to let her know what was happening. She did offer to take back the dog she bred, but that didn't happen.

I checked in with my client several times over the next week or so to see how things were going. They weren't going very well. She shared her situation on her Facebook page, but that didn't help much. I decided it was time to step in and do what I could, so these dogs could find homes before it was too late. I was more than willing for them to return to me, but I knew it would be better if they went straight to new homes than to me and then to a second home later.

I shared the plight of these dogs on my blog and social media accounts. First, I shared my client's posts on my Facebook business page and a few Maremma groups I admin or am a member of. I started being inundated with questions that weren't answered in the client's original post, so I was going back and forth, editing posts and answering questions. This was helping but also causing a lot of confusion.

So I wrote a blog post about the dogs, giving all the details I could and contact info for the client. I shared this post to my email list, FB business page, and to every LGD, goat, or homesteading group I'm in. Now we were getting somewhere! Other people began sharing the posts and forwarding the emails. (That's the beauty of email newsletters!) My client and I both started getting dozens of inquiries about the dogs. I answered the questions I could and referred them to my client.

She had so many inquiries that she had difficulty answering them all. But she worked her way through them, and every dog had a new home in less than a week. Every single one of them.

Two dogs went to a family who had previously contacted me inquiring about Maremmas. They own a horse boarding stable where I used to board my horses and have a flock of free-range chickens. They needed LGDs to protect their chickens from coyotes and the horses from intruders. They got Carina, a 6-year-old female, and her son, 2-year-old Mossimo.

I visited the dogs the day they arrived at their new home. I was happy to see them again after so long, and I was thrilled to know they had a wonderful new home. Their new owners have sent me photos of the dogs and told me how much they love them. It makes me so happy to know they are loved, well cared for, and doing the work they were bred to do.

The last dog to be placed was Chico (formerly Guido). He went to my client and friend, Mayra, who lives in Missouri. Mayra owns four other Maremmas bred by me and 36 goats bred mainly by me. She also owns a lot of different types of poultry. She was thrilled to give Chico a new home and add him to her LGD team, even though the costs to get him to her were considerable.

Chico spent a few days at my farm, hanging out with my dogs and goats, getting ready for his trip. My vet came out to do his CVI appointment and give him vaccines and whatever he needed. I gave him a bath and grooming. Then Amanda, a new shipper Mayra had found, picked him up for the trip to Missouri. This was quite a trip for a 2-year-old dog who had lived on a quiet farm with his goats and other Maremmas since he was a tiny puppy.

Amanda did a fantastic job of transporting Chico to his new home. She was patient and gentle with this nervous dog who had never left his goats or seen so many strange sights and sounds. She sent frequent updates on how he was doing, with photos and videos. And he arrived at his new home safe and sound! I will be recommending Amanda to future clients.

Chico settled in quickly in his new home. He met all the dogs and goats, with lots of tail wagging and excitement. Mayra reports that Chico has been friendly with her and gentle with the animals. He's even had chickens in his pasture and hasn't chased them, even though he was only guarding goats previously. I'm not surprised because his parents, Olaf and Genevieve, are excellent LGDs, as are all his siblings

This whole situation had a happy ending for Chico and the other 6 dogs. Think about that! Seven LGDs lost their homes because their owner was selling their farm. But none of those 7 dogs ended up abandoned or in rescue. Why? Because an ethical breeder supported the owner and the dogs she bred (plus a dog bred by someone else) and helped them find new homes.

This proves the point I have always made, that ethical breeders are not the cause of unwanted dogs because they always take responsibility for the dogs they breed. A breeder who claims they are ethical but refuses to take responsibility for the dogs they breed is not ethical at all. If they choose to bring a puppy into this world, they are responsible for that puppy for its entire life. They should not be breeding dogs if they can't accept that responsibility. Period.

