Training of Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd dogs Akita Dog School

Basic moments

The breed is considered rare and is not common everywhere. Maremma is most valued by farmers in Italy, the USA, Australia and Canada.
The independent nature of the animals is the result of many years of working breeding with minimal contact with humans.
In Australia, since 2006, Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd Dogs have been involved in protecting the populations of blue penguins and wombats.
You should not have a maremma if your home is constantly open to large noisy companies and new acquaintances. Representatives of this family do not favor strangers, mistaking them for a potential threat.
Shepherd dogs are not hyperactive and do not need intense sports activities, but it is difficult for them to adapt to life in an apartment.
The breed is not created for service work and complete submission: Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd Dogs perceive their owner as an equal companion, whose opinion is not always worth listening to.
Maremmas have a very developed desire for “guardianship” activities, therefore, in the absence of sheep, the dog guards children, poultry and even small decorative pets.
The snow-white coat of the Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd almost does not smell like a dog, even if it is wet. The exception is unkempt, sickly individuals.
Maremma litters range from 6 to 9 puppies.

History of the Maremma-Abruzzese Sheepdog breed

The Maremma-Abruzzian Sheepdog got its name from two historical regions of Italy - Maremma and Abruzzo.
For a long time, the regions argued among themselves for the right to be considered the homeland of dogs. But since the conflict dragged on, and there was no advantage in either side, dog handlers had to compromise and include both areas in the name of the breed. As for the first mentions of giant white-haired shepherd dogs, they can be easily found in the works of the ancient Roman authors Rutilius Palladius and Lucius Columella. Describing the peculiarities of farming in the territories of the Eternal City, both researchers noted white dogs that deftly manage herding and driving sheep. Sculptures and frescoes depicting the first maremmas also survive. You can appreciate the appearance of the ancestors of today's shepherd dogs in the Archaeological Museum of Capua, the British Museum (look for the figure called Jennings's Dog/Duncombe's Dog), the Church of Santa Maria de Novella in Florence, and the Temple of San Francesco in Amatrice. If you happen to visit the exhibition of paintings from the Vatican Pinacoteca, be sure to look for the painting “The Nativity” by the medieval painter Mariotto di Nardo - it depicts a Maremmo-Abruzzese shepherd dog very realistically.

The breed began to be registered in stud books in 1898 - at the time of the procedure, documents were issued to only 4 individuals. In 1924, the animals received their first appearance standard, compiled by Giuseppe Solaro and Luigi Groppi, but subsequently, until 1940, shepherd dogs were no longer involved in registration. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that until the middle of the 20th century, dogs from Maremma and dogs from Abruzzo were positioned as two independent breeds. This was explained by the fact that historically individuals from these regions very rarely contacted each other, developing in isolation. The mixing of phenotypes occurred only during the movement of livestock across the country - shepherd dogs accompanied sheep, entered into contact with dogs from other areas and produced mixed-breed puppies along the way. The unification of the breed clans into one family called the Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog occurred only in 1958, at the insistence of the same Giuseppe Solaro.

Advantages and disadvantages of maremma: reviews from owners

The owners of such dogs love them very much. Many note the aristocratic appearance and devotion of their pets. Dogs take care of their owners and are ready to protect them day and night. The owners note that the pets get along well with children and are ready to play with them for a long time. However, they warn that each dog has its own character, so they should be trained from a young age. Some note that the animal does not like shouts and orders, it can become very offended and then become mischievous.

The Italian Shepherd is always the center of attention at an exhibition.

Breed standard Maremma-Abruzzese Sheepdog

Maremma is a respectable, but by no means overweight, “blonde”, who inspires respect with his impressive, noble appearance. External nervousness and feigned suspicion are not inherent in the breed, so the facial expression of shepherd dogs is more concentrated and attentive than stern. The physique of representatives of this family is moderately elongated, but at the same time balanced. Males are noticeably larger and heavier than females. The standard height of a purebred “boy” is 65-73 cm, weight – 35-45 kg. “Girls” weigh 30-40 kg with a height of 60-68 cm.

Head

The shape of the skull of the Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog resembles a polar bear. The head itself is in the form of a cone, large, without relief outlines. The rounded cheekbones stand out well on the wide skull. There is a noticeable divergence between the line of the head and the upper line of the muzzle, forming a convex profile pattern. The occipital protuberance and brow arches are clearly marked. The frontal sulcus, on the contrary, is greatly smoothed. The stop is implicit. The muzzle is approximately ⅒ shorter than the skull.

Jaws, lips, teeth

Impressive jaws with massive, evenly set incisors. The teeth are white, healthy, forming a correct scissor bite in the bow. The lips of the Maremma-Abruzzese Sheepdog lack the fleshiness characteristic of many large breeds, so they barely cover the teeth. As a result: if you examine an animal with its mouth closed in profile, only the corner part of the lips, painted in a rich black tone, will be noticeable.

Eyes

Despite its more than impressive dimensions, the Maremma has small eyes. The iris color is usually ocher or chestnut blue. The eyeballs themselves are not convex, but they are not deep-set either. The black-rimmed eyelids have an elegant almond-shaped cut. The look of the breed is intelligent and insightful.

Ears

The ear tissue of the Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd is characterized by excellent mobility and a hanging position. The ears are set above the cheekbones, that is, very high. The size of the ear membrane is small, V-shaped, with a pointed tip. The length of the ear does not exceed 12 cm. An important nuance: today’s maremmas do not have their ears cropped. The exception is individuals who continue to perform herding service.

