About
Maremma Italian Sheepdog

• The Maremma Sheepdog

  The Maremma Sheepdog is typically a healthy breed, which is not prone to illness or disease, and is relatively free of hereditary abnormalities. Usual vaccinations against hardpad, distemper, leptospirosis, hepatitis and parvovirus are required to be given by your vet, as will the annual booster injection. Worming of puppies should have been carried out at 3, 5, and 7 wekks of age by the breeder, and should then be repeated at 16 weeks, and thereafter at three monthly intervals during the adult life.

• 
  Maremma Puppies
  

  Puppies are large and active, and their growth rate is particularly fast. Long walks and formal exercise is best avoided until they are over 6 months of age. It is preferable that a puppy be allowed to run freewithin the confines of its own garden where he can curl up and sleep when he has had enough. Young children and other members of the household should be made to understand that he must not be disturbed at these times. From 6 months of age, exercise can be built up, and is essential for the correct development and growth. Free running, particularly in hilly areas will be especially beneficial to muscle development.

• 
  Maremma Puppy - Diet
  

  Maremma puppies will require plentiful and nourishing food. They are a fast growing breed and should be given a varied diet to include milk, raw/cooked meat, eggs, puppy meal and calcium and vitamin supplements. A poor mremma puppy diet may prevent correct and fuill development, including loss of bone quality, which once lost is impossible to recover. Breeders would normally provide details of the puppy’s diet along with a further suggested diet sheet for ongoing feeding into adult life.

• 
  Maremma Sheepdog - Training
  

  Once your Maremma puppy is through all his inoculations and has undergone some early lead training in the garden, some form of social and obedience training (as opposed to formal exercise) is essential and cannot begin too soon. It is important to to get him out into town among people and in a variety of situations including mixing with children and other dogs. Anything to get him socialized as much as possible before he is 6 months old.

• 
  Maremma Sheepdog - Personality
  

  The Maremma Sheepdog has an active mind of above average intelligence, and ithout some form of training will quickly become bored.

   

  He will readily understand to sit, heel, down and stay but you should nto expect to receive from a Maremma the same blind obedience as you would expect from a German Shepherd or a Border Collie, for subservience is not in his nature. Obedience training classes, particularly when young will however be beneficial to both owner and dog and regular participation from 5 months through to maturity is strongly recommended. His independent nature causes him to consider all instruction before acting, so that his slow responses should be excused.

   

  There is, however, no excuse for bad behavior, which should be checked immediately by a firm ‘NO’ from a puppy first joining the household.

  
  Don Tommaso Corsini wrote about the Maremma: “Beauty in repose and in action, intelligence, dignity, natural guarding instincts are all very positive qualities, but there is something more to our big white fellows than is usual to the species- a vein of the wild, and a natural habit of treating Man as an equal and a friend, not as God and Master. If you want obedience and submission, keep away from our breed, but if you appreciate friendship given and received, a trace of humour and much teaching of the lore of the wild, a typical Maremma is the best you can have.”

  
  The Maremma Sheepdog is an Italian working breed which can be traced back over 2000 years. Two regions in Italy have always claimed this dog as their own, The Maremma and the Abruzzi, hence its native title: ‘Maremmano Abruzzese’

• ‘Maremmano Abruzzese’
  

  The Maremma Sheepdog has traditionally been used to guard the flocks of sheep and property of the shepherd: originally from wolves and bears, and recently from thieves and groups of feral dogs. Whilst the Maremma remains loyal to the shepherd, his main allegiance is to the flock, groups of Maremmas often being left in sole charge. He will never abandon that which has been entrusted to his care, having strong guarding instincts and responsibility for making his own decisions: these instincts remain in the breed as we know it today.

• 
  Maremma Sheepdog – Physical Characteristics
  

  The Maremma Sheepdog is a medium to large dog of imposing appearance and majestic bearing. He is strong, active and, for his size, very lithe. He is all white in colour, though markings of lemon, fawn or biscuit are frequently seen, particularly on the ears and at the base of the tail. The eyerims, lips, nose and pads should be black.

  
  The adult male stands at an average height of 28 inches at the shoulder, the bitch averages 25 inches and whilst he is a large dog, he is surprisingly agile.

  
  The Maremma considers himself an important dog and when suspicious and on guard his ruff and coat come up to give an imposing appearance of a larger dog. Conversely, when unhappy, he has the ability to curl himself up and shrink to even half his full size.

  
  The average Maremma weighs between 80lbs and 100lbs and the difference between dog and bitch is most evident. The males are bigger and tougher and have a large ruff. The female should be more elegant – more feline in her movements, more gentle and diffident.

• 
  The Maremma – Grooming and Care
  

  The Maremma is a rugged, hardy dog, who is quite happy to be out of doors in all weathers. He is double- coated and whilst on wet days dirt will cling to legs and underbody, it will not penetrate to the soft woolly undercoat. As he dries the dirt will normally fall away from the harsher outer coat.

  
  Although, by nature, he is exceptionally clean in his habits, grooming should be done on a regular basis – a brush and comb will usually suffice and it is most important that the dog is made familiar with this process at a young age.

  
  Bathing should be kept to a minimum – only when very dirty, or, if necessary, for a show. General care of ears, eyes, and pads will be necessary, along with regular nail and toe trimming.

  
  The male Maremma normally casts old undercoat once during the year – bitches cast more frequently, usually twice a year, following a season. The moulting process can be speeded up by a bath given as the moult first commences. Between moults, the Maremma loses little, if any hair.

• 
  Maremma Sheepdog - Temperament
  

  The temperament of th eMaremma is very special, and different to most other breeds of dog. The harsh life to which these dogs have been accustomed for centuries and the responsibilities to which they have been bred make them idea property guards. They are wonderful with their own family and children, and also with children’s friends once they get used to them, accepting them readily as their own, but it is best if the owner makes a formal introduction between them , as with other strangers to the household, and remains on hand until they have been accepted as friends.

  
  The Maremma is normally quite tolerant of other breeds and lives quite happily with them. He rarely picks a quarrel and is typicall slow to anger, though can be provoked, and when he fights he means it. Trouble is likely to occur over food, if another dog interferes. If more than one Maremma is kept, it is advisable to feed separately.