Frequently Asked Questions

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Our Maremma puppies are placed in working homes. There must be some demonstrated need for a livestock guardian dog (LGD), even if that is just a small flock of chickens that need protection from predators.

Naranjo Hills Farm does not discriminate against smaller hobby farms and homesteads as long as the Maremma will not be a full-time house dog. There must be a job for these dogs to do to stay happy and not wander or become destructive. There must also be enough room to run and play without bumping into livestock, as well as room for a fenced off area/kennel run when you are not there to supervise during transition and adjustment to your property. Please consider your neighbors if you have a smaller property. Rural residential tracts mean neighbors within ear shot who might complain when your Maremma barks at odd hours. 

Most Maremmas are not tolerant of strangers on their property. While some breeders have different opinions, our experience is that Maremmas are not suitable for agritourism type properties where visitors have free reign to walk the property and interact with livestock. Maremmas, again in our experience, do not do well at farm stands where they are expected to greet and interact with visitors. Any on-site farm visits by the public require the Maremma(s) to be in a secure fenced, preferably locked (to prevent curious people from walking in against instruction) area away from visitors. Maremmas need slow and proper introductions to new individuals, with their owners present, to understand these people belong on the property and are not a threat. Our Maremmas are fenced separate from where our deliveries and mail are dropped off and no one interacts with our Maremmas unless we are present and escorting, or they are regular visitors the Maremmas already know and trust. For customers looking for a "softer" livestock guardian dog that is more likely to welcome human visitors, we recommend the Great Pyrenees. For those looking to keep both human and animal predators off their property, the Maremma is a great choice and in our opinion, the best livestock guardian breed out there.

We currently have three adolescent male Maremmas that are priced on a case-by-case basis. Please send an email to us at administrator@naranjohillsfarm.com to inquire about pricing. 

PennHIP costs are already included in the sales price and are not be a separate fee. 

At this time we are breaking even at our prices when you take into count prenatal care, premium dog food and supplements for our dam and sire, whelping and cleaning supplies, dog behavior/training courses, vaccines/dewormer/microchips and vet fees, large breed puppy food once weaned, and PennHIP testing. This doesn't include our time that revolves 24-7 around caring for and cleaning after a litter of puppies, daily training and supervision around livestock and poultry, socialization, teaching leash walking and getting comfortable on car rides, checking fencing and the property for any dangers multiple times per day, answering questions from and mentoring customers, and the list goes on. Doing farm chores with a litter of puppies tagging along makes feeding/watering livestock and cleaning coops and barns an all day event. When all is said and done, we are doing this job for next to nothing because we love the Maremma Sheepdog breed and want other families to have the ability to protect their farms and ranches from predators in a manner that works with the ecosystem. 

This is a difficult question to answer.

Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) do best with a partner. This allows one to sleep, while the other stays alert, reduces the risk of serious injury and death (one dog, even a mature adult, can be overcome by large predators like mountain lions and bears), and provides an appropriate playmate to get out energy. At the same time, two puppies at once can be more than a new LGD owner can handle. Two puppies means if one is engaging in inappropriate behavior, the other will likely join in and you need to do twice the training. Each dog needs individual training time daily and you will need to be supervising two puppies until they are safe with the stock. We strongly feel that each family should make their own decision about whether one or more LGDs is appropriate for their situation. However, regardless if only getting one LGD or multiple LGDs, all puppies are at risk for being attacked by predators. They cannot properly defend themselves until fully grown and confident in their skills, usually around 18 months to two years old. As such, we require a safe area where the puppy(ies) can be kept when not supervised.

We believe the best age to send our puppies off to their new homes is around six months old for a few reasons: in order for the puppy to learn foundation livestock guardian skills and behavior from our trusted adult Maremmas and to have PennHIP testing completed (which cannot be done prior to 16 weeks old). They also have already gone through the "shark phase" (nipping at hands and clothing and chewing on everything), which is a frustrating phase for many owners. At the same time, as an older puppy (versus an adult dog), they remain malleable and adaptable to the expectations and roles required in their new home. It is important to note, that while an older Maremma will arrive to your home with more skills than a puppy, they will initially see you as a stranger. As such, they may bark or growl at you if restrained or confronted, try to escape, and need a safe space to decompress and learn you are safe. We recommend a "bonding pen" for an older Maremma. This is a large barn stall or dog kennel/run (not a crate) that is shaded and protected from the elements where you can interact safely over that initial first week or so. You'll want to visit frequently and bring lots of yummy treats you can toss near them on the ground. Bring a book and read out loud and just hang out together. Forming a bond with your Maremma takes a bit of time, but it is well worth the effort!

We prefer to deliver our Maremmas to families as this significantly aids in the adjustment process, especially with our adolescent Maremmas. However, we do charge an extra fee for this service. The fee depends on the cost of gas and standard mileage rates, time to travel to your property, the number of nights we will need to book a dog friendly hotel, and the total number of meals we will need to eat on the road. If we agree to deliver your puppy, an invoice will be sent via email and must be paid in full via check/Zelle/Good Dog/Barkd, and have cleared through our bank, prior to the scheduled date of our departure. For most families, the cost of private transportation is substantially more than air cargo.

Our puppies are too large at the time of go home to utilize air nanny services or for the family to fly home with the puppy in cabin. As such, air cargo has to be utilized instead. The new home will need to pay for the airline approved crate, health certificate (CVI), and purchase the ticket directly from the airline. Naranjo Hills Farm does not charge extra for the travel to/from the airport, any required vaccines, or for the harness and leash.

We used a livestock transporter in the past to deliver our puppies within the US. The company was cheaper than air cargo and a trusted, well run company. Unfortunately, the company is no longer in service as of January 2023. We remain open to other transport companies, but have yet to find one that costs the same or less than air cargo. Please note, we will not release your puppy to any transporter until the purchase price is paid in full, and the money has cleared through our bank.

• Maremma Sheepdog Club of America (MSCA) individual dog registration. Registrations are currently delayed by the registry, but all paperwork and costs have already been submitted and just pending processing.
• Age appropriate vaccinations and deworming- all of our currently available Maremmas have completed their first year vaccines, including rabies, and are on flea, tick, heart worm, and parasite preventative.
• Registered microchip
• PennHIP testing and copy of results
• Health guarantee against fatal/severe genetic defects (excluding hip dysplasia due to PennHIP testing completed at 16 weeks old) up through two years old.
• Unlimited breeder support via email, text, phone call, Messenger or any other platform you prefer.
• Lifetime take back guarantee (this is not the same as a buy back policy).
• "Puppy pack" with bag of food we use for easy transition, brushes and nail clippers that work well for our Maremmas, blanket with dam and sire's smell to ease anxiety in the new home, and extra goodies.