Nose

The large black lobe with wide nostrils should not extend beyond the front edges of the lips.

Neck

A purebred shepherd's neck is always ⅕ shorter than its head. The neck itself is thick, without dewlap, remarkably muscled and forms an arch-like bend in the upper part. This part of the body is very abundantly furred, as a result of which the fur closer to the chest forms a rich collar.

Frame

The body is strong, slightly elongated. The rounded, tapering chest descends to the elbow joints. The back is straight from the wide, raised withers to the croup, then slightly sloping. The lumbar part is shortened and does not protrude beyond the upper dorsal line. The croup is powerful, with a good slope: the angle of inclination in the area from the base of the tail to the hip is 20°. The bottom line is arched with a tucked belly.

Legs

The back and front legs of the Shepherd are in balance with the body and have an almost straight posture. The scapular areas have developed muscle mass and elongated contours, the shoulders stand at an angle of 50-60° and are pressed closely to the sides. The forearms are longer than the shoulders and are located almost vertically, the metacarpal joints are thickened, with a clearly defined protrusion of the pisiform bones, the size of the metacarpus is necessarily ⅙ of the length of the front leg.

In the Maremma-Abruzzese Sheepdog, the hips are located at an angle (direction from top to bottom). The lower leg is shorter than the femur, but with strong bones and lean muscles. The hock joints are thick and wide. The hocks are strong, dry, and always without dewclaws. The dog's paws are round, the toes are closed, and the claws are black. A less preferred option is chestnut claws.

Tail

Since the Maremma-Abruzzese Sheepdog's croup is characterized by a strong slope, the base of the dog's tail has a low set. When at rest, the tip of the tail hangs below the level of the hocks. In a moving shepherd, the tail is raised no higher than the upper part of the back, and the tip is noticeably curved.

Wool

The Maremma dog's coat resembles a horse's mane. The hair is long (up to 8 cm), quite hard, abundant and uniform on all parts of the body. It is desirable to have a collar on the chest and feathering on the hind legs. Slight waviness of the coat is not considered a defect. The hair on the head, muzzle, front of the paws and ears is very short. In winter, a thick undercoat grows on the body, which disappears by summer.

Color

The ideal Maremma is a dog with snow-white fur. It is undesirable, but acceptable, to have areas on the body colored in ivory tone, or in light red and yellowish-lemon colors.

Disqualifying faults

Nose devoid of pigmentation.
Aggression. Unreasonable cowardice.
The muzzle is convex or concave.
Pronounced jaw overshot.
Strabismus, unevenly colored iris, eyelids without pigment.
Short or completely absent tail.
Curly wool.
Solid isabella color, as well as the presence of spots of this shade and black hairs.

Features of the coat

The Italian Wolfhound's coat is always white. In rare cases, it has a yellowish or creamy tint. The hairs are hard and the undercoat is thick, so the dog tolerates low temperatures well. However, thanks to the structure of the hairs, such a shepherd will also survive the heat quite normally.

The hair is covered with a special secretion that repels water. The presence of sebum also performs hygiene functions - dirt does not accumulate on the fur.

Dogs are tall and heavy, but they are light on their feet.

Character of the Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog

The security activities of maremmas should not be confused with the working techniques of wolfhounds. Historically, the breed was bred to scare away enemies from the herd - there was never any talk of entering into battle with predators and thieves who decided to feast on free lamb. Usually the dogs worked in a group: each participant in the action had his own observation post, which helped to repel the enemy’s attack in a timely manner. Modern Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd Dogs have retained the guard instincts of their ancestors, which could not but leave an imprint on their character.

All representatives of the family of today's maremmas are serious and proud creatures who periodically have problems with subordination. It cannot be said that these “Italians” are the most difficult shepherd dogs to train, it’s just that unconditional obedience is not their strong point. The dog considers a person in general and the owner in particular to be his equal, therefore, all attempts to “suppress” the animal with his authority can be considered obviously a failure.

Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd Dogs are condescending only towards children, patiently enduring their stroking and suffocating hugs. True, such goodwill does not extend to an unfamiliar baby, so if you are visited by friends with a not particularly well-mannered child, it is better to isolate the dog - the Maremma may react to the pranks of someone else’s offspring in an unexpected way.

The breed has a fairly good memory, supported by selectivity in communication. Usually the dog peacefully greets guests who have previously appeared on the doorstep of the house and are remembered for their exemplary behavior. The animal suspects strangers and family friends who previously provoked the pet into conflict of all mortal sins and scans them with a pointedly hostile gaze.

Maremmas have no hunting habits as such, so the breed does not pose a danger to other domestic animals. Moreover, living side by side with other representatives of the fauna awakens ancient instincts in the shepherd. As a result: the maremma begins to “herd” chickens, ducks, cows and in general any living creature, including penguins.

Pros and cons of the breed

Owners of such dogs do not deny that they have not only advantages, but also disadvantages. The positive points include the following:

calm character and self-confidence, balanced psyche;
loyal to the owner, respectful of other family members;
easy to train, easy to train;
have an impressive appearance;
react instantly to a threat;
have excellent eyesight and sense of smell;
find a common language with other pets.

However, the breed has more than just positive aspects. But these dogs have few disadvantages:

they are not suitable for people with unstable mental health;
they cannot be kept in an apartment;
pets need to be walked daily for a long time;
Dogs need free range.

Important! It is better to keep a Marem Shepherd in a house with a large area where it can move around calmly.

Maintenance and care

The Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog is a kennel-yard type dog. It is also possible to meet representatives of