So when someone gives you the "adopt, don't shop" lecture, educate them. Adopting animals is great in many situations. But it is only suitable for some, especially when a purpose-bred, properly trained, and socialized working dog like a Livestock Guardian Dog is needed.

The dogs that end up in shelters or rescues come almost exclusively from puppy mills, backyard breeders, and disreputable people looking to make a fast buck by producing cheap, disposable dogs. (Or sometimes expensive "designer" or "trendy" dogs fraught with health problems and not well cared for.) There's no health testing for the breeding dogs or health care for these puppies. No training and socialization program. These dogs often have health problems and behavioral issues that can cause lasting problems even after adoption.

This doesn't mean we shouldn't care about these dogs. We should try to help as many as we can. The rescues are doing noble work to help these dogs, and anyone who adopts a needy dog is doing a kind thing. But those that rabidly promote the "adopt, don't shop" cult while vilifying ethical breeders are aiding, abetting, and promoting puppy mills, backyard breeders, and poorly bred dogs. This is ignorant and harmful to dogs and people.

Ethical breeding is not evil and is not comparable to the depraved humans that shelter and rescue dogs come from. Ethical breeders health test their breeding dogs to screen for genetic defects. They take excellent care of their breeding dogs and puppies, providing proper food, housing, and veterinary care. They have well-thought-out socialization and training programs for their puppies and educate and support their buyers before and after the sale. They offer written contracts and health guarantees. And they always take back any dog they bred if the owner can no longer keep it or assist the owner in finding new homes for the dogs, as I did for these 7 Maremmas. Any breeder who doesn't do all these things is not ethical. And comparing ethical breeders to BYBs and Puppy Mills is like comparing cats and dogs. Ridiculous.

If you choose to adopt a dog, that's great. But don't criticize ethical breeders or people who decide to buy dogs from ethical breeders. Not all breeders are the same! People have a right to well-bred, healthy dogs, which are rarely found in shelters and rescues. They come from ethical breeders who work hard to imporove the breed, provide excellent care for their dogs and supurb lifetime support to their clients. Ethical breeders are not part of the problem of unwanted or unhealthy, poorly socialized dogs. They are part of the solution.

The fundamental responsibility for the problem of unwanted dogs lies with the owners of puppies and dogs. Only buy or adopt a dog if you're prepared to give it a lifelong home and everything it needs to be healthy and happy. This includes proper care, love, attention, and ethical, positive reinforcement-based training. (More dogs are surrendered for training and behavioral issues than other reasons.) Take this commitment seriously, do your research, and think things through carefully.

If you decide to buy a dog instead of adopting one, please don't support unethical breeders. Don't buy from those greedy, selfish people who are only in it for money with no care or concern for the dogs they are producing. Only purchase dogs from breeders who are breeding quality, healthy dogs and are committed to the dogs they breed and to their owners for the life of the dog.

The support an ethical breeder gives you, your dog, and everything they put into their breeding program and puppies will go a long way to ensure your success and happiness as a dog owner. And their commitment to your dog's entire life is your and your dog's insurance in case something goes wrong, and you can no longer keep your dog. Those puppies will be more expensive than puppies from an unethical breeder. It's costly to breed quality dogs! Still, you are getting a lot more value for your money.

It's buyers who keep unethical breeders in business. It's buyers working together with ethical breeders who can put them out of business. And if we put them out of business, the shelters and rescues will have a lot less work to do, which would be a very good thing.

Reserve My Maremma!

2 Comments

Seven Maremma Sheepdogs in Desperate Need of New Homes and Jobs ASAP

8/3/2023

2 Comments

Carina as a puppy on my farm.

***Update on the dogs. Marco and Henry have found new homes and been picked up! 💜 Remaining are Carina, Alesia, Massimo, Guido and Rico. Carina is Massimo's dam. I still own his sire, Olaf and the parents of Alesia (Simba and Polar) and Guido (Olaf and Genevieve). I also still own one of Massimo's littermates (ET) and one of Alesia's littermates (Titus). They are all excellent LGDs, trustworthy with all livestock, including poultry and baby goats.

