Q1. What is a "Livestock Guardian Dog"?
A: Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) breeds were probably among the first dogs to be
domesticated. They originated in Europe and Asia, where they have been used for
centuries to protect livestock from predators. Each breed was developed based on the
needs of the Shepherd in regards to the geography of the land, climate, flock species,
demographics (remote vs rural), guarding duties, etc; all of which attributed to the
individual breeds temperament, conformation, coat, behaviour and character.
Q2. What is the difference between LGD breeds?
A: Other than a breeds physical appearance (coat, color, etc), a range of temperaments
can also be found within LGD breeds, and within individuals of a breed as well. Some
are better suited as remote pasture guardians where a daily routine is very constant,
while others are good in situations where there is a high degree of activity and variety.
Q3. Why are LGD's "different" from other breeds of dogs?
A: These dogs have a unique temperament - and it is not so much that they display
behaviours that are different to other breeds of dogs but more that they DO NOT display
behaviours that so many other breeds of dogs typically do. A good LGD is totally devoid (missing) the normal 'prey drive' or to put it another way he/she is missing the 'ínstinct to chase' of other breeds, allowing him/her to live peacefully and in harmony bonded to stock.
They were developed to be a partner, not a servant or a pet, of man. To perform their
duty of protecting the flock from a variety of predators, and at times alone and without
human guidance or instruction a LGD had to be able to make decisions on his own and to
be a "self thinker". This required the dog to be extremely intelligent, but also very
independent.
Most other breeds of dogs were bred and selected to perform tasks for their owners -
from herding dogs which helped move herds to hunting dogs that flushed, chased and retrieved at the owners command. All of these tasks, or jobs, required the dog to do what he/she was told and follow directions.
A Labrador Retriever or a Doberman Pinscher will willingly and happily sit
repeatedly at their owners command, a LGD however does not see that repeated commands to sit are reasonable, and therefore, why should he do them over and over? That is not to
say that you cannot teach your LGD to sit, or have your LGD sit on command - just do
not expect the slavish devotion you may have witnessed from other non LGD breeds.
Q4. What makes a Maremma Sheepdog different from other LGD breeds?
A: When I started to research Livestock Guardian Dog breeds, I began to put together a
list of traits for each breed, both positive and negative.
Certain breeds have a tendency to be roamers, wanting to constantly check their
boundaries (which for a dog, can be as far as they can see!). Some you have to have
special fencing just to keep them in. A few breeds were definitely more suited to large
ranges where few strangers would ever be encountered. Others barked ALOT more
than I was comfortable with, and some have so much hair, a person might want to
consider using it for spinning :)
Slowly, my choices started to narrow themselves down until I was finally left with just one
breed - the Maremma Sheepdog, which had all the qualities I was looking for, and was
less prone to the ones I was not!
Maremma generally prefer to stay close to their flocks versus roaming their boundaries.
They do need a secure fence, but are not normally fence fighters or jumpers. They
are, as a breed, usually not as aggressive as some other LGD breeds can be, and
though they still are mistrustful and aloof with strangers, to the point of blocking their
entry with their bodies or giving warning barks, once their masters have indicated that the
new person is welcome, they allow the person entry and may even be friendly with them.
They also are not out-of-control barkers, barking at every little thing that is different in
their environment... like a leaf falling from the tree or the wind blowing against a loose
shutter. However, they still do bark more than many other breeds because it is their first
warning to all things that are not allowed in their territory. And finally, they have more
manageable coats than some of the other LGD breeds.
All of which to me seemed perfect for a small farm where there is less range,
more activity, and more two-legged visitors!
Q5. How do you pronounce the name?
A: 'Mare' as it is pronounced for a female horse, and 'Emma' as it is pronounced for a
girl's name.
Q6. What is the most important thing about a Maremma Sheepdog that must be completely understood by anyone considering getting one as a pet?
A: The Maremma will guard and defend his family (pack) and his property (territory),
even if his owner does not want him to. Maremmas have an inborn sense of
responsibility for what they have to do: which is the guarding and defense of their
property, be this a herd, territory or home, virtually anything that needs protection.
Understanding the behavior of the Maremma Sheepdog is the key to success in raising a
puppy to be an effective livestock guardian, or to integrating a Maremma into your family,
and dealing with issues that can arise as a puppy matures.
The most serious draw-back is behavioral. Maremma Sheepdogs have been selected for
millennia to act independently. They protect their property and charges without
commands from people. Therefore, if they don't respect the people they live with, or if
they have reason to believe the children/animals in their family might be in danger,
Maremmas may bite people or animals.
