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Prancing Pony Farm
Ethically bred, professionally trained livestock guardian dogs and family companions
Livestock Guadian Dog Consulting
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Hi Reader,
I know I promised a multi-week puppy socialization series—and I promise your next puppy socialization email is coming week—but something happened this week that I just couldn't wait to share with you.
Six months ago, I got an email from Sarah in Hawaii. She'd fallen in love with a Maremma she met in her neighborhood and desperately wanted one of her own—but she lives on an island with some of the strictest dog import requirements in the world.
Most people would've given up. Sarah didn't.
After a long phone consultation, she and her husband Casey decided to reserve a puppy from my next litter, fully knowing they'd have to wait six months for all the quarantine paperwork, rabies titer tests, and veterinary requirements.
A few weeks after our April litter was born, we chose their puppy—a sweet girl they named Caia. And then they did something that surprised me: a couple months later, when they were in California for Sarah's surgery, they drove several hours just to meet their puppy, even though they couldn't take her home yet.
Sarah told me later that meeting Caia made her surgery less scary. (If that doesn't get you right in the heart, I don't know what will.)
Tuesday was pickup day. Sarah and Casey flew back to California, stayed overnight, and came to the farm first thing in the morning, practically vibrating with excitement.
Here's the kicker: This is their first dog. Ever. As adults.
Sarah is 36. Casey is 40. They waited until they were truly ready—until they had the time, the commitment, and the resources to do it right. And they chose a Maremma as their first dog.
Some people would say that's ambitious. I say it's beautiful.
But here's where the story gets really good.
After they picked up Caia, they drove to San Diego to visit family before their flight to Hawaii. And this livestock guardian dog puppy—who'd spent nearly six months living outdoors with goats and chickens—just... seamlessly adapted to everything.
The long car ride? No problem.
Staying in an Airbnb in a residential neighborhood? She slept at the foot of their bed like she'd always done it.
Meeting Casey's aunt and uncle? Total sweetheart.
Encountering their aunt's Labrador? Made a new friend.
Meeting a family member in a wheelchair? Didn't even blink.
The texts I got made me tear up:
“We made it!! Caia was such a good sport.”
“Everyone was so in love with how gentle she is.”
“She played with their little lab..she was so polite. She never even barked once.”
“She got to relax…and sleep at the feet of Casey’s aunt’s wheelchair.”
And then this one, which absolutely melted my heart:
“It was such a special day, I cried out of joy.” 💜
This is exactly why I raise my puppies the way I do.
A lot of livestock guardian dog breeders take one of two approaches: raise puppies exclusively with livestock (great guardians, but often nervous in everyday situations), or raise them in the house like pets (great with people, but lacking the instincts to guard effectively).
I do both.
My puppies live with livestock from birth—they're learning their job, developing their instincts. But they also spend significant time in my puppy parlor with house-like surroundings, meeting people of all ages, experiencing new sounds and textures, and interacting with other dogs.
They learn that the world is safe and interesting—whether that world is a pasture or a living room.
Here's why this matters beyond Caia's story:
I've seen too many families face an impossible choice: life circumstances change, they have to sell their farm, and they think they have no choice but to rehome their livestock guardian dog.
I decided I didn't want that to be the only option for my families.
So I raise dogs who can absolutely thrive as working livestock guardians—that's their primary purpose. But if life throws a curveball, these dogs can transition to companion life without falling apart. (Or they can thrive as companions from day one.)
I've had families keep their Prancing Pony Farm dogs after selling their farms, and the dogs adapted beautifully. Your dog can be a working guardian AND a beloved family member. And if the farm part goes away, the family member part can stand on its own.
Tomorrow, Caia flies home to Hawaii. She'll guard chickens (and maybe goats someday) on Sarah and Casey's property. But she'll also be their first-ever dog—their companion, their friend, their family.
And because of how she was raised, she's ready for all of it.
I'm telling you this story because it's a reminder that the right dog is worth the wait—even if that wait is six months and 2,500 miles.
It's also proof that intentional socialization creates dogs who can handle anything life throws at them.
If you've been waiting for the "right time" to add a livestock guardian dog to your life, maybe this is your sign. The wait is always worth it when you find the right match.
I'll keep you posted on Caia's island adventures. And as always, if you ever want to chat about whether a Maremma might be right for your farm (or your life, wherever that life takes you), just hit reply. (Or schedule a call with me.) I love these conversations. 💜
With a full heart,
Kim
P.S. — Don't worry, our regularly scheduled puppy socialization series will be back in your inbox next week! But when something this special happens, I want you to be the first to know. Sarah's already enrolled in a positive reinforcement training course and offered to write a guest blog post about the Hawaii import process—I can't wait to share both with you soon!
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Aloha, Caia! A Maremma Puppy's Journey from CA to HI.
Follow Caia's heartwarming journey from Prancing Pony Farm to her new home in Hawaii—a 6-month process that proves love and dedication know no distance.
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