*** If you’re interested in these dogs contact Allison directly at +1 (559) 362-1294. Thanks!

If you would like a little more background on these dogs you can go to these pages below:

Carina born 2017, purchased from a breeder in San Diego

Alesia born August 2020, parents Simba x Polar

Massimo born September 2020, parents Olaf x Carina

Guido born May 2021, parents Olaf x Genevieve

Rico - Bred by another out-of-state breeder

My friend and client, Allison, and her family are selling their farm due to an out-of-state transfer. They are moving at the end of August and cannot take their goats or their seven Maremma Sheepdogs. Six of the dogs came from me, and one from another breeder. They are all unregistered. There are five males and two females. Most of the dogs are 2-3 years old, with one 6-year-old female. Their names are Carina, Alesia, Henry, Marco, Massimo, Guido and Rico.

The dogs have been guarding Nigerian Dwarf and Mini Nubian dairy goats since they were puppies. The 6-year-old (Carina) does have experience with chickens, ducks, and horses. I believe both females have experience with alpacas. The dogs are used to children. All but one of them is intact, but I'm checking to see if my vet will spay/neuter the rest for a discount. The dogs are located in Hanford, CA. There are a couple of possible options for shipping the dogs out of state.

That's all I know, but I will try to visit the dogs soon and learn more. If you want to adopt any of these precious dogs, please reply to this email or contact Allison directly. Below is her Facebook post about the dogs:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0FzHpdHfCY5vKsg1tkzok9CMXaxLfLntS4iUvUC6vtQvxQD7DCAL9GgrZyfiU5ggUl&id=816164838&mibextid=qC1gEa

Even if you can't take any of these dogs, please pass this info along and help us get these sweet dogs some great new homes!

Thanks so much!

2 Comments

A Tale of Two White Dogs

7/27/2023

0 Comments

This is a guest post by one of my Maremma clients, Violet Qu. Violet owns Cotton Candy (CC), a puppy from my May 2022 Sevro x Polar litter. Violet also owns a Great Pyrenese named Marshmallow. Violet took the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations course before bringing CC home. She has been extremely succesful in training CC and a lot of the reason why is the excellent knowledge and skills the course gave her. I asked Violet if she would write a "review" of the course for my email newsletter and she did such an excellent job that I invited her to do a guest post on the blog. Enjoy!

A Tale of Two White Dogs, by Violet Qu

The big dog on the left is Marshmallow. He came to me as an 8-week-old fluff ball, with a mission to keep my chickens and barn cats from being picked off by the big bad wolves. He was my first dog. I didn’t know what I was doing. I watched a lot of Zak George videos and took a puppy training class over zoom (it was during Covid lockdown) where I learned to manipulate his body by using a lure. For the most part, things worked fine. Marshmallow learned to sit, lie down, stand up, shake, crawl, and so on. He even learned to fetch, which is somewhat unusual for a Great Pyrenees. But sometimes, when I asked him to do something, he would suddenly have this unbearable itch that he had to scratch, and then he would yawn, and then he would give a sideways glance at the ground before performing the task in slo-mo. I coined it “emergency itch” and sometimes asked with a sarcastic tone “really? must you right now?” For months, he was mouthy and I just ignored it. Everything I read said it would stop if I just kept ignoring it.

At the age of 1, Marshmallow’s guarding instincts kicked in in full force. He ran around the ranch barking and chasing coyotes at night, and often looked exhausted in the morning. However, the mouthiness remained. And he was also chewing just about everything I didn’t want him to chew on. Even though Marshmallow was doing all he could to guard my small ranch, I still had 2 chickens disappear without a trace and a barn cat mauled by what I could only imagine a coyote (the kitty fully recovered after veterinary intervention). The coyotes did not fear him. They kicked dirt at him from the other side of the fence. It was clear to me that Marshmallow needed a partner.

