Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog
| Maremma Sheepdog | |||||||||
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| Other names | Pastore Abruzzese Cane da Pastore Maremmano-Abruzzese | ||||||||
| Common nicknames | Maremma | ||||||||
| Origin | Italy | ||||||||
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| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||
The Maremma Sheepdog is a white breed of dog, of a large size and a rustic appearance.
Appearance
Maremma Sheepdogs can weigh from about 65 to 110 pounds (30–50 kg), and be from 23 to 29 inches tall (60–75 cm). They are strong, active, and for their size, very lithe.
The Maremma Sheepdog is a massive, noble, distinctive-looking dog with a bear-like head. The jaws are strong with a scissors bite. It has a black nose that often becomes slightly pink-brown with age. The ears are v-shaped, pointed and rather small. The eyes have a lively, intelligent expression, but are not large. The nasal canal is straight. The tail is low set and thickly feathered with dense hair. The deep, well-rounded ribcage extends to the elbows. The long, harsh, and very abundant hair has a slight wave. The under-coat is dense. Coat colors include white with markings of ivory, light yellow, or pale orange on the ears.
Temperament
Maremma Sheepdogs are often employed as working dogs and those from working lines will most probably need a job to keep them occupied. They are devoted to their master but treat them as an equal and a friend. They are affectionate with people they know. Always treat a Maremma fairly and they will turn into an indispensable guardian angel for your stock, your farm, and your family. Nevertheless, this rugged breed has adapted into a marvelous companion, without losing its extraordinary working abilities. It will defend both house and master, and it is particularly attentive with children.
The Maremma is a friendly and well-balanced flock guardian, 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. As a pet, they are not very attached or overly outgoing. This breed is not a dog that will follow your every command submissively and certainly not if it cannot see the point to it. It is very intelligent and its education and training require 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. People who are not welcome on your property will be stopped in their tracks. The Maremma is not as large as many of its fellow flock guards, but he still possesses comparable endurance and strength, as well as the ability to make up for the extra 50 pounds (23 kg) it lacks. It is alert and independent.
Origins
The Maremma is a subtype of Cane Da Pastore Maremmano-Abruzzese, the official Italian name of a centuries-old breed used to guard sheep from wolves and other predators, especially during the annual transhumance migration. The breed is believed to be one of the oldest in the world dating back as far as 2,000 years. The other subtypes of Maremmano-Abruzzese being the Marsicano, the Aquilano, the Pescocostanzo, the Maiella, and the Peligno. The Marsicano has a large lion-like head, measures about 27.5 to 29.5 inches (70–75 cm) to the withers and weighs between 88 and 132 pounds (40–60 kg). The Aquilano has a large head, measures between 29.5 and 30 inches (75–83 cm) to the withers, and weighs between 132 and 176 pounds (60–80 kg). The Pescocostanzo is smaller than the other types measuring 27 to 28 inches (68–72 cm) to the withers, has a wolf-like head is known to be very territorial. The Maiella, which is thought to be a cross between the Aquilano and the Pescocostanzo, is similar in structure to the Aquilano but with a head similar to the Pescocostanzo. The Peligno is similar to the Aquilano but can weigh up to 220 pounds (100kg). It has a thick coat and strong black pigmentation on the nose and is said to be very protective—not even allowing sheep from a different flock to approach theirs.
Livestock Guarding Dogs
Maremma used as sheep guarding dogs are introduced to sheep flocks as puppies so they "imprint" on the sheep. This imprinting is thought to be largely olfactory occurring between 3 and 16 weeks of age. Biologists who have compared modern breeds of sheepdogs rate the Maremmano-Abruzzese the highest in trustworthiness, attentiveness and protectiveness of their flock. In mountainous areas, the dogs are frequently left for long periods alone with a flock so that dogs which are trustworthy in that they do not roam off, attentive in that they are situationally aware of predatory threats, and protective in that they will attempt to drive off predators, are highly prized. Although it is easiest to bond Maremma to sheep and goats, cattle ranchers have found that the dogs will bond with cows and Maremma are increasing used to protect range cattle.
While Maremma have been known to fight to the death with wolves, in most cases wolf attacks are prevented by a display of aggressiveness, which is usually sufficient to cause wolves to seek unguarded prey, in other words, non-farm animals. With the reintroduction of wolves into natural habitats, environmentalists have come to appreciate the dogs because they allow sheep farming to coexist with predators in the same habitat. The Maremma remains a marvelous sheepdog used as Livestock Guarding Dogs or LGDs in Europe, the Americas, Australia and New Zealand. Held in high esteem by shepherds, especially in the mountains where the Maremma thrives with its thick double coat being resistant to cold, rain, snow, and brambles. Like all Maremmano-Abruzzese, the Maremma is a courageous dog that will confront predators such as bears that easily could overpower and kill them.
Recently, in Warrnambool, Australia the world's first trial utilised a Maremma to guard the dwindling penguin population of Middle Island. For years the penguins have been attacked and killed by foxes and dogs. All previous attempts to save the penguins had been unsuccessful. A local chicken farmer suggested and supplied one of his working Maremmas for a trial. The trial has been so successful that the local council and wildlife officers have secured two Maremma pups for permanent relocation to the island. http://www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/page/page.asp?page_Id=527 http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/oddball-idea-protects-island-penguin-population/2007/01/21/1169330766413.html
Companion Dogs
For several decades, the Marrema also has achieved success as a companion dog. This is due to the fact that breeders have developed dogs of excellent temperament and character but smaller in size than other Maremmano-Abruzzese, making the Maremma Sheepdog better suited to life as a family companion. Ranchers have discovered that behavioral traits, not a guard dog's size, are the most important factors in determining its effectiveness in protecting livestock. For instance, female dogs studied in the Gran Sasso performed with equal effectiveness as their larger male "coworkers" with no difference in the amount of predation between flocks guarded by females vs. males. While Maremma bred by English and American breeders are smaller than some of their Abruzzese cousins, and thus better suited for duty as companions, they are equally suited to work as livestock guarding dogs if selected based on their parents' behavioral traits rather than appearance. Those traits that make the Maremma good with sheep also make them good with people.
External links
- Maremma Sheepdog Club of Great Britain
- Maremma Sheepdog Club of America
- "Livestock Guardian Dogs Protect Sheep in the Alberta Foothills, Canada", a rancher describes her use of Maremma Sheepdogs to protect her flock
- Cani Pastori Abruzzesi, an Italian writer with distinct opinions on Maremma and Maremanno-Abruzzese, critical of the show breed but interesting to Maremma enthusiasts nonetheless