MAREMMA SHEEPDOG

Temperament: Friendly, Determined, Smart
Height: 23.5-28.5 inches
Weight: 65-100 lbs
Life Expectancy: 11-13 years
Dog Breed Group: UKC Guardian Group

MORE ABOUT THIS BREED

Like many of its relatives, the Maremma Sheepdog’s history is a bit of a mystery, but the most common belief is that its origins lie somewhere intertwined with the ancient Mastiff and developed through the lines of other native mountain dogs a bit more resemblant to wolves. They have been described and depicted throughout history as early as Roman times, the details of which are still quite accurate to the dogs that exist today. The first Maremma was registered in 1898 but a breed standard was not released until 1924. This breed was once considered two separate breeds, the Abruzzese and the Maremmano, each stemming from their own region, which a few hundred years ago were actually two different countries, one from the mountains and the other from the plains, each with only slightly different characteristics in terms of build

The Maremma Sheepdog is a large dog, albeit a bit smaller than some of its relatives, standing just over two feet tall at the withers and weighing an average of 80 pounds but have been known to push over 100. They have a distinctive long, solid white double coat that is extra thick around the neck and somewhat coarse to the touch. Their head is bearlike with a squarish muzzle topped with a black nose, medium-length folded ears, and dark, watchful eyes. They have deep chest cavities, highly-muscled legs, a square stance, a long, bushy tail and large paws.

PERSONALITY

The Maremma is a friendly and well-balanced flock guardian. For several decades, it has also achieved success as a companion dog. Sober and dignified, this loyal, brave and determined dog makes an excellent guard dog without being a constant barker. It is correctly described as affectionate, but not dependent. Working lines that are put out to work will not easily follow your every command submissively, as they are bred and trained to be independent. You must display calm, but firm, confident and consistent leadership toward the dog in order to make it listen. It is very intelligent and its training requires mutual respect in handling and voice, and above all, consistency. It gets along with other dogs and pets and can be slightly reserved with strangers but not strongly so.

FEEDING

As a large-breed dog, the Maremma Sheepdog should be fed a high-quality commercial dog food diet formulated for dogs of its size. Because this breed is a high-energy working breed, however, an active or working breed formula may be more appropriate to meet his needs.

HEALTH

As an ancient breed, the Maremma Sheepdog is a healthy and hardy breed for the most part. Like all dogs, however, they are prone to certain health problems, many of them related to the breed’s large size. Maremma Sheepdogs are prone to hip dysplasia as well as other musculoskeletal issues. Feeding your Maremma Sheepdog puppy a large-breed puppy formula will help keep him from growing too fast which will also reduce his risk for bone and joint problems later in life.

CARE

Because the Maremma Sheepdog is a highly intelligent working breed, these dogs need a great deal of daily exercise. This breed requires a long daily walk or brisk jog and will also appreciate having time to itself in a fenced yard. The Maremma Sheepdog also requires plenty of mental stimulation. Due to its high needs for exercise, this breed is not recommended for apartment life.

GROOMING

Because of their long double coats, Maremma Sheepdogs take quite a bit of maintenance. They are active shedders, especially in specific seasons, and require frequent brushing to keep their coats clean and healthy. While many spend most of their lives outdoors, any that are to be brought into a home should be given regular maintenance to keep the dog at a more comfortable temperature and the homeless hairy (although this can rarely be avoided entirely given their heavy-shedding nature). A thorough brushing every few days and the occasional touch up with de-shedding and de-matting brushes when necessary should help to keep their coats in good shape. As they were often left on their own to guard a flock, their coats generally need no trimming, as they maintain a proper length on their own and bathing should only be on an as-needed basis. They are not active droolers but like any dog, should have their teeth brushed on a regular basis to maintain oral health, especially considering their high intake of food. And like any other, their nails should be monitored and clipped to prevent cracking and breaking.

SOME PICTURES ABOUT THIS BREED

Source: petguide, dogbreedinfo, wagwalking.