A few months later, Cotton Candy joined the family as a 3-month-old from the Prancing Pony Farm, where she had already learned many life skills as a livestock guardian dog.

In preparation of CC’s arrival, I took the Dog Trainer Foundations online course from the Karen Pryor Academy. It turned out to be more helpful than I expected. Throughout Marshmallow’s puppyhood, I had been ransacking the internet for positive reinforcement dog training tips. But tips are exactly that: a melange of “do x” instructions. The DTF course provided me with the structure I needed to internalize the positive reinforcement training concept. I am not known for following instructions. So if a training tip says step 1: wait for behavior, step 2: click, step 3: treat, I’ll more than likely mess up the timing or order or skip a step. But if I understand the building blocks to positive reinforcement training, then I can “derive” my own instructions time and time again and always get it right. Other than the science and mechanics, I also found the chapter on understanding dog language really helpful. Marshmallow’s “emergency itch”? That’s stress. His yawning? That’s stress. Mouthiness? Yup, still stress. That poor pup! The whole time he’s been gently telling me that he could use a bit more support, and I’ve been an idiot trying to wait it all out. What also dawned on me, is that a lot of what I thought / was labeled positive reinforcement, wasn’t reinforcement at all. Dangling a piece of bacon to get a dog to sit is bribery, or non-contact coercion, if you will.

Now back to CC. She has received positive reinforcement training at Kim’s since the day she was born. By the time she arrived on my ranch, she knew how to mand and target really well. And that gave me plenty of opportunities to reinforce her and quickly build a trusting relationship. Eventually I taught her to shake, only because she looks incredibly cute doing that. But by golly she was so polite and never pawed me for attention like Marshmallow did when he was a pup. She knew that manding gets her attention and treats, and giving me her paw only when I ask gets her praise and treats. I haven’t intentionally taught her to come, but she figured it out because every time she comes to me she gets pets and she might even get to lick my face. She has a pretty good “go to bed” from a single training moment. It was her birthday and I had a serrano ham bone for her. I wanted to let her have it in the kennel without being bothered by Marshmallow. I walked towards the dog bed once we entered the kennel and she hopped on it. On the spur of the moment, I clicked, then gave her the ham bone. I later put it on cue, but really, the “go to bed” action was learned in just 1 event.

She’s been here about a year now, and CC has never had an “emergency itch”. Now isn’t that interesting! More interestingly, Marshmallow’s “emergency itch” and chewing all but disappeared after CC’s arrival, which roughly coincided with the beginning of proper use of positive reinforcement on my end. Was it me? Was it CC? Only Marshmallow knows. What I do know is that with 2 happy relaxed dogs, my life has gotten easier. And we’ll just end the story here and live happily ever after.

0 Comments

One Key Thing You MUST Do to Succeed as a New Maremma Sheepdog Owner!

7/26/2023

0 Comments

Over the past seven years, I have placed over 100 Maremma Sheepdogs puppies in all types of homes. These homes vary greatly in the types of environment, livestock the dogs guard, and family structure. Most of these owners successfully train their puppies; however, raising and training a Livestock Guardian Dogs to maturity requires a lot of patience and work.

One thing I always recommend all new puppy owners do to help them succeed with their pups is to take the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations course. This online course combines material you read, videos demonstrating the concepts, and hands-on practice with your dog.

The course is simple but gives you an excellent foundation in training and understanding how to communicate with your dog. The course is designed to be completed in 6 weeks, but you have up to 12 weeks to complete it, and you can finish it quicker if you want. It took me only a little while to complete it once I got going, though I was already familiar with positive reinforcement and clicker training.

The course costs $250 but usually goes on sale twice a year for $199. Many people balk at spending that much money on a dog training course. They believe they can figure things out on their own by googling the topic, reading training books, or watching free YouTube videos.

