Maremma Sheepdog Dog Breed

The Pastore Maremmano Abruzzese (shortened to Maremma) originated in the Marammano and Abruzzo regions of central Italy; they were once considered two separate breeds, one from either region, but due to little differences the ENCI of Italy combined the two types into one breed as of 1958. Although their original duty was to guard flocks of sheep from wolves, their duties have since expanded to guarding all types of animals from livestock to penguins! They are also top notch guard dogs for person and property. As a natural guardian and protector, they will act if there is any sense of threat. If you do not have duties for this dog or are not an active person-- this breed may not be the best choice for you. Small living quarters or owners with frequent visitors are also not recommended. Consider the following Maremma dog quick facts:

PROS

• Excellent guardian of livestock
• The utmost protective and loyal dog
• Hardworking and dedicated
• Thrives on large properties, farms, ranches
• Gets along well with other animals of all types
• Affectionate towards their owners and animals
• Little grooming required
• Calm and laid-back when not working
• Independent, not prone to separation anxiety
• Can make good exercise partners
• Healthy, impressive looking dogs

CONS

• Not the best choice for households with small kids
• Should be socialized from day 1 if kept as a pet
• Needs plenty of daily outdoor exercise
• Outdoor dog that needs a large yard and a task
• Not a willing to please (loyal, but his job comes first)
• May be overprotective and react negatively to normal interactions with strangers (i.e. kids playing roughly, the mailman, etc.)

Much of the reputable Maremma dog breed info you will find will stress to you that this breed is not primarily a "pet", this breed is a working dog, and keeping one as such requires a GREAT deal of socialization from the very beginning. They may be social and rambunctious as a puppy, however, they will steadily increase in their protective behaviors until they become quite the opposite. This dog is naturally intelligent and independent, requiring little training for their work. They are large to very large canines whose muscular, powerful bodies need plenty of exercise.

Maremmas are very easy to train when they are young. Although it is not recommended to keep them in house, they are easily house-trained and quickly pick up on basic commands. They need no training to do their duties because they are naturally protective and become more so as they age. By the time they are 2 they are independent thinkers that, although not outright disobedient, consider themselves your equal and like to make their own decisions. They will not leave their "post" if they feed their is a need to be there, even if instructed by their owner.

Members of this breed are outdoor dogs that need plenty of room to roam or, at the very least, a large yard. If you insist on keeping them as a pet they should be socialized from day 1, otherwise even the most common of strangers (the garbageman, even distant relatives at Christmas) may cause them to react negatively out of protective instinct. Although they do well with small children they are raised with, they should be supervised because of their size. As their duty was (and is) protection of flocks and livestock, they get along with almost any animaland have also been known to show them great affection; be careful if you have two male canines in the same living area, the Maremma is a leader and may not mesh well with another.

Maremmano dogs are meant to live outdoors in pastures, farmlands and on ranches with their charges that include everything from sheep to penguins! They are calm and laid back, once adults, but will need at least an hour of exercise daily if kept indoors (which is not recommended). If you insist on owning one of these in a city environment (also not recommended) they should be kept on leash at all times.

There is little variation for the Maremma as breeding goes back nearly 2000 years! They are primarily guardians of livestock (especially sheep) and, as such, this Pastore breed's hair is usually solid white. The coat consists of a dense undercoat with a fairly long, harsh and wavy outer coat. There are a few variations in color such as light ivory, lemon or orange, however, this is not desirable. Overall, the breed is very large, sturdy and muscular with a deep chest. They have a large, wide head (that is described to look like a polar bear) with a black nose, ochre or chestnut colored eyes and medium triangular ears that hang down.

There are some that suggest there are sub-types of this breed other than the Maremmano named for villages they come from, however, these differences in appearance are very slight and often disputed by biologists.

The Maremma Sheepdog's temperament is that of a dedicated, loyal working dog. They are also known be be affectionate toward anyone or anything they consider family. This dog can be independent but also loves to be around and all over the ones he loves. You can expect them to be caring for livestock they watch over and will consider it their life duty to guard and protect person, animals and property. They will quickly act in protection if they sense a threat. Members of this breed are said to increase in their protective instincts over time and, by the time they are a few years old, it may be hard to find many they are not suspicious of.

Since these are working dogs and desire a job, they are not recommended as pets by the Maremma Club of America unless socialized consistently from the beginning and, even then, they need outdoor living space. They are not tolerant of rough playing unfamiliar children and may not see it as playing and consider them dangerous. Although Maremmas don't normally attack, they may respond negatively to normal situations like unknown children playing rambunctiously, maintenance men working, garbage and mailmen... maybe any stranger. They do, however, get along well with other pets of any type; the only exception being another male alpha dog.

The Maremma Sheepdog personality has developed to make them independent thinkers that are focused on doing their jobs and they are not one of those "eager to please types". They will, however, loyally do most things that are asked of them and, if not, are not problematic or outright disobedient. Although many contend that training is pretty easy, it is essential you are able to direct this large dog with firmness and consistency. Even still, they tend to make up their own minds about whether a command is reasonable or not.

Maremmas are pretty healthy dogs that typically live 11-13 years. They are prone to typical large dog issues such as Hip Dysplasia and Bloat; some may be prone to obesity so a healthy diet and not overfeeding them is essential. According to the Maremma Club of America, many are also sensitive to anesthesia and deworming agents.

If you are purchasing, rather than adopting your pet, do your research to find a reputable breeder than can offer proof of health such as: certifications and genetic testing reports of the parents (Hip, Eye, etc.) and health guarantees for the puppies.