Maremma Sheepdog FAQ's
We will add to this page as time permits and new questions arise!
Where did the Maremma Sheepdog originate?
The Maremma Sheepdog, is an Italian breed of livestock guardian dog, originating in central Italy. It has been used for centuries by Italian shepherds to guard sheep from wolves.
How does the Maremma compare to other, more common LGD breeds?
Maremmas are "close in" guardians, meaning they prefer to stick close to the stock instead of patrolling over vast areas like breeds such as Great Pyrenees do. They are generally very respectful of fencing and don't wander like most other LGD breeds. They still need a fence to serve as a boundary, but that fence usually doesn't need to resemble Fort Knox! This trait also makes them especially suitable for smaller farms than most breeds because they don't need acres and acres to keep them content. But they are equally suited to large ranches since they will stick close to the herd or flock as it moves about the property.
How big do Maremmas get?
Maremmas are one of the smaller LGD breeds. They range in size from around 70 lbs to close to 150 lbs, but on average they are around 90-100 lbs. But don't let their small size fool you. Devotion to their stock and tenacity are much more important than size when its comes to fending off predators. A pair of Maremmas is more effective than a single dog of larger breeds. Remember that Maremmas were bred to fight off wolves in their home country! Of course for very serious predator problems you may need more than two dogs.
The smaller size of the breed also makes them well suited to small properties and they eat less than larger breeds. Why feed more dog than you need to do the job?!
What kind of training works best with Maremmas?
Maremmas, like all LGD's, were bred to work independently a large part of the time, so they are very independent natured. However they bond very closely with humans they know and trust. Trust being the important part. Trying to get a Maremma to "obey" by making it "submit" not only won't work but it could be very dangerous for the human. Trust me, if you get into a fight with a Maremma the Maremma will win! What's more, fighting with a Maremma to get it to cooperate is totally unnecessary. What Maremmas respond best to is Positive Reinforcement Training methods, such a Clicker Training. Clicker Training puts the dog in power and teaches them to make good choices. It becomes a fun and rewarding game to them to "train" their human to dole out tasty treats and other rewards for offered behaviors. They will meet you enthusiastically at the gate, excited to see what fun you have in store for them today!
How many Maremma puppies should I buy?
This subject is so important that it has a page all its own please go here for more information.
What is that colored stuff on the puppies and what’s it for?
We use Sprayline brand Sheep paint from Premier 1 Sheep Supply to mark our puppies, starting while they are still in the whelping box. This is so we can tell them apart, since they are all white and look a lot alike. Collars don’t show up under all that fur and can get lost or pose a strangulation hazard. With the spray we can tell at a glance which puppy is which, even from far away. That makes it very helpful when observing temperaments for eventual placements, as well as monitoring the health of the puppies. To read more about how and why we use Sprayline go to this blog post.
How Can I teach my Maremma not to bark so much?
Teaching a Maremma not to bark is like trying to teach a fish not to swim. Barking is a LGD's first and main defense mechanism against predators so trying to prevent them from barking is making them less effective as LGD's. Puppies and young dogs tend to bark more than adults as they haven't learned what is and isn't a threat yet. And single dogs often bark more than dogs with a partner out of boredom, stress and even fear. We don't try to "teach" our puppies and dogs not to bark because we believe they need to learn how to be discerning on their own. For more on that subject see the blog post called "Finding Their Bark".
The Maremma Sheepdog, is an Italian breed of livestock guardian dog, originating in central Italy. It has been used for centuries by Italian shepherds to guard sheep from wolves.
How does the Maremma compare to other, more common LGD breeds?
Maremmas are "close in" guardians, meaning they prefer to stick close to the stock instead of patrolling over vast areas like breeds such as Great Pyrenees do. They are generally very respectful of fencing and don't wander like most other LGD breeds. They still need a fence to serve as a boundary, but that fence usually doesn't need to resemble Fort Knox! This trait also makes them especially suitable for smaller farms than most breeds because they don't need acres and acres to keep them content. But they are equally suited to large ranches since they will stick close to the herd or flock as it moves about the property.
How big do Maremmas get?
Maremmas are one of the smaller LGD breeds. They range in size from around 70 lbs to close to 150 lbs, but on average they are around 90-100 lbs. But don't let their small size fool you. Devotion to their stock and tenacity are much more important than size when its comes to fending off predators. A pair of Maremmas is more effective than a single dog of larger breeds. Remember that Maremmas were bred to fight off wolves in their home country! Of course for very serious predator problems you may need more than two dogs.
The smaller size of the breed also makes them well suited to small properties and they eat less than larger breeds. Why feed more dog than you need to do the job?!
What kind of training works best with Maremmas?
Maremmas, like all LGD's, were bred to work independently a large part of the time, so they are very independent natured. However they bond very closely with humans they know and trust. Trust being the important part. Trying to get a Maremma to "obey" by making it "submit" not only won't work but it could be very dangerous for the human. Trust me, if you get into a fight with a Maremma the Maremma will win! What's more, fighting with a Maremma to get it to cooperate is totally unnecessary. What Maremmas respond best to is Positive Reinforcement Training methods, such a Clicker Training. Clicker Training puts the dog in power and teaches them to make good choices. It becomes a fun and rewarding game to them to "train" their human to dole out tasty treats and other rewards for offered behaviors. They will meet you enthusiastically at the gate, excited to see what fun you have in store for them today!
How many Maremma puppies should I buy?
This subject is so important that it has a page all its own please go here for more information.
What is that colored stuff on the puppies and what’s it for?
We use Sprayline brand Sheep paint from Premier 1 Sheep Supply to mark our puppies, starting while they are still in the whelping box. This is so we can tell them apart, since they are all white and look a lot alike. Collars don’t show up under all that fur and can get lost or pose a strangulation hazard. With the spray we can tell at a glance which puppy is which, even from far away. That makes it very helpful when observing temperaments for eventual placements, as well as monitoring the health of the puppies. To read more about how and why we use Sprayline go to this blog post.
How Can I teach my Maremma not to bark so much?
Teaching a Maremma not to bark is like trying to teach a fish not to swim. Barking is a LGD's first and main defense mechanism against predators so trying to prevent them from barking is making them less effective as LGD's. Puppies and young dogs tend to bark more than adults as they haven't learned what is and isn't a threat yet. And single dogs often bark more than dogs with a partner out of boredom, stress and even fear. We don't try to "teach" our puppies and dogs not to bark because we believe they need to learn how to be discerning on their own. For more on that subject see the blog post called "Finding Their Bark".