I get it. I don't like spending unnecessary money and prefer the "do it yourself" approach to learning. I have always been a self-led learner, reading books and endless articles on the internet, watching videos, googling anything and everything I wanted to know, and doing a great job overall of educating myself. Most of my education has been informal, self-led, and free. So I was dubious about this course, too, until I tried it.

When I went through the Dog Trainer Foundations program, I realized that Karen Pryor Academy does a fantastic job on this one. The various ways of presenting the materials cover all the learning styles. As a mom of six now-grown, homeschooled kids, and several homeschooled grandkids, I know how vital teaching using different learning styles is. The KPA courses (all of them) cover all the modalities: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. You learn by reading, watching videos, hearing, and practicing the skills with your dog. There are so many ways for the material to sink in, and you get to practice it with your dog, which means you both benefit. And it's fun! It really is fun for you and your dog!

Once I went through the Foundations course, I was hooked. Next, I took Puppy Start Right for Instructors and then Better Veterinary Visits. I also spent a week at the KPA National Training Center in Washington, attending the Training for Professionals: Across Species Course, where I learned to clicker train goats and donkeys, as well all learning about using science-based positive reinforcement with a large variety of species, including marine mammals, zoo animals, farm animals, and domestic pets. Positive reinforcement really does work with all animals! If you can train a whale, a tiger, or a wolf using positive reinforcement, you can certainly train a dog. Even a Livestock Guardian Dog!

So when one of my puppy owners or anyone else comes to me with a training issue with their dog, the very first thing I recommend is that they take the KPA Foundations course. Of course, if this is one of my puppy clients, I suggest they take the course before bringing their puppy home. Unfortunately, only some of them do. Whether it's the money or the time it takes or that they don't see the value in it, I don't know.

I have considered requiring prospective puppy buyers to complete the course before they can buy a puppy from me, but someone has to want to learn this information for it to be effective, and unfortunately, not enough people understand the value of this program to them and their dogs.

I do require my breeding candidate owners to complete the course before they can get breeding rights on their puppies, and I am firm on this requirement. If you are a breeder, you are also a trainer, and this program is step one to being a successful trainer of little Livestock Guardian Dog puppies. Unfortunately, most people who take the course to get breeding rights choose to wait until their dogs are of breeding age to do so. Better late than never, but it's sad that neither the dog they bought from me nor the owner themselves benefitted from the program when their puppy was little.

Of all the puppies I have sold over the years, the owners who have been the most successful and had the fewest problems training their pups are the ones that have taken the KPA Foundations Course. The puppies who have benefitted the most from an owner who truly understands their dog and how to communicate and train in a kind, fun, science-based way are the puppies whose owners have taken the Foundations course. This course truly is Step One in your success as an LGD owner.

A Livestock Guardian Dog is a huge investement. The safety and security of whatever you value are riding on that dog, be that goats, chickens, horses, or the family cat. (This course is just as vital for companion Maremmas.) Livestock Guardian Dogs have a high failure rate, and that is because most people are ill-equipped to train their dogs. The Karen Pryor Acedemy Dog Trainer Foundations course gives you the vital first step towards success with your dog.

Think of it as insurance on your investment. Most people wouldn't forego insurance on a new car. That would be too risky. Don't skip on insurance for your LGD! Take the KPA Foundations course before you bring home your new Maremma puppy. Or if you've already got that adorable pup, start the course now. Your dog will thank you for it, and you will thank me for this advice!

0 Comments

Olaf, the Dog Who Started it All. (How I Came to Love, Breed and Use Maremma Sheepdogs on my Farm.

7/21/2023

0 Comments

Olaf and Alice, One of Our Original Nigerian Dwarf Goats

For anyone who doesn't know my story, I wanted to share a little bit about how I came to adore this wonderful breed called the Maremma Sheepdog, use them on my farm as Livestock Guardian Dogs, and eventually become a Maremma Sheepdog Club of America Code of Ethics breeder.

