Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdogs and Mini Dairy Goats
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    • Milking Nigerian Dwarfs versus Mini Nubians
    • Our Dairy Goat Milking Parlor
    • Disbudding Mini & Dwarf Goats
    • Mini Nubian Ears
  • Home
    • About Us
    • Contact us
    • Veterinarian's Letter of Recommendation
  • Mini Nubian & Nigerian Dwarf Goats for Sale
    • Kids for Sale
    • Adult Goats for Sale
    • Breeding Plan Goats
    • The Doe Code
    • Our Dairy Goat Herd
      • Mini Nubian Does
      • Mini Nubian Bucks
      • Standard Nubian Does
      • Nigerian Dwarf Does
      • Nigerian Dwarf Bucks
      • Past Kidding Seasons
        • 2024 Kidding Season
        • 2023 Mini Nubians
        • 2023 Nigerians
  • MSCA Registered Maremma Sheepdogs for Sale
    • Maremmma Sheepdogs for Sale
    • Why Choose Us?
    • Our Puppy Reservation Process
    • Available Puppies
    • Maremma Puppies - Current & Past Litters
  • Livestock Guardian Dog Training
    • Livestock Guardian Dog Training & Consulting
    • About Kim Crawmer
    • Family Dog Mediation
    • Keeping Kids safe With LGDs
    • The Perfect Formula for Training Incredible Livestock Guardian Dogs
  • Wether Giveaway
  • Free Goat & LGD Membership
  • Prancing Pony Farm Blog
  • Goat Care Info
    • Dairy Goat Blog
    • Bringing Home Your New Goat
    • Health concerns of your new goat
    • Dairy Goat FAQ's
    • Goat Care Articles & Links
    • Clicker Training Goats
    • Supplies for Goats
    • Feeding Mini & Dwarf Baby Goats
    • Housing Does & Kids
    • Goat Parasites
    • Annual Disease Testing of Goats
    • Goat Hoof Trimming
    • Milking Dairy Goats
    • Milking Nigerian Dwarfs versus Mini Nubians
    • Our Dairy Goat Milking Parlor
    • Disbudding Mini & Dwarf Goats
    • Mini Nubian Ears
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Win a Free Mini Nubian and Start Your Homesteading Journey Today!

3/24/2025

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Spring is in the air at Prancing Pony Farm, and with it comes the pitter-patter of tiny hooves! We're thrilled to announce the beginning of our 2025 kidding season and this year, we want to make someone's dream of goat ownership come true in a special way.

Introducing Our Kidding Season Drawing
Everyone deserves the joy of raising quality goats—whether you're an experienced farmer, just starting your homesteading journey, or simply want some fun and unique pets. That's why we're holding a special drawing for a lucky winner to receive a free Mini Nubian wether from our spring 2025 kid crop!
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Why a Mini Nubian Wether?

If you're new to the world of goats, you might be wondering what makes a Mini Nubian wether such a wonderful addition to your family or farm:
  • Friendly Companions: Mini Nubians are known for their gentle, affectionate personalities. Our wethers (neutered males) make perfect pets, displaying the loving temperament Mini Nubians are famous for without any breeding behaviors or stinky buck smell!
  • Manageable Size: As a cross between Nigerian Dwarf and Nubian goats, Mini Nubians offer the perfect middle ground—substantial enough to be useful but small enough to be manageable for beginners or families.
  • Low Maintenance: Wethers require less specialized care than breeding animals, making them ideal first goats while still carrying our farm's commitment to quality genetics and health.
  • Great "Gateway Goats": Many of our customers start with wethers and fall so in love that they later expand their herds with breeding stock! Wethers also make great companions for does and bucks.

​What Makes Our Mini Nubia​ns Special

At Prancing Pony Farm, we pride ourselves on breeding Mini Nubians with:
  • Premium genetics from outstanding dairy bloodlines
  • Healthy, disease-tested, and G6S Normal breeding stock
  • Natural, humane raising practices
The wether included in this drawing will come from the same high-quality breeding program as all our breeding animals. We believe everyone deserves excellence, regardless of experience level.

How to Enter

Entering our drawing couldn't be simpler:
  1. Go to the link below to enter via the form on our sister site, Prancing Pony Maremmas. (The form only works on WordPress, so it can't be embedded directly on this Weebly site.)
  2. Stay tuned to our email newsletter for updates about the contest and announcements about the winner.
  3. Share the contest for additional chances to win.

The drawing will close on May 15th, and we'll announce our winner in our newsletter in early June.
Enter the Drawing!

Beyond the Drawing—Support for Your Journey

Whether or not you win our drawing, remember that here at Prancing Pony Farm, you're never on your own. Every animal from our farm comes with:
  • Detailed goat care resources tailored to your experience level
  • Ongoing access to guidance and support
  • A community of fellow goat and LGD enthusiasts on our free membership site
Unlike some breeders who focus exclusively on show circles, we welcome questions and celebrate the journey of everyone who loves goats. It took me (Kim) 50 years to achieve my farming dreams—I understand that everyone has to start somewhere!
Join Our Free Membership!

