Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog (Maremma): photo and description of the breed, reviews from owners

For many centuries, the Maremma Abruzzese Shepherd Dog was a faithful assistant to Italian shepherds, protecting goat and sheep herds from bears and wolves day and night. To this day, these majestic, dignified dogs are ready to forever stand guard, protecting those to whom they are devoted with all their souls.

Breed characteristics

Short description
Origin:	Italy
Conditions of detention:	In an enclosure in the courtyard of a private house; under an open canopy
Purpose:	Working, herding (herding), guard
Color:	White, minor light tones are acceptable (fawn, red, beige)
Wool length:	Head – medium, 5 cm Long, 9-10 cm, there is a thick undercoat
Adult dog size:	Height at withers: from 60 cm (females) to 73 cm (males) Weight: from 30 kg (females) to 45 kg (males)
Average life expectancy:	11-13 years old
Walk:	Daily walks are required, lasting at least two hours, preferably free movement in a protected area
Physical activity needs:	High, intensity – medium (walking)
Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FIC) classification:	Recognized in 1956, No. 201 Group. 1 Herding and cattle dogs, except Swiss cattle dogs; Section 1. Shepherd dogs
Puppy price:	30-80 thousand rubles

Description of the Italian Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog

According to the standard, the Maremma Abruzzese Shepherd Dog is intended to be used as a shepherd for herds of livestock, as well as for guarding property. Recently, these large dogs are increasingly kept as pets and family members.

Breed standard

The Maremma's physique is massive and rough, but at the same time aristocratic and majestic. A large, well-balanced, strongly built body of an elongated format (the length exceeds the height at the withers) with widened withers rising above the straight line of the top, a short, slightly curved, muscular loin, a powerful, well-developed, wide, sloping croup, deep, sloping to the elbows, rounded in the middle part of the sternum and elongated, curved in the form of an arch, tucked up by the abdominal line.

Maremma is a strong and large dog

Breed standard:

The large, flat head has a conical shape (resembling the head of a polar bear) and is set on an extremely powerful, thick and muscular neck (without dewlap) with a thick collar of elongated hair. The skull is very wide with moderately pronounced brow ridges, a faintly visible intermediate frontal groove and a slightly defined occipital crest. The muzzle is flat, tapering towards the nose. The stop is slightly marked.
The nose is large, with wide open nostrils, located along the line of the muzzle, does not protrude beyond the front edge of the lips (if viewed in profile), and is pigmented black.
Well developed, impressive-looking, powerful jaws with strong white teeth in a regular scissor bite. The dental formula is complete. Underdeveloped, thin black lips barely cover the teeth.
The not too large almond-shaped eyes are set normally (not protruding, but not deep), the eyelids are edged with black. Iris of brownish tones (chestnut-brown or ocher). The look is meaningful, lively and attentive.
Small (up to 12 cm in length), pointed, drooping and movable triangular ears are located very high. Docking is permissible only in working individuals actually grazing livestock.
Densely covered with hair (without dewlap), the low-set tail is lowered in a calm state, and when excited or in motion it rises to the line of the back. The tip of the tail is curved.
Limbs are straight, parallel, well muscled. The paws are round, wide with closed toes, densely covered with short, stiff hair. Nails chestnut or black (preferred).
Height at withers: females - 60–68 cm;
males - 65–73 cm.

Body mass:

females - 30–40 kg;

males - 35–45 kg.

The Maremma moves with a confident, sweeping step or a wide trot. Constant ambling is unacceptable.

Features of the coat

The coat is straight (a slight wave is allowed), long (up to 8 cm), thick and hard to the touch with a dense, abundant undercoat that appears only in the cold season. There is a large collar on the neck, and small feathering on the hind legs. On the front of the limbs, on the skull, muzzle and ears, the hair is noticeably shorter. The color is exclusively pure white, the standard allows only small areas of light shades of lemon, light reddish or beige (ivory).

Maremma coat color can only be white

Grounds for exclusion and disqualifying characteristics

The reasons for disqualification will be:

undershot or obvious undershot;
depigmented nose or eyelids;
concave or convex muzzle;
strabismus;
uneven coloring of the iris;
curly wool;
clearly visible spots (black, ivory or “isabella”);
short tail or lack thereof;
severe behavioral or physical abnormalities;
cowardice or aggressiveness.

History of the origin of the species

It is not known for certain which dog is the ancestor of the Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog. Some sources mention Asian wolfhounds as ancestors, who came to the European continent with tribes of nomads. Other researchers refer to mastiff-like hunting dogs that crossed with representatives who lived in the territory of modern Italy since prehistoric times.