Ever since I can remember, I have loved dogs. My first dog was a Boxer my parents owned when I was born. Oh, how I loved that dog, and oh, how I cried when he died. (My parents had him put to sleep because they said he was sick, and I was so mad at them. 😢 He was buried behind my grandparents' garden and I visited his grave regularly.)

After that, my family had many dogs, mostly strays and dog pound dogs. My dad would take my siblings and me to the local dog pound to "shop" for dogs every so often. Or he would bring home stray dogs he found on the road driving trucks for Exxon.

Unfortunately, my parents always got bored with these dogs after a few months or even a few weeks. They liked collecting dogs but not training them, so if the dogs began doing anything my parents didn't like back to the pound they went. They came up with one reason or another to get rid of them, breaking my sensitive little heart.

The last one to go was a spotted mutt named Bear that I absolutely adored. I was probably 12 or 13 and I loved that dog so much. I would spend hours outside with him. But my dad decided he didn't want the dog anymore and he wore me down until I finally gave in and let him take Bear to the pound. 😢

Bear was the last dog my parents ever got for me. After that I bought my own dogs. Made my own decisions about who left and who stayed and when. And those childhood experiences are the reason why I feel so strongly that a dog should be a commitment, not to be made on a whim. It's also why I have a lifetime commitment to take back any dog I ever bred if their owners can't keep them. I know that there are instances when someone truly can't keep a dog. But too many people see dogs as disposable, and that's not right.

My favorite book when I was a kid was a big, thick book with all the AKC dog breeds. I used to pore over that book, choosing all the dogs I liked. (You can buy the book above. It's a great book, but Maremmas are not included becuase they are not an AKC registered breed.)

When I was little, I saw Disney's "Lady and the Tramp" and fell in love with Cocker Spaniels. Then when I was 14, I finally bought a dog of my own, with my own money, a Cocker Spaniel I named Cinder. Finally, this was a dog all of my own that no one could take away from me. It was only a short time until I began breeding Cocker Spaniels, which I did for many years.

My first Cocker Spaniel, Cinder, with my grandfather and me.

Around the same time I bought Cinder, I got a job in a dog grooming salon (in my hometown of Memphis, TN), bathing and brushing dogs and later learning to groom. I worked at that salon until I got married to a career Navy man, and after that, I worked at different salons all over the country. I even owned an in-home dog grooming salon while stationed in Guam. (I also bred one litter of Cocker Spaniels while we lived in Guam.)

During my years of grooming, I encountered many breeds of dogs and admired the traits of many of them, but Cockers remained my favorite breed of all time. (Our last Cocker died about ten years ago, and I couldn't find another one until a couple of years ago. I now have another Cocker named Cinder.)

My current "Cinder", with my companion Maremma, Titus.

I also owned a few other breeds (St. Bernard, Husky, 2 Boxers, Pekingese) when I was a teenager, and later our family tried a few different breeds (Yorkie and Boxers) after our last Cocker passed away. (Besides the Maremmas and Cinder, we currently own a Shih Tzu and a Boxer.) I loved all of these other dogs, but there was never a breed I loved enough to want to breed them until I got my first Maremma Sheepdog.

I had a lifelong dream from when I was a child to live on a farm. When I was 19, I married that career Navy man I mentioned earlier. Little did I know that meant my dream would be put on hold until I was fifty and my husband retired from his 40-year Navy career. But some dreams are worth waiting for. We bought our farm in late 2015. I also bought 6 Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats to add to the horses we already owned and the chickens and other poultry I planned to get. 🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐

Because we have a lot of coyotes in the area, I knew I would need a Livestock Guardian Dog to keep my animals safe. I only knew a little about LGDs, so I began reading whatever I could find, which wasn't much. Then I started my search for an LGD of my own. I found two breeders on Craigslist. One bred Great Pyrenees, and one bred Maremmas. The GP breeder told me how it "only took six strands of barbed wire to keep her dogs in" and how "sometimes they killed her stock." Not very reassuring. 😳