Any dog that weighs almost a 100 pounds at maturity is likely to present behavioral
problems to those who don't know how to raise and train a dog, maintaining fair and firm
discipline. This is true of all breeds, but is amplified in protection breeds. The bottom line
is, you've got to know what you are doing if you decide to get a livestock protection
breed.
Q7. Do Maremma Sheepdogs bark alot?
A: Yes. One of the integral parts of guarding behavior is barking. The Maremma will
bark at anything he senses to be out of the ordinary or in any way threatening. Many
livestock guardian dogs bark at intervals, especially during the night, to warn predators
that a dog is on duty. If you have close neighbors, it is a very good idea to provide them
with information about LGDs so that they understand how the dogs work, and what they
do to protect the stock.
Q8. How long does a Maremma Sheepdog live?
A: A Maremma can live up to 10 - 14 years. New owners should be prepared, willing
and able to provide a home for the lifetime of the dog.
Q9. How big do Maremmas get?
A: A male weighs between 75-100 pounds and can reach 29 inches at the shoulder. A
female weighs between 65-90 pounds and can be up to 27 inches at the shoulder.
Maremmas are big, strong dogs. You need to consider if you will be able to handle such
a big dog, especially a large, rambunctious, playful puppy that can easily knock down a
smaller person or a child just by accidentally bumping into them.
Q10. Do Maremmas shed alot?
A: Yes, Maremmas have a dense under coat that sheds out twice a year in the spring
and the fall. Shedding can be quite profuse!
Q11. Do they dig?
A: Yes, they love to dig holes in the cool earth on warm summer days, and can compete
with excavators at moving dirt!
Q12. Do Maremma Sheepdogs have any health problems?
A: Yes. Because Maremma's are large dogs, they can have a predisposition to Canine
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia. All dogs intended for breeding should have their hips tested
after they reach 18mths of age and only those that do not have hip dysplasia should be
used for breeding. All dogs, regardless of breed, can be subject to hereditary eye
disease. Like many of the deep-chested breeds, Maremmas can also get bloat. It is
recommended to control this by feeding 2 or more smaller meals per day instead of one
large one and not feeding 2hrs before or 2hrs after exercise . They can also be sensitive to anesthesia, which should be administered only to affect, not by body weight. Care needs to be taken with flea and tick sprays also.
Q13. Is socialization important for Maremmas?
A: Yes! Because of the Maremma Sheepdogs instinctual guarding nature proper
socialization is even more important than more complacent breeds. We start the
socialization process by introducing the puppy to new and varied stimulus here at an early age - different surfaces, toys, sounds, animals, people, and activities, etc. We believe
that providing a varied and stimulating environment builds confidence in a dog, which
leads to good judgement and remember we want our LGD to be able to judge between
"normal and safe" and "threatening"situations. We let people come visit the puppies with a proper introduction and supervised controlled interaction (only encouraging and allowing
acceptable behaviours).
Q14. Do Maremma Sheepdogs make a good family pet?
A: The Maremma Sheepdog Club of America does NOT recommend the Maremma as a
pet. The Maremma actually never considers itself a 'pet'. It is a working dog, with 3000
years of genetic background of livestock guardianship behind it and it needs a job to
keep it occupied.
If it is to be in the house with a family it must be temperament-tested and heavily
socialized from the time it is a small puppy. A puppy should be outgoing and friendly with
everyone but its rowdy behavior needs controlling as after all a 10 month old puppy may
weigh 100 pounds! It must also get used to meeting strangers. By the time it is two years
old, it will be less outgoing with strangers, and may even decide it doesn't want ANY
stranger to touch it, its master, or its property.
To limit this future possessiveness you must get your dog used to being handled by
many friendly strangers when it is very young, and KEEP AT IT. Even then you must
personally introduce your dog to all new strangers who enter its territory (your home and
property) and you may have to be present each time that they return.
Q15. How are Maremmas with children?
A: Maremmas love babies and small children. With older children or adolescents they
will react very negatively to anything they construe as teasing and they object to strange
children being physical with THEIR children. As with all dogs young children must be
supervised at all times with dogs. You cannot intervene or prevent a problem arising if you are not there. We recommend that if you have other children visiting and playing with your
children you put your Maremma in a secure place like their crate or in a closed room so
that the playful squeals and movements are not mistaken by the dog as your children being harmed.
Q16. What kinds of animals can Maremmas guard?
