The Maremma Shepherd Dog is an Italian breed of snow-white guard dog, first mentioned as early as the first century AD. Unlike many other breeds, the Maremma has remained virtually unchanged in both behavior and appearance. To this day, this independent and proud dog retains its exceptional herding and guarding qualities.
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Historical background
You're probably wondering where this strange dog breed name comes from? It's quite simple. Once two historic Italian districts Abruzzo and Maremma began a dispute over which region this breed originated in. As you've already guessed, the dispute ended in a compromise, and the large white shepherd became known as the Maremma-Abruzzese.
Since ancient times, the Maremma Shepherd Dog has been a faithful companion to shepherds, carefully guarding their flocks from wild animals and other intruders. One ancient treatise, describing the ideal shepherd breed, stated that The dog must be hardy, strong, and only white in color., so that it can be clearly seen in the dark. This will reduce the chance that a shepherd, in the hustle and bustle of the night, will mistakenly injure his loyal companion.
Today, the Maremma Sheepdog is often used as a guard dog for various herds of livestock in rural areas, as well as a security dog for various urban sites. American farmers recognize the dog's advantages and effectiveness in protecting pastures from a variety of wild animals, including grizzly bears.
Maremma Shepherd Dog Standard
Large and powerful, male Maremma Shepherds can reach a shoulder height of up to 74 cm and weigh up to 46 kg. Females are slightly smaller, reaching a shoulder height of up to 59–67 cm and weighing 31–42 kg. has an exclusively snow-white color, with a few exceptions, yellowish and beige shades are sometimes found in some areas of the coat.
The head is flat and large, with a low, domed forehead. The angle from the muzzle to the forehead is obtuse. The white muzzle with a large black nose is very similar to the head of a polar bear. The eyes are dark and almond shaped.The mouth, with small, dry lips, securely covers the teeth. It should be noted that according to the Maremma breed standard, the dog's lips, eyelids, and nose must be black. Any other color variations are considered a fault for this breed.
Large and strong teeth normally form a scissor bite.- The ears are pendulous and mobile, pointed at the tips, set wide apart at the level of the cheekbones, and shaped like a "V." Ear cropping is rare, but only occurs in dogs used for guard work.
- The impressive and wide withers, protruding noticeably above the level of the back, turn into a straight muscular back with a small protrusion in the lumbar region.
- The chest is voluminous and wide, and at the bottom can reach the elbows of the front legs.
Large and strong teeth normally form a scissor bite.The Maremma has rounded, massive paws with tightly knit toes. The hind paws are more oval in shape than the front paws. Thighs with defined and pronounced musclesThe densely furred white tail is carried low. When moving or showing emotion, it is raised slightly above the outline of the back.
The Maremma's coat consists of a snow-white, thick, medium-elastic topcoat and a dense undercoat. The lower part of the limbs, the ears and head are covered with shorter hairElsewhere, the coat can be 10-11 cm high. The particularly large coat creates a mane-like appearance on the upper part of the forelimbs, shoulders, and withers.
There are two surprising facts to note about the Maremma Shepherd's coat.
- The structure of the Maremma Shepherd's coat allows it to feel comfortable in temperatures ranging from -45 to +45 degrees.
- The wool is coated with a special fatty compound that allows it to clean itself without the use of water. When the dirt dries, it falls off, leaving pristine fur.
The Italian Shepherd's personality
It's important to note that no one has ever succeeded in turning a Maremma Shepherd into an obedient, tame puppet. This charismatic and stern breed always accepts its owner as a full partner, but never as someone dominant. This dog is purely a guard dog.
Nature has given her a great many behavior patterns and corresponding instincts. For example, there's a surprising difference in the Abruzzese Shepherd's attitude toward what's happening in the territory she controls at night and during the day. If she's be completely relaxed about your friends moving around the area around your home, then at night the desire to breathe fresh air can turn into serious trouble.
But don't think of this breed as uncontrollable and aggressive. This dog is simply highly intelligent. She understands the situation very subtly., based on my observations of its owner and their attitude toward certain events. For example, when the owner is talking to people they know, the Abruzzese Shepherd behaves calmly. But when it sees something suspicious—and it can pick out suspicious people even in a huge crowd—it will inevitably show its displeasure.
From the stories of Maremma Shepherd owners, one can form a fairly accurate indicator of the intelligence and intelligence of this breed. Some of them say that if a large number of guests come to their country house, then The Abruzzese Shepherd is quite subtle in its behavior The owner's best friends always feel at ease and welcome at any time. The Maremma is happy to see them and even plays with them sometimes.
People arriving for the first time aren't met with the Maremma's warmth. The dog simply behaves cautiously and calmly, watching attentively where the guests are heading next. Meanwhile, the staff working on the property... can no longer simply move freely around the territoryThe dog, with a loud growl, blocks their path. This means that the Maremma, who lives in a country house far from flocks of sheep, bears, and wolves, still has the highly developed reflexes of a guard dog.
The Abruzzese Shepherd is patient and kind with children. For them, these are completely separate matters. Maremma owners talk about how their little ones pretend to be brave trainers and doctors, while the shepherds, without much resistance, patiently observe everything going on around them.
How to care for a Maremma Sheepdog?
Before bringing a Maremma Sheepdog into your home, you should know that the best place to keep this dog is a kennel. However, this doesn't preclude mandatory daily walks. Unlike other herding and guard dog breeds, Maremma requires vigorous physical exercise During walks, only during the formation and growth phase. An adult dog will not need this as urgently.
Earlier in the article, we described how this breed's coat, thanks to its unique properties, can clean itself. But don't let that put you at ease; it will still require periodic grooming. For combing, you need to immediately purchase a hard and metal brushAnother simply won't be able to handle the Maremma's wiry coat. After a walk in the snow or rain, it's essential to dry your pet with a towel.
In the summer, it is essential to ensure that the dog has access to shade and constant access to drinking water. A rich undercoat and The thick coat makes it a little difficult for the Maremma to survive in the hot sun.She tolerates frosts much more easily and happily wraps herself in a snowdrift.
This breed is not prone to illness. Hereditary diseases are also almost never seen. Therefore, it's important to ensure your pet's diet includes all the necessary minerals and vitamins, as well as plenty of calcium. This nutrient is essential for the Maremma Shepherd's overall health. Calcium can also be given separately from food.
One thing needs to be said about training: a firm hand, precision, and persistence are essential. This is because there are frequent instances where this shepherd can exhibit excessive, demonstrative sluggishness and stubbornness. This dog itself the dog is balanced and calmTherefore, many people's desire to turn the Maremma into an aggressive and vicious animal for self-affirmation is utterly perplexing. This sometimes ends quite tragically for both the dog and its owner.
To summarize the entire list of care requirements for the Maremma Shepherd, the following can be highlighted:
- Drink plenty of fluids and constantly;
- Aviary;
- Consistency and strictness in training;
- High amount of calcium in the diet.
Prices for puppies
Despite the fact that the Maremma Sheepdog is a very rare breed in our country, The cost of puppies ranges from 30 to 80 rubles. They are available in various breeders, depending on the breeding program and the puppy's show potential. For those who don't plan to attend shows, a puppy with some exterior flaws can be purchased—a pet like this is less expensive.
Maremma Shepherd breeders emphasize the importance of timely puppy training, as consistent training disciplines stubborn little dogs and helps reinforce the owner's authority.
Stubbornness is a distinctive feature of growing Maremmas, especially This quality is clearly expressed in males, and it's important to ensure your pet obeys commands unquestioningly during this time. Otherwise, the puppy will become accustomed to being willful and will dictate its own rules.