The Maremma breeder, who raises Angora goats, told me how Maremmas are better at respecting fences and staying with the stock than Pyrs, that they haven't lost their guardian instincts as so many Pryrs have, and how he has never lost any goats to predators since getting his Maremmas. Let's see, should I choose the dog that will be hard to contain and might eat my goats and chickens or the dog that will stay home and be more trustworthy? 🤔

The Maremma breeder was much more convincing and reassuring. And five-month-old Olaf soon joined our farm's six goats and 11 horses. Olaf came into the barn and settled in with my goats like one of them. He soon won over the horses, too. And he also won the hearts of all the humans in the family. 💜

Olaf and his chicken friends.

It didn't take me long to realize that these dogs are extraordinary. Think about it, a dog that would lay down its life to protect an animal of another species is truly incredible. Awe-inspiring. Even my husband, who had never liked dogs as long as we had been married, was won over by the Maremmas. This man truly hated dogs (he used to go around saying, "I hate a dog."), and he now loves all dogs.

And if you ask him why he changed, he will tell you it was the Maremmas that changed him. When he saw what they do, he realized that all dogs are different and unique, and he found a new respect and admiration for them. He's now the one that goes and gets our three little dogs and ensures they are in our bed at night. (When before, he never wanted dogs in the bed.) ☺️

As for me, I found my new favorite breed, a breed I loved enough to want to breed them. We soon added a female Maremma, Genevieve, to our farm and had our first litter in 2017. It was a "Let's see how it goes" thing. And it was incredible to watch those pups grow and mature into amazing little LGDs, and then place them in homes with other people whose livestock needed protection like mine did. (I'm still in touch with some of the owners of those puppies today, including Oliver's family. Oliver is the most fantastic chicken guardian ever, and his owner, Agnes, always tells me how much she loves that dog.)

Genevieve joined our farm a few months after Olaf, and they have been devoted friends ever since. They produced 4 litters of amazing LGDs, including Polar, my favorite and best LGD.

I was hooked. I was utterly in love with these incredible dogs and on a mission to help others with animals that needed protection and who wanted a loyal, devoted family member. And the rest, as they say, is history. And it all started with a little fluffy puppy I named Olaf. (For my grandkids.)

Olaf and Genevieve retired from breeding a few years ago, but they still live on my farm, guarding the goats and other animals and mentoring all the new Prancing Pony Maremma pups.

Olaf and Genevieve have very important work to do, mentoring the next generations of Prancing Pony Maremmas.

Do you have a great dog story? Is there a special dog in your life, past or present? It doesn't have to be a Maremma. All dogs are wonderful! If you have or had a great dog in your life leave a comment and tell me all about them.

Reserve Your Maremma!

0 Comments

<<Previous

Categories

Archives

Wishing you all a very blessed Thanksgiving!

What are the ABCs of Dog Training?

Understanding the ABCs

A for Antecedent

B for Behavior

C for Consequence

Applying the ABC Method for Livestock Guardian Dog Training

Scenario 1

Scenario 2

Scenario 3

Scenario 4 - Variation on Scenario 3

Reinforcing the Behavior You Do Want - the Power of Poisitive Reinforcement

In Conclusion

Why I Chose the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional Course

Here is a Description of the Professional Program From the KPA Website:

Understanding Canine Behavior

Practical Training

Clicker Training Goats in a Dog Training Course?!

Benefits to My Clients

Benefits to Other Maremma Owners

The Future of My Business

Inspiring Others

Like a Family, We Take Time to Get to Know You

We Provide Lifetime Support, Just Like a Family

Our Maremma Puppies are Raised and Socialized in a Busy and Active Family Farm Environment

Our Dogs Offer Protection and Loyalty, Just Like Family

Communal Support and a Sense of Belonging

You and Your Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog Will be Part of Our Mission

You and Your Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog Will Always be a Part of Our Family

Author