Stay Tuned for Kidding Updates

If it's Mini Nubian or Nigerian Dwarf does or bucks you're interested in (or Nigerian Dwarf wethers), we invite you to make a reservation for kids from our Spring 2025 kidding season, which has already begun. We will be updating the website with photos and information on each kid as they arrive. Your $300 non-refundable reservation fee (per kid) will hold your spot on the reservation list. Reservations will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. 

To see the available kids go to this page:
Available Kids
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To Make a Reservation, fill out the form at the link below:
Reserve My Goats!
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Prancing Pony Maremmas has Moved!

10/23/2024

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I wanted to share an exciting update about Prancing Pony Maremma Sheepdogs. We have moved! No, we didn't sell the farm (as if!), but the "home" on the web for my Maremma Sheepdog breeding program has officially moved!
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Companion Maremmas - Do Livestock Guardian Dogs Make Good Pets? Part One

8/13/2024

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Mushroom, a Prancing Pony Farm Maremma Sheepdog companion puppy, with her new little girl
Should Maremma Sheepdogs (or other LGD breeds) be kept as pets? This is a hotly debated topic with many strong opinions flying around. The subject is also rife with misinformation on both sides, with many self-appointed "experts" telling others what they should and shouldn't do with their dogs. 

Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) are a unique working dog group traditionally used to protect livestock from predators. They are known for their loyalty, protective instincts, and gentle demeanor with the animals they guard. But what happens when these dogs are kept as companions? While there's a lot to love about LGDs like the Maremma Sheepdog, there are also challenges to consider. Here's an in-depth look at the pros and cons of keeping a livestock guardian dog as a pet, my experience and opinion on the topic, and what you need to know before making that decision.

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Livestock Guardian Dog FAQs: How do I Stop my Maremma Puppy from Biting my Young Goats?

8/1/2024

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5-week-old Prancing Pony Maremma with Messy, an excellent puppy trainer goat
I regularly get replies to my email newsletter and comments on my "Living and Working with Maremma Sheepdogs" Facebook group from people who have a Maremma Sheepdog (or another breed of LGD) that they acquired from someone else. (Not bred by me.) Sometimes, they have a question or two; other times, they struggle with their dog. The breeder or other source (rescue or shelter) they got the dog from is unwilling or unable to help them, so they don't know who to turn to. ​

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Completion of the 6 Month Long Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional Program - the In-Person Workshop

5/5/2024

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Six months of hard work finally paid off the week of April 9-13, 2024, when I attended the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional program. I have officially completed this very rigorous professional dog training program! I learned so much throughout the six-month program and even more during the five-day workshop. 

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In the Home Stretch Of the Karen Pryor Dog Trainer Professional Program!

2/8/2024

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Can you believe it's February already?! I can't. Time is just flying by! So fast, in fact, that I have found myself on the homestretch of the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Professional program! When I started this program in September, I thought I would never finish. And though I am far from finished, the end is coming at an alarming pace, whether I'm ready or not!


Yesterday, my fellow students and I had the final (Unit 4) Zoom meeting with our instructor to review everything we need to know for the final assessments. That meeting sure made me nervous. Hearing everything Luna and I must do in April is scary, but I will keep focusing on my goal to help Maremmas and their owners. And I'll keep reminding myself of what I tell my clients. Clicker training is fun! (Doing it in front of others is not so much fun for me, but I'll learn to embrace it. 😳)

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​Five minutes ago, I finished the coursework for the program! Crazy! Now, I am far from done. I still have to take the 100-question final assessment, but I will give myself some time to study for that. 😆 But at least I know that all the coursework is done, and I can focus on reviewing what I've learned and prepping for the workshop and final assessments in April.
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Now, the real work begins! Luna and I have to submit a 10-part behavior chain video (plus two more videos) by the end of the month. This means she will do ten behaviors in a row without stopping in between. I can choose whatever behaviors I want, but there are specific guidelines, such as the types of cues that need to be used. I have to submit a video of this chain, and then we will do the same chain at the workshop in April, along with a LOT of other stuff. Five full days of dog training, learning, and assessments.


I will spend all my time between now and then training Luna, taking her as many places as I can to get her used to "performing" in public. I will also need to practice teaching people to train their dogs. (I hope to host some pretend dog training classes with some volunteers.😆) All this is so I can pass the practical assessments in April

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I will be graded on my dog training and people-teaching skills at the workshop. After all, half of training dogs successfully is about the other end of the leash - teaching dog owners how to train and communicate with their dogs. Training Livestock Guardian Dogs is more complicated and complex than training companion dogs because the lives of the dogs and the livestock they will guard depend on how well it's done. This is not something you want to learn about on social media or YouTube.