A: I do not think there is anything that you can't bond your Maremma to! Maremma
Sheepdogs have been used for sheep, goats, camelids (alpacas, llamas), poultry, exotic parrots,
horses, ratites (ostriches, emus, rheas), swine, cattle, nut plantations - they are even being used to guard a colony of Little Penguins in Australia! Here at Rowenglen we start the social
process with a variety of livestock - goats, chickens, cows, birds and other dogs - so that our Maremma puppies will be able to bond with a variety of livestock in both a small or large farm setting.
Q17. What kind of fencing do you have?
A: Fencing is critical and a few electric wires may contain your stock but many LGDs
will just take the shock and run through the fence to make sure a predator leaves the a
area. Secure fencing is a must to safely contain your livestock guardian dog. Are you on
or near a busy highway or road? Guardian dogs often view strange vehicles as intruders
and thus are prone to getting run over if fences are inadequate and they get out. Some
LGDs escort strange vehicles off, or past, the property they guard.
Q18. Are you prepared to devote up to two years of time to properly introduce and supervise your new livestock guardian dog puppy?
A: Introducing and supervising a puppy can be very time consuming. Some cannot be
unsupervised with stock until they are nearing 2 years of age, though most are solid
guardians much younger than that. However, we intensively supervise and correct them
until they are mature and trustworthy. Livestock guardian dogs must have supervision
and training. You cannot just throw them out with the stock and expect to have the
puppy become a perfect guardian without guidance from either you or another mature
trustworthy LGD. This means supervised interaction with the stock every day several
times a day if possible where you can correct any unwanted behaviour. Puppies are
puppies and many LGD's fail because people think they need no guidance or that they
can adequately guard livestock at 2 or 3 months of age. Puppies will play with stock
(much as they would their littermates) which could involve the puppy chasing the stock,
chewing ears, tails or legs, etc. If you are unprepared to supervise the puppy yourself and if
you do not have a mature LGD to provide guidance and training this could lead to
disaster. There are often several stages for misbehaviours (usually ten weeks, 4-6
months, 11-13 months and sometimes at 18 months) where closer supervision is
especially important.
Q19. What are 12 reasons NOT to get a Maremma Sheepdog?
A: 1. If you require instant, unquestioned obedience to commands by your dog,
don't get a Maremma.
2. If you do not have generous amounts of time to spend with your dog,
don't get a Maremma.
3. If you live in cramped quarters, don't get a Maremma.
4. If you do not have a large, fenced in yard, or securely fenced pastures, or alot of
acreage, don't get a Maremma.
5. If you are a person who worries about your expensive, breakable possessions,
don't get a Maremma.
6. If you cannot commit to the lifetime of the dog (up to 14+ years), don't get
a Maremma.
7. If you have had trouble owning and managing any other breed of dog,
don't get a Maremma.
8. If you are a person who doesn't like barking dogs or has neighbours who would
object to a barking dog, don't get a Maremma.
9. If you cannot/will not supervise young children around your dog at all times, don't
get a Maremma.
10. If you cannot live with lots of white dog hair on your clothes or in your house,
don't get a Maremma.
11. If you are not prepared to properly introduce every person who comes to your
home to your dog, every time, don't get a Maremma.
12. If you are a person who would find any of the Maremma characteristics to be a
problem, DON'T GET A MAREMMA!
Q20. Why get a Maremma Sheepdog?
A: Maremma Sheepdogs have proved to be excellent working dogs under many
conditions. They excel in farm situations when properly trained and are able to be left with unattended flocks that they 'bond' too.
Maremmas have been proven affective against a variety of predators including
feral dogs. They have the ability to bond with a large assortment of livestock and can
bond with several species simultaneously. If you are looking for the perfect Livestock
Guardian Dog for your farm a Maremma Sheepdog will provide safety and
security of your flock or herd working with you in a partnership they have developed
with man for more than 2000 years.
A: Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD) breeds were probably among the first dogs to be
domesticated. They originated in Europe and Asia, where they have been used for
centuries to protect livestock from predators. Each breed was developed based on the
needs of the Shepherd in regards to the geography of the land, climate, flock species,
demographics (remote vs rural), guarding duties, etc; all of which attributed to the
individual breeds temperament, conformation, coat, behaviour and character.
Q2. What is the difference between LGD breeds?
A: Other than a breeds physical appearance (coat, color, etc), a range of temperaments
can also be found within LGD breeds, and within individuals of a breed as well. Some
are better suited as remote pasture guardians where a daily routine is very constant,
while others are good in situations where there is a high degree of activity and variety.
Q3. Why are LGD's "different" from other breeds of dogs?
A: These dogs have a unique temperament - and it is not so much that they display
behaviours that are different to other breeds of dogs but more that they DO NOT display
behaviours that so many other breeds of dogs typically do. A good LGD is totally devoid (missing) the normal 'prey drive' or to put it another way he/she is missing the 'ínstinct to chase' of other breeds, allowing him/her to live peacefully and in harmony bonded to stock.
They were developed to be a partner, not a servant or a pet, of man. To perform their
duty of protecting the flock from a variety of predators, and at times alone and without
human guidance or instruction a LGD had to be able to make decisions on his own and to
be a "self thinker". This required the dog to be extremely intelligent, but also very
independent.
Most other breeds of dogs were bred and selected to perform tasks for their owners -
from herding dogs which helped move herds to hunting dogs that flushed, chased and retrieved at the owners command. All of these tasks, or jobs, required the dog to do what he/she was told and follow directions.
A Labrador Retriever or a Doberman Pinscher will willingly and happily sit
repeatedly at their owners command, a LGD however does not see that repeated commands to sit are reasonable, and therefore, why should he do them over and over? That is not to
say that you cannot teach your LGD to sit, or have your LGD sit on command - just do
not expect the slavish devotion you may have witnessed from other non LGD breeds.
Q4. What makes a Maremma Sheepdog different from other LGD breeds?
A: When I started to research Livestock Guardian Dog breeds, I began to put together a
list of traits for each breed, both positive and negative.
Certain breeds have a tendency to be roamers, wanting to constantly check their
boundaries (which for a dog, can be as far as they can see!). Some you have to have
special fencing just to keep them in. A few breeds were definitely more suited to large
ranges where few strangers would ever be encountered. Others barked ALOT more
than I was comfortable with, and some have so much hair, a person might want to
consider using it for spinning :)
Slowly, my choices started to narrow themselves down until I was finally left with just one
breed - the Maremma Sheepdog, which had all the qualities I was looking for, and was
less prone to the ones I was not!
Maremma generally prefer to stay close to their flocks versus roaming their boundaries.
They do need a secure fence, but are not normally fence fighters or jumpers. They
are, as a breed, usually not as aggressive as some other LGD breeds can be, and
though they still are mistrustful and aloof with strangers, to the point of blocking their
entry with their bodies or giving warning barks, once their masters have indicated that the
new person is welcome, they allow the person entry and may even be friendly with them.
They also are not out-of-control barkers, barking at every little thing that is different in
their environment... like a leaf falling from the tree or the wind blowing against a loose
shutter. However, they still do bark more than many other breeds because it is their first
warning to all things that are not allowed in their territory. And finally, they have more
manageable coats than some of the other LGD breeds.
All of which to me seemed perfect for a small farm where there is less range,
more activity, and more two-legged visitors!
Q5. How do you pronounce the name?
A: 'Mare' as it is pronounced for a female horse, and 'Emma' as it is pronounced for a
girl's name.
Q6. What is the most important thing about a Maremma Sheepdog that must be completely understood by anyone considering getting one as a pet?
A: The Maremma will guard and defend his family (pack) and his property (territory),
even if his owner does not want him to. Maremmas have an inborn sense of
responsibility for what they have to do: which is the guarding and defense of their
property, be this a herd, territory or home, virtually anything that needs protection.
Understanding the behavior of the Maremma Sheepdog is the key to success in raising a
puppy to be an effective livestock guardian, or to integrating a Maremma into your family,
and dealing with issues that can arise as a puppy matures.
The most serious draw-back is behavioral. Maremma Sheepdogs have been selected for
millennia to act independently. They protect their property and charges without
commands from people. Therefore, if they don't respect the people they live with, or if
they have reason to believe the children/animals in their family might be in danger,
Maremmas may bite people or animals.
Any dog that weighs almost a 100 pounds at maturity is likely to present behavioral
problems to those who don't know how to raise and train a dog, maintaining fair and firm
discipline. This is true of all breeds, but is amplified in protection breeds. The bottom line
is, you've got to know what you are doing if you decide to get a livestock protection
breed.
Q7. Do Maremma Sheepdogs bark alot?
A: Yes. One of the integral parts of guarding behavior is barking. The Maremma will
bark at anything he senses to be out of the ordinary or in any way threatening. Many
livestock guardian dogs bark at intervals, especially during the night, to warn predators
that a dog is on duty. If you have close neighbors, it is a very good idea to provide them
with information about LGDs so that they understand how the dogs work, and what they
do to protect the stock.
Q8. How long does a Maremma Sheepdog live?
A: A Maremma can live up to 10 - 14 years. New owners should be prepared, willing
and able to provide a home for the lifetime of the dog.
Q9. How big do Maremmas get?
A: A male weighs between 75-100 pounds and can reach 29 inches at the shoulder. A
female weighs between 65-90 pounds and can be up to 27 inches at the shoulder.
Maremmas are big, strong dogs. You need to consider if you will be able to handle such
a big dog, especially a large, rambunctious, playful puppy that can easily knock down a
smaller person or a child just by accidentally bumping into them.
Q10. Do Maremmas shed alot?
A: Yes, Maremmas have a dense under coat that sheds out twice a year in the spring
and the fall. Shedding can be quite profuse!
Q11. Do they dig?
A: Yes, they love to dig holes in the cool earth on warm summer days, and can compete
with excavators at moving dirt!
Q12. Do Maremma Sheepdogs have any health problems?
A: Yes. Because Maremma's are large dogs, they can have a predisposition to Canine
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia. All dogs intended for breeding should have their hips tested
after they reach 18mths of age and only those that do not have hip dysplasia should be
used for breeding. All dogs, regardless of breed, can be subject to hereditary eye
disease. Like many of the deep-chested breeds, Maremmas can also get bloat. It is
recommended to control this by feeding 2 or more smaller meals per day instead of one
large one and not feeding 2hrs before or 2hrs after exercise . They can also be sensitive to anesthesia, which should be administered only to affect, not by body weight. Care needs to be taken with flea and tick sprays also.
Q13. Is socialization important for Maremmas?
A: Yes! Because of the Maremma Sheepdogs instinctual guarding nature proper
socialization is even more important than more complacent breeds. We start the
socialization process by introducing the puppy to new and varied stimulus here at an early age - different surfaces, toys, sounds, animals, people, and activities, etc. We believe
that providing a varied and stimulating environment builds confidence in a dog, which
leads to good judgement and remember we want our LGD to be able to judge between
"normal and safe" and "threatening"situations. We let people come visit the puppies with a proper introduction and supervised controlled interaction (only encouraging and allowing
acceptable behaviours).
Q14. Do Maremma Sheepdogs make a good family pet?
A: The Maremma Sheepdog Club of America does NOT recommend the Maremma as a
pet. The Maremma actually never considers itself a 'pet'. It is a working dog, with 3000
years of genetic background of livestock guardianship behind it and it needs a job to
keep it occupied.
If it is to be in the house with a family it must be temperament-tested and heavily
socialized from the time it is a small puppy. A puppy should be outgoing and friendly with
everyone but its rowdy behavior needs controlling as after all a 10 month old puppy may
weigh 100 pounds! It must also get used to meeting strangers. By the time it is two years
old, it will be less outgoing with strangers, and may even decide it doesn't want ANY
stranger to touch it, its master, or its property.
To limit this future possessiveness you must get your dog used to being handled by
many friendly strangers when it is very young, and KEEP AT IT. Even then you must
personally introduce your dog to all new strangers who enter its territory (your home and
property) and you may have to be present each time that they return.
Q15. How are Maremmas with children?
A: Maremmas love babies and small children. With older children or adolescents they
will react very negatively to anything they construe as teasing and they object to strange
children being physical with THEIR children. As with all dogs young children must be
supervised at all times with dogs. You cannot intervene or prevent a problem arising if you are not there. We recommend that if you have other children visiting and playing with your
children you put your Maremma in a secure place like their crate or in a closed room so
that the playful squeals and movements are not mistaken by the dog as your children being harmed.
Q16. What kinds of animals can Maremmas guard?
A: I do not think there is anything that you can't bond your Maremma to! Maremma
Sheepdogs have been used for sheep, goats, camelids (alpacas, llamas), poultry, exotic parrots,
horses, ratites (ostriches, emus, rheas), swine, cattle, nut plantations - they are even being used to guard a colony of Little Penguins in Australia! Here at Rowenglen we start the social
process with a variety of livestock - goats, chickens, cows, birds and other dogs - so that our Maremma puppies will be able to bond with a variety of livestock in both a small or large farm setting.
Q17. What kind of fencing do you have?
A: Fencing is critical and a few electric wires may contain your stock but many LGDs
will just take the shock and run through the fence to make sure a predator leaves the a
area. Secure fencing is a must to safely contain your livestock guardian dog. Are you on
or near a busy highway or road? Guardian dogs often view strange vehicles as intruders
and thus are prone to getting run over if fences are inadequate and they get out. Some
LGDs escort strange vehicles off, or past, the property they guard.
Q18. Are you prepared to devote up to two years of time to properly introduce and supervise your new livestock guardian dog puppy?
A: Introducing and supervising a puppy can be very time consuming. Some cannot be
unsupervised with stock until they are nearing 2 years of age, though most are solid
guardians much younger than that. However, we intensively supervise and correct them
until they are mature and trustworthy. Livestock guardian dogs must have supervision
and training. You cannot just throw them out with the stock and expect to have the
puppy become a perfect guardian without guidance from either you or another mature
trustworthy LGD. This means supervised interaction with the stock every day several
times a day if possible where you can correct any unwanted behaviour. Puppies are
puppies and many LGD's fail because people think they need no guidance or that they
can adequately guard livestock at 2 or 3 months of age. Puppies will play with stock
(much as they would their littermates) which could involve the puppy chasing the stock,
chewing ears, tails or legs, etc. If you are unprepared to supervise the puppy yourself and if
you do not have a mature LGD to provide guidance and training this could lead to
disaster. There are often several stages for misbehaviours (usually ten weeks, 4-6
months, 11-13 months and sometimes at 18 months) where closer supervision is
especially important.
Q19. What are 12 reasons NOT to get a Maremma Sheepdog?
A: 1. If you require instant, unquestioned obedience to commands by your dog,
don't get a Maremma.
2. If you do not have generous amounts of time to spend with your dog,
don't get a Maremma.
3. If you live in cramped quarters, don't get a Maremma.
4. If you do not have a large, fenced in yard, or securely fenced pastures, or alot of
acreage, don't get a Maremma.
5. If you are a person who worries about your expensive, breakable possessions,
don't get a Maremma.
6. If you cannot commit to the lifetime of the dog (up to 14+ years), don't get
a Maremma.
7. If you have had trouble owning and managing any other breed of dog,
don't get a Maremma.
8. If you are a person who doesn't like barking dogs or has neighbours who would
object to a barking dog, don't get a Maremma.
9. If you cannot/will not supervise young children around your dog at all times, don't
get a Maremma.
10. If you cannot live with lots of white dog hair on your clothes or in your house,
don't get a Maremma.
11. If you are not prepared to properly introduce every person who comes to your
home to your dog, every time, don't get a Maremma.
12. If you are a person who would find any of the Maremma characteristics to be a
problem, DON'T GET A MAREMMA!
Q20. Why get a Maremma Sheepdog?
A: Maremma Sheepdogs have proved to be excellent working dogs under many
conditions. They excel in farm situations when properly trained and are able to be left with unattended flocks that they 'bond' too.
Maremmas have been proven affective against a variety of predators including
feral dogs. They have the ability to bond with a large assortment of livestock and can
bond with several species simultaneously. If you are looking for the perfect Livestock
Guardian Dog for your farm a Maremma Sheepdog will provide safety and
security of your flock or herd working with you in a partnership they have developed
with man for more than 2000 years.
Linda van Bommel has produced a best practice management manual for the raising, handling and management of Maremma Sheepdogs and other Livestock Guardian breeds:
"The manual is aimed at people in Australia who are interested in getting dogs to guard their livestock, and gives guidelines for the best way to raise/handle/manage working livestock guardian dogs. I hope the manual will make it a bit easier for people who are looking at using a livestock guardian dog with their stock. And thereby hopefully prevent some problems that can arise from wrong handling/managing of dogs."
The manual has been published, and is freely available online at:
http://www.feral.org.au/guardian-dogs/
VIDEOS OF INTEREST..............
Animal Planet. Top Ten Super Dogs. No. 4, Maremmas:
http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/animal-planet-presents/videos/top-10-super-dogs-maremma-sheepdog.htm
National Geographic - Maremmano Abruzzesi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNgf3qJY40E&feature=related
Landline - ABC:
http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2008/s2522188.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L91qImuizYY&feature=player_embedded#at=25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZJwWDmclSk
Animal Planet. Top Ten Super Dogs. No. 4, Maremmas:
http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/animal-planet-presents/videos/top-10-super-dogs-maremma-sheepdog.htm
National Geographic - Maremmano Abruzzesi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNgf3qJY40E&feature=related
Landline - ABC:
http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2008/s2522188.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L91qImuizYY&feature=player_embedded#at=25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZJwWDmclSk
