Our Started Guardian Program

At Emerald Mtn Ranch, we’re proud to offer started guardians—dogs who have already begun their journey as dedicated livestock and homestead protectors. Unlike a new puppy, these guardians aren’t just a promise of potential; they are a working asset ready to bring their experience and expertise to your ranch or farm.
A started guardian has already been raised and socialized on our ranch, giving them a solid foundation in working with livestock. This hands-on experience means they bring valuable knowledge and a predictable work ethic to their new home. While every dog needs time to bond and acclimate, a started guardian can make the transition to your homestead much smoother, offering a distinct advantage.

Unique Benefits of a Started Guardian

Valuable Experience: Our started guardians have already spent time working with livestock, bringing their learned skills and knowledge directly to your homestead.
Predictable Work Ethic: You’ll know their personality and work ethic upfront, helping ensure a perfect and lasting match for your specific needs.
A Smoother Transition: With a foundation in working with livestock, these dogs are well-prepared to integrate into your existing operations with less initial training.

Each dog has been thoughtfully prepared for their next chapter. We stand behind every dog we place and are always here to support you for life.
Our started guardians are available for a fee based on their training and experience. Please reach out to us directly for current availability and to learn more about the unique guardians currently seeking new homes.

Available Dogs:

Hornet “Brown/Green” Princess 2025 Litter

6-month-old male
This go-getter has single dew claws and a wonderful “want to please” attitude. He’s very people-oriented and eager to learn.
Transportation would be the responsibility of the new owner.

Renegade “Orange” 2025 Princess Litter

6-month-old male
With double dew claws, this boy is more independent and stock-focused. He’s also great with people, combining his strong working drive with a friendly nature.
Transportation would be the responsibility of the new owner.

Yellow (Leona) ” 2025 Princess Litter

Leona is a 6-month-old Turkish Boz Shepherd, daughter of Princess and granddaughter of MINK. She’s a super sweet girl with a gentle, people-friendly nature and a natural instinct for protecting her herd. Already showing promise, she’s reliable with stock and is gaining experience working around birds.
Leona has been health tested (Embark genetics and PennHIP) and will be placed on a spay contract as a dedicated working guardian. With continued guidance, she’s set to grow into a dependable, loyal protector for her future ranch or homestead.
This young guardian is ready to find her forever family—and her forever job.
Transportation would be the responsibility of the new owner.

Mr. Bentley

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At 11 months old Bentley is a brindle beauty with the sweetest smile and an even sweeter heart. Above all, Bentley loves people — he’s soft-natured, affectionate, and thrives on companionship. Loyal and endearingly vocal, he’s the kind of dog who makes you feel safe and cared for just by being near.
Bentley is already showing the instincts of a steady protector. He moves calmly among livestock with natural respect and maturity, and he looks to his people for guidance. He feeds off the environment he’s in, learning quickly from solid, older dogs and responding well to clear direction. While he’ll need more guidance with smaller animals and poultry as he matures, his eagerness to please makes him a willing student.
Bentley has completed Embark genetic testing and PennHIP evaluation. He is not registered.
With his loyal temperament, affectionate personality, and protective nature, Bentley would make an excellent homestead and family LGD for someone looking for a true companion as well as a guardian.
Please reach out if you’d like more information or to meet Mr. Bentley in person.
Transportation would be the responsibility of the new owner.

Titan

Titan – The Grounded Guardian

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Titan is a 10-month-old powerhouse already proving himself as a reliable livestock guardian. Standing 32.5 inches at the shoulder and weighing 149 pounds, he’s calm, confident, and steady in the field. His nickname, The Grounded Guardian, comes from his levelheaded nature—he blends easily with other dogs and shows impressive patience with stock for his age.
His instincts, size, and early maturity set him apart, and he is well on his way to becoming an exceptional protector for livestock.
Titan comes from strong working lines—sired by Kubera (Bad Axe Boz) and grandson to the imported Tank (Tuzkoy) from Barbados. He has completed Embark genetic testing and PennHIP scoring. Titan is not available for breeding.
 Titan is ready to step into his role as a dependable guardian for the right home.
Transportation would be the responsibility of the new owner.

Contact us for further information about our started dogs

Our Second Chances Program

The dogs available here aren’t always what you’d expect. We don’t have a history of dogs being returned to our ranch, but the dogs in this program could be those that were acquired but didn’t fit the specific needs of our program, or they may be retired guardians. The fact is, they are ready for their next chapter. We pride ourselves on the temperament of our dogs and only place those we are confident will be a good fit.
Bringing an adult dog into your life is a compassionate choice, but it’s important to be prepared. These dogs have their own quirks and personalities. It can take time for them to settle in, especially if they are joining a home with other dogs. Patience is key. The reward, however, is a mature and devoted companion who is ready to give their all to their new family.

Available Dogs:

Tank

The Gentle Giant

Tank turkish boz shepherd dog with rams
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Tank Turkish Boz Shepherd dog getting a belly rub
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Tank Turkish Boz Shepherd dog laying in the yard with Steamboat in the background
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Tank is looking for a home where he can spend more time interacting with his humans while also protecting his homestead and the animals within. He is microchipped and up to date on all his vaccinations. He does need some work on his leash manners, as he gets very excited, but this big-hearted guardian just needs the right place to call home. He’s free to a good home, and transport is available at the owner’s expense.Tank is a powerful yet gentle 4-year-old Turkish Boz Shepherd with a big heart and an even bigger love for people — especially if belly rubs are involved. At 145 lbs, this neutered, retired stud is steady, affectionate, and ready to find his forever home.
Tank has a moderate energy level and settles quickly once he’s had a little attention. He gets along well with most of the pack and has proven himself reliable with larger livestock. He’s currently living with rams and has also been around calves, where he does well. While he may bark when nervous, he has never shown aggression toward stock. (Tank is not poultry-safe.)
When Tank was younger, another dog bit his face, leaving him with part of his lip missing. It doesn’t affect his abilities or his sweet nature — if anything, it just adds to his character and charm.
Respectful of electric fencing, Tank would thrive as a farm dog or homestead guardian where he has space to work and a job to do. He adores people and enjoys time with children, though his size and enthusiasm mean he could accidentally scratch younger kids in his excitement. He is not food-aggressive toward people.
Tank is microchipped, up to date on all vaccinations, and free to a good home. Transport would be the responsibility of the new owner.
If you’d like more information or would like to meet Tank in person, please contact us — this big-hearted guardian is waiting for the right family to call his own.

Samson

The Vigilant Companion

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Meet Samson, a handsome and alert 2-year-old Turkish Boz Shepherd (3/4 Boz) who is one of our most loyal guardians — not just of livestock, but of his homestead as well. At a lean but strong 140 lbs, he’s still filling out and would thrive on a good diet and an active environment.
Samson is a devoted protector who patrols his property with focus and vigilance. He alerts to strangers without becoming physical and has successfully kept coyotes away from calving cows. He has also participated in educational outreach programs for LGDs, showing his confidence and steady temperament around the public.
With moderate to high energy, Samson would do best on a homestead with space to run and a job to do. He is respectful of fences, has excellent recall, and is well-behaved on leash. Samson knows several commands including sit, wait, leave it, and ok. He has experience with sheep, calves, and goats, and generally leaves birds alone. After structured introductions, he gets along well with most dogs, making him a great fit for a multi-dog household.
Neutered, microchipped, and up to date on vaccinations, Samson adores people and craves attention. While he can be excited, he has a strong desire to please and is not food-aggressive. Samson is seeking an experienced owner who understands the needs of a working guardian breed and can provide him with the purpose and attention he deserves.
Transportation would be the responsibility of the new owner.