Who we are
A Mountain Homestead
Waterloo Mountain Farm began the way many small homesteads do: with a dream of living a little closer to the land and building something meaningful with our own hands. Nestled in the mountains of Cotopaxi, Colorado at around 9,000 feet, our farm sits in a landscape shaped by long winters, rugged terrain, and an abundance of wildlife. It’s a beautiful place to live, but it also means that raising animals here requires careful planning and a willingness to adapt.
Ducks, Permaculture, and the Original Vision
From the beginning, my vision for the homestead centered around waterfowl, and ducks in particular. I’ve always appreciated the role ducks can play in a permaculture system, helping control pests, fertilize soil, and work naturally within the rhythms of the land. They seemed like the perfect fit for the kind of small, resilient farm we hoped to build.
But raising waterfowl in the middle of the mountains quickly revealed a hard truth. Our neighbors had plenty of stories about entire flocks wiped out overnight by coyotes, bears, and other wildlife. Predators are simply part of the ecosystem here, and fences alone were rarely enough to keep them out. It became clear that if we were going to keep waterfowl successfully, we needed something more than infrastructure.
We needed a guardian.
Discovering Livestock Guardian Dogs
That search eventually led us to livestock guardian dogs, and ultimately to the Colorado Mountain Dog. The developing breed immediately appealed to us, not only because of its reputation as a guardian suited for small farms, but also because of the philosophy behind its development.
The CMD is still a developing breed shaped by careful selection for temperament, health, and practical working ability. That approach resonated strongly with us. With purebred dogs and their respective clubs and organizations, the rigid emphasis on shows, trials, and narrow conformation standards had always felt somewhat artificial to us, and we had already seen with our other dogs how that mindset can sometimes prioritize appearance over health and function.
What we wanted instead was a hardy, capable dog whose breeding reflects real-world usefulness; a dog selected primarily for temperament, soundness, and instinct.
Our Philosophy with Guardian Dogs
Over time, livestock guardian dogs became an essential part of our homestead. Living alongside wildlife means accepting that predators will always be present, and a good guardian dog allows livestock and wild animals to coexist with fewer conflicts.
Our approach to raising dogs is shaped by a simple belief: the bond between the dog and the shepherd is the foundation of a reliable guardian. While our dogs ultimately live and work with livestock, their training begins with close human interaction, clear structure, and gradual exposure to animals and the rhythms of farm life. A good guardian dog is not born fully formed, but instead develops over time with patience, guidance, and experience.
Life at Waterloo Mountain Farm
Today Waterloo Mountain Farm is home to our Colorado Mountain Dogs, Ancona ducks, and Dewlap Toulouse geese, along with the constant learning that comes with running a small mountain homestead. Through this website we share what we’ve learned about livestock guardian dogs, animal husbandry, and the unique challenges of homesteading at high altitude.
Like any homestead, ours is still very much a work in progress. Each season brings new lessons, new animals, and new challenges. Our goal is simply to raise healthy animals, steward the land responsibly, and contribute—however modestly—to a way of life that values resilience, thoughtful breeding, and the partnership between people, animals, and the land.
Our Commitment to Our Dogs
Because livestock guardian dogs play such an important role on our farm, we take their breeding and placement seriously. Our goal is not simply to produce puppies, but to raise healthy, stable dogs with strong guardian instincts and thoughtful temperaments. Each litter is planned carefully, and we do our best to match puppies with homes where they can thrive. Whether that’s on a working farm, a rural homestead, or another environment well suited to guardian dogs.
Raising good dogs takes time, patience, and responsibility, and we view every dog we raise as a long-term commitment to the people and animals they will eventually protect.