It is generally accepted that the Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog (Maremma) owes its origin to two central Italian regions - Maremma and Abruzzo.

Long-term disputes about which region has the right to be considered the place where the breed appeared, led nowhere. And in the name it was decided to use a double name - Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog.

The Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd is a very ancient breed. Due to the geographical location and relative isolation of the Abruzzo region, dogs have not undergone major morphological changes over the several centuries of their existence.

And to this day they are large, powerful individuals, with long, snow-white hair. In turn, living in the flat areas of the Maremma region made them excellent assistants in grazing livestock. Today they are indispensable in protecting and grazing livestock.

Italian shepherds rightly believe that maremmas have no equal - in any situation they react with lightning speed to external threats and are able to protect herds of animals and other property belonging to humans.

The exceptional working and watchdog qualities of Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dogs are known far beyond the borders of Italy.

Interaction with children

Some experts do not recommend keeping maremmas as pets if there are small children in the family, as they consider these animals to be unpredictable and aggressive.

Maremma puppies are very playful, which children love.

But most owners of Italian shepherds assure that dogs of this breed are very kind and gentle towards children. You can’t call a Maremma playful, but the dog will patiently endure all the baby’s tricks, allowing him to “treat” himself while playing doctor or tying a bow on his head if the child imagines himself to be a hairdresser.

The owner can safely leave the baby under the supervision of such a guard. After all, the dog will not only not allow a stranger to approach him, but will also stop any attempts by the child to leave the territory.

To be fair, it is worth noting that the friendliness and patience of maremmas only applies to the owner’s children. The shepherd may perceive the neighbor's children as a potential threat. And some dogs are irritated by noisy games and running around of children, so it is not advisable to involve your pet in active and fun games.

Distinctive features

Maremmas are recognizable by their distinctive features:

The head is large, large, flat, similar to a bear.
The forehead is low.
The ears are large, hanging to the level of the cheekbones, set wide, pointed at the ends; cupping is rarely practiced.
The stop is clearly pronounced, obtuse.
The muzzle is narrow, bear-like; The nose is black.
The eyes are dark, black, almond-shaped; eyelids black.
The lips are dense and small.
The teeth are strong and powerful; bite .
Black leather
The body is powerful, the muscles are distinct.
The back is wide, muscular, straight.
The chest is strong, developed, wide.
The thighs are strong, with obvious muscles, and sculpted.
Limbs straight, strong, elegant; The paws are massive and round in shape.
The color is white, minor light tones are acceptable (fawn, red, beige).
The hair on the head is of medium length, no more than 5 cm; The coat of the body is thick, with dense undercoat, 9-10 cm.
The tail is covered with thick hair and is set low; When moving or having a strong emotional reaction, it rises slightly.

Price

Maremma was recently a rare breed in our country. Now, thanks to its qualities, it has become quite widespread. Prices for puppies of this breed remain high. Breeders and nurseries ask about 50,000 rubles for an animal. This is the average price of maremma .

Photo of an adult dog

Required commands

Depending on the nature of the dog's future service, it will need individual commands. However, every pet should master a basic list of tricks.

Sit

The simplest command, one of the first to come into a dog’s arsenal. To learn the trick you will need a leash and some tasty rewards.

The “Sit” command is one of the first to be learned.

The easiest way to get your puppy to sit is to press down on his rump with your palm. Putting the dog down with one hand and showing the treat with the other, the owner pronounces the command “Sit” and offers the puppy food. You can treat your pet only if he has followed the order correctly.

If during execution the dog tries to get up, it must be put down again by repeating the command. When the order is carried out without a hitch, they move on to a more complex option. It is necessary to force the dog to remain in a sitting position for half a minute. To do this, repeat the usual steps, but hold the puppy's sacrum and sit down longer if he tries to change his position. Each time the command is repeated.

Lie

To force the dog to lie down, the owner grabs the collar with one hand and places the other on the dog’s withers. While pronouncing the command, he simultaneously presses on the withers and sharply pulls the collar down.

The dog must know the command “Down”

While lying down, the dog eats the offered treat. The command is considered learned if the animal can remain in a lying position for 2 minutes without trying to stand up or sit down.

Stand

They practice the command from a sitting or lying position. Standing in front of the dog, they raise their hand from hip to waist, while pronouncing the order. The hand with the treat is moved away from the dog, causing him to stretch and stand up. If the dog has not learned the command after several approaches, the manipulations are repeated, pushing it under the stomach.

Owners often ignore the “Stop” command. It will come in handy during walks, when you need to control the animal with your voice, without being able to manipulate the leash.

The "Stand" command is a very important command.

