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Wednesday, 12 September 2012

The Sheep Herder of the Italian Alps - Maremma Sheepdog

By Jerry Welsh


Livestock will be seen grazing on the picturesque Italian Alps. Italian peasants would move the stock to the high mountain pasture in June to October and from October till June, the stock will be moved to pasture lands in the Maremma plains. A dependable breed of protection and herding dog will be a very important asset of the shepherd. The Maremma Sheepdog, dubbed as the wolf slayer is a dependable helper of Italian peasants.

The Maremma Sheepdog is a large livestock guardian noted to have a profusely abundant white double coats. A most distinctive feature of this breed is the large bear-like head and a neck that is abundantly ruffed. The thick white or creamy coat that is both water repellent and weatherproof enables the dog to stay with the flock it is guarding in any kind of weather.

Maremma Sheepdogs are independent animals. This highly intelligent breed would not wait for the command of the shepherd to address a situation that can be potentially dangerous to the animals it is protecting. However, the dog's independent nature as well as the bond it forms with the animals it is protecting can be a problem. Maremma Sheepdog owners that have not taken the effort to obedience train the dog would find it rather challenging to part the dog from its charges. Apart from being independent minded, Maremma Sheepdogs have a stubborn streak so that the commands of the owners to stop the dog from "protecting" its charges can fall on deaf ears.

A Maremma Sheepdog is a dependable livestock guardian. With a well honed guarding instinct, the dog would be happiest if allowed to work with its master in protecting the flock. However, advancement in livestock industry has caused the decrease for the demand on these dogs so that more and more livestock guardian breeds were taken away from their natural territories.

Naturally protective and wary of strangers, these flock guardian has evolved into a dependable protection dogs and home companions. From being a flock guard that roams wide open spaces, a Maremma Sheepdog has adapted to the life of an indoor dog. With early socialization and obedience training, as well as an owner that would know how to handle this dog breed known to be an independent thinker, the Maremma Sheepdog can be a good family dog that will form a strong bond with its owners and would be a good companion of the children.




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