That's why I enrolled in this program. I could have improved my own dog training skills by continuing to take courses for dog owners and reading dog training books. But I knew the only way I could genuinely support my Maremma clients (and other LGD owners) was by acquiring the professional skills to help them continue training their dogs after those precious pups leave my farm. I didn't want my puppy owners to be forced to hire another trainer if they encountered a problem with their dogs. I wanted to provide the absolute best "whelping box to grave" training support for my pups, so I will keep focusing on that goal until I achieve it!
Maremma Info
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Happy New Year From Prancing Pony Farm - Plans for 2024!

1/18/2024

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Happy New Year! I know it's a bit late, but things have been busy here at Prancing Pony Farm, especially over the holidays. But I wanted to update everyone on what's been going on over the last year and what's coming up this new year. There's lots to tell, but I will just hit the highlights. Otherwise, this could go on forever. 😆

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PennHip Testing Comes to Prancing Pony Farm and Valley Veterinary Services!

1/3/2024

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Today was an exciting day for Prancing Pony Farm and my Maremma Sheepdog breeding program. Right before Christmas, my wonderful veterinarian, Kayla McCrone, of Valley Veterinary Services, became certified to do PennHip exams on dogs. She has been doing OFA exams for a while, but because PennHip is superior for screening for hip dysplasia, I have urged her to add that to her offerings for YEARS. But I patiently waited since I knew she had a lot on her plate in building a new business. ​

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Aggression & Reactivity in Livestock Guardian Dogs: Understanding What Causes It and What You Can Do About It.

12/30/2023

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Adolescent intact female Maremmas, oh my!
I sometimes get contacted by people needing help with their "aggressive" Livestock Guardian Dog. First I want to say that I do not like labeling any dog as "aggressive", even if they are behaving in what may appear to be an aggressive, fearful or reactive manner. Labelling a dog as "aggressive" gives the connotation that there is something wrong with the dog itself, and that it can't be fixed and this is simply not true in most cases. Aggression in dogs is a very complex issue in dogs with a LOT of causes but there are a lot of things that can be done to help.

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Making People's Dreams Come True - When Saying Goodbye is Hard but So Right.

12/23/2023

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​A sweet Maremma puppy named Serena joined our farm 3 years ago. She was a stud service puppy sired by my excellent stud dog, Simba, originally intended to be a breeding candidate. She matured into a very sweet girl and an excellent LGD. However, I later determined that I didn't need her in my breeding program, so I decided to sell her. 

Several people were interested in her, but the timing wasn't right for them yet, so I waited. I was feeling conflicted about selling her so I decided it would happen when it was meant to, and if it didn't, that was ok, too.

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    Author

    Hi I'm Kim. I have been an avid animal lover all my life but goats and dogs are my favorites so I built a business around them, breeding registered Mini Nubian & Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats and MSCA registered Maremma Sheepdogs. I love sharing my passion and knowledge of these amazing creatures with others.

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​"Above the arch there was a lamp, and beneath it swung a large signboard: a fat white pony reared up on its hind legs. Over the door was painted in white letters:
​The Prancing Pony by Barliman Butterbur."
~ from The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings.

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  • Home
    • About Us
    • Contact us
    • Veterinarian's Letter of Recommendation
  • Mini Nubian & Nigerian Dwarf Goats for Sale
    • Kids for Sale
    • Adult Goats for Sale
    • Breeding Plan Goats
    • The Doe Code
    • Our Dairy Goat Herd
      • Mini Nubian Does
      • Mini Nubian Bucks
      • Standard Nubian Does
      • Nigerian Dwarf Does
      • Nigerian Dwarf Bucks
      • Past Kidding Seasons
        • 2024 Kidding Season
        • 2023 Mini Nubians
        • 2023 Nigerians
  • MSCA Registered Maremma Sheepdogs for Sale
    • Maremmma Sheepdogs for Sale
    • Why Choose Us?
    • Our Puppy Reservation Process
    • Available Puppies
    • Maremma Puppies - Current & Past Litters
  • Livestock Guardian Dog Training
    • Livestock Guardian Dog Training & Consulting
    • About Kim Crawmer
    • Family Dog Mediation
    • Keeping Kids safe With LGDs
    • The Perfect Formula for Training Incredible Livestock Guardian Dogs
  • Wether Giveaway
  • Free Goat & LGD Membership
  • Prancing Pony Farm Blog
  • Goat Care Info
    • Dairy Goat Blog
    • Bringing Home Your New Goat
    • Health concerns of your new goat
    • Dairy Goat FAQ's
    • Goat Care Articles & Links
    • Clicker Training Goats
    • Supplies for Goats
    • Feeding Mini & Dwarf Baby Goats
    • Housing Does & Kids
    • Goat Parasites
    • Annual Disease Testing of Goats
    • Goat Hoof Trimming
    • Milking Dairy Goats
    • Milking Nigerian Dwarfs versus Mini Nubians
    • Our Dairy Goat Milking Parlor
    • Disbudding Mini & Dwarf Goats
    • Mini Nubian Ears