A well-honed “Stop” command will not only help prevent dangerous incidents, but will also help avoid accidents if the dog decides to cross the road.

Walking nearby

This command will require a little more patience to learn. By nature, puppies are active and resist attempts to subdue them. It is important that your pet learns the command as early as possible. When done correctly, the dog's shoulder is at the level of the person's knee. The first training includes several steps, during which the owner reins in the pet if it tries to get ahead. Any movement of the leash is accompanied by a repetition of the command. Correct execution is rewarded with a treat.

Also, the dog must stop if the owner does so. Do not tear the leash, causing discomfort to the puppy. He must understand that being near the owner’s left leg is comfortable and safe. It is better to repeat the command once again, but not to use force.

Once the dog has learned to walk in a straight line, it is taught to maneuver with its owner, turning, slowing down and accelerating.

Video - How to teach a dog to walk next to you

Photos of puppies

Features of character and behavior

Power, strength, confidence and calmness are the main vibes that emanate from the Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog. They are the best protectors and at the same time gentle and devoted friends of man. The combination of strength, endurance, responsibility and dedication makes them ideal partners. Whether it's herding livestock, guarding property and entrusted territory, or playing with the owner, dogs of this breed are always attentive and neat. They are able to correctly assess the situation and choose the right course of action.

With children they are patient and delicate, with strangers they are wary, with enemies they are merciless.

The Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog does not show aggression until the boundaries of the “protection zone” are violated. The “criminals” of the Maremma include wild animals encroaching on livestock and strangers. Surprisingly, dogs clearly and unmistakably determine whether a stranger is an intruder or whether he is a good-natured neighbor dropping in to visit his owner.

Owners of shepherd dogs testify that their pets are able to perfectly read the emotional state of the owner. Friendly and peaceful, they nevertheless cope excellently with the task of ensuring the safety of the owner and his family members.

If you have to spend the night in a house where a Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog lives, it is recommended to check with the owner how to behave, especially at night. However, in most cases, the owner himself will warn guests that it is very unsafe to be on the lawn at night, and it is better to breathe fresh air on the terrace.

Advantages

Maremmas have numerous advantages:

Calm, confident.
They have a balanced psyche.
High level of intelligence; They are easy to control and train and easily learn commands.
They are selfless, devoted to their owner, perfectly read a person’s mood, and treat other family members with respect.
Independent, persistent, capable of making independent decisions; the best watchmen and security guards.
They have an instant reaction to an external threat and are swift.
Physically hardy, do not require special conditions of detention, unpretentious.
They have acute vision and a keen sense of smell.
Suitable for families with small children, patient.
They have a low level of aggression.
Get along well with other pets.

Flaws

The Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog has few disadvantages:

Not suitable for emotionally unstable people.
They absolutely cannot be kept in apartment conditions.
They require daily, long walks and a significant “work” load.
Free range is recommended.

Walk

The Maremmo Abruzzi Shepherd, like all working dogs, needs long, active games. This is something to remember when getting a puppy.

Mongolian Shepherd Bankhar: description of the breed

If the animal lives in a city apartment, walks should last several hours a day. To relieve stress, it is better to take your pet to different places and give the opportunity to communicate with other dogs. Active and interesting pastime is especially necessary during the puppy’s growth period, for the formation of a stable psyche and skeletal system.

It is recommended to supplement walking with strength training, endurance training, and overcoming obstacles.

For your information! A dog properly exercised during a walk with physical training returns home exhausted.

The best place for an Abruzzian wolfhound to live would be a country house with a large walking area. In such conditions, the dog will be able to control the territory, get a large walk and show its protective qualities. It is not recommended to sit the dog on the target.

A pet on a walk needs a variety of active games

Care and maintenance

Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dogs are extremely unpretentious. Representatives of this breed do not require special living conditions. Its long, thick coat and undercoat allow it to live in an open enclosure or under a canopy in the courtyard of a country house. The coat reliably protects dogs, and they feel great in both hot and frosty weather.

It is strictly forbidden to keep a maremma in an apartment or on a chain. In closed, confined spaces, a dog can become angry and aggressive. If this behavior takes hold, only a very experienced dog handler will be able to correct it.

Ears and eyes should be checked regularly. Ears are checked once a week , and cleaning is done when soiled, with ordinary water. Hydrogen peroxide or other chemicals are not used.
The eyes are also examined weekly. They should be dark in color and shiny. If there is discharge or accumulation of mucus (usually in the corners of the eyes), do not delay a visit to the veterinarian. A competent specialist will determine whether it is an infection and select the appropriate treatment.
the claws of the Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog wear down on their own during free-range walking.
The condition of the teeth is monitored once every 20-25 days . Typically, the Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd's teeth are healthy, strong and do not require frequent cleaning. This especially applies to pets that are naturally fed. In other cases, if the shepherd dog eats industrial food, teeth must be brushed once every 10-15 days , with special emphasis on cleaning the canines from plaque.

For any type of food, for preventive purposes, it is recommended to give the Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd dog natural products to cleanse the oral cavity once a month. These can be hard, raw vegetables or corn.

Nutrition

Large dogs with guard-class performance characteristics are usually kept on a natural diet. Their diet includes a variety of foods, including:

Raw meat (beef, lean lamb), offal, sea fish.
Buckwheat and rice cereals.
Eggs, dairy products.
Vegetables, raw or boiled, excluding onions and legumes.

Twice a year, special complexes with a high content of vitamins A, D and minerals are added to the menu. The vitamins Canina and Nutri-Vet have proven themselves well. You shouldn’t skimp on your pet’s health and buy cheap analogues.

Water must be constantly available.

The nutrition of a Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd puppy is built according to the feeding scheme for large dogs:

Up to 6 months – 4-5 feedings, volume – 700 g. – 1 l.
Up to 12 months – 2-3 feedings, volume 1.5 liters. – 2 l.

After the first year of life, the amount of food is significantly reduced - up to twice a day. The serving size is 700-800 g. When breastfeeding, additional calcium intake is required in the form of a dietary supplement.

If the owner decides to use dry food to feed the Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog, the choice should be made in favor of the Premium class (Purina Pro Plan, Nutra, Brit, Advance) or Premium+ (Royal Canin, Nutra Gold, Hills, Eukanuba). These manufacturers offer food specifically designed for large breeds. Vitamin complexes in this case are usually not prescribed.

We recommend that you read a detailed article on the topic: “How and what to feed a dog: types and characteristics of nutrition.”

Health

The health of the Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog is excellent. Pets are strong, hardy, and quickly adapt to any climatic conditions. They need to be provided with the opportunity for constant movement of medium intensity - free walking around the territory. In this case, they will be able to remain in excellent physical shape until old age.

Mistakes that can lead to health problems for the Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd are related to poor diet, lack of activity, or failure to comply with the vaccination schedule.

Vaccinations

Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd puppies are vaccinated in accordance with the approved schedule.

Initially, a combined vaccine is given against deadly infections - hepatitis, plague, enteritis, parainfluenza and coronavirus. Babies are vaccinated at the age of 8-10 weeks .
Revaccination is carried out after 21 days , puppies are dewormed in advance. This vaccine is complemented by a rabies vaccination.
After the first vaccination, the puppy must be quarantined, and contact with other animals is excluded. After the second vaccination, the puppy can be isolated for 10 days on the recommendation of a veterinarian. In both cases, the pet is not bathed.
In the future, vaccinations are repeated once a year .

Important article on the topic: “Everything you need to know about dog vaccinations.”

Diseases

Diseases characteristic of the Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog breed are rare. Dogs rarely get sick, and hereditary diseases are isolated cases.

Walk

The Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd is a large, strong and powerful dog. To keep the muscles in a toned state, it is recommended to provide her with free range and reduce the time spent in a closed enclosure as much as possible.

It is best to use a dog for its intended purpose - protecting and herding livestock on the farm. If this is not possible, and the dog is planned to be trained in guard commands and involved in protecting the owner and property, the Maremma should be walked for at least 3-4 hours .

Read a useful article on the topic: “Dog walking law, what you need to know about prohibitions and fines.”

Grooming

The Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog is one of those unique dog breeds whose long, snow-white coat, like the Samoyed's, is capable of self-cleaning. Therefore, the owner of a maremma does not have much trouble caring for it. Combing is enough to be done every 3-4 weeks with a stiff metal brush.

An exception to this rule is periods of molting, 2 times a year, usually in spring and autumn. At this time, the coat, including the thick and dense undercoat, completely changes. Intensive shedding lasts 2-3 weeks, and during these periods the pet must be thoroughly freed from hair - combed at least 2 times a day. Combing, as a rule, starts from the head towards the tail. The fur on the paws is also combed out.

Bathing the Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog should not be carried out more than 2 times a year.

Reviews

The owners say the following about their pets:

Elena, 30 years old: “Our Nikki makes us happy every day. Yes, she has a rather stubborn character, but her devotion to family members knows no bounds.”

Ivan, 34 years old: “I confidently trust the protection of the site and my life to Maremma. This is not only my guard, but also my best friend.”

Alexander and Inna, 28 years old: “The dog gets along great with our little son. She is very calm, her upbringing does not cause much trouble.”

Mating

Mating Maremmo-Abruzzese Sheepdogs is not a unique activity. Rules apply to mating that do not differ from the conditions for mating dogs of other large breeds:

It is recommended to carry out the first mating no earlier than 1.5-2 years.
Sick dogs are not allowed to be bred.
Time: morning.
The venue is on the territory of the male dog.
It is not recommended to feed dogs breakfast.

Read a detailed article on the topic: “Everything you need to know about breeding dogs: appropriate age, what to do if it doesn’t work out, rules and tips.”

Interesting Facts

Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd puppies

The Abruzzese Maremma Shepherd is not one of the fashionable breeds; it does not shine next to celebrities and show business stars.
However, there are quite a lot of interesting things connected with it:
According to legend, the ancestors of the Abruzzese Shepherd Dogs arrived in Italy along with the hero of the Trojan War, Aeneas.
The first mentions of the Maremma breed date back to the 1st century. BC e. In the writings of the Roman writer and scientist Marcus Terence Varro, detailed descriptions of these dogs are found, which have virtually not changed since antiquity.
The coat of the Abruzzese Maremma Sheepdog is covered with a fatty film, so it practically does not get dirty - the dirt dries and falls off, and the fur remains snow-white.
American farmers trust this breed to protect their sheep - large dogs can even drive away a grizzly bear.
Many Abruzzese Maremma Sheepdogs died during the Second World War. The Germans could not pacify the brave defenders, so they killed them mercilessly.

Key points in training

Despite the fact that the main purpose of the dogs is herding, herding “work”, Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dogs need training. From the first days of arrival in the house, the puppy must be taught the basic rules of behavior and life next to a person - shown a place to eat and rest, determine a daily routine.

The absence of clear guidelines and boundaries of what is permitted when a baby is under 7-10 months of age leads in the future to the fact that an adult dog will refuse to obey its owner. Given its size and rather stubborn nature, this can lead to unpredictable consequences.

Maremmas are intelligent, inquisitive and easy to train. Numerous repetitions are not required for the dog to understand and reproduce the task. But you should not expect from representatives of this breed the perfect execution of commands that service dogs can easily perform. Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd Dogs are quite smart to instantly grasp their true tasks - to guard and protect. They are not designed to process and execute commands of search operations such as “fetch” or “search”.

At best, the dog will remain indifferent to the owner’s attempts to force him to bring a stick or find a hidden object. In the worst case, the dog will completely stop obeying, and correcting its behavior will take a lot of time.

Read about how to properly train a dog in the article: “Training a puppy: effective methods from dog handlers, learning commands at home.”

Nutrition

For most of their history, dogs lived alongside shepherds and sheep. Their diet was peasant. That is, modest and not very diverse, but absolutely natural. Written sources confirm that the dogs were fed bread and flour mixed with whey. In addition, the diet included everything that the shepherds ate, or rather, what was left from the peasants’ meals.

In our time, food asceticism has faded into the background. Dogs receive food prepared especially for them. The exact determination of the amount of food and its composition depends on the animal’s age, activity, living conditions, and so on. The total volume of food lies within 2-7% of the animal’s weight.

The menu should contain animal proteins, plant and dairy components. Approximately 35% comes from meat products and offal. Another 25% are vegetables, stewed or raw. The remaining 40% is boiled cereals combined with dairy products.

How to buy and choose a puppy

Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd Dogs are not very common in Russia. Therefore, to select a puppy, it is recommended to contact official nurseries. These include the Mirosvet and Svet Posada nurseries near Moscow and the Iz Kingdom D'Alba nursery from St. Petersburg.

Main recommendations for choosing a baby:

Perform a visual assessment of the mother. She should be healthy, elegant, with clearly defined and well-defined muscles.
The puppy itself should also not be thin, but moderately well-fed.
Activity, mobility, contact - qualities, the presence of which indicates a good pedigree of the baby. Puppies should not be afraid of strangers or extraneous noise. They are curious, playful and do not show aggression.
Particular attention is paid to checking the ears and eyes. Clean ears and shiny eyes are the key to excellent puppy health.

What to feed your pet

The best and simplest option is to use dry food. This option allows you to avoid wasting a lot of time on cooking and calculating the useful elements contained.

Dry food is completely balanced and designed for all types of dogs, all that remains is to make a choice and purchase the product. Feeding recommendations for individual foods are indicated on the back of the package. What to feed the maremma is up to the breeder to decide. Remember, feeding natural food is accompanied by additional intake of vitamins and minerals, without which the dog’s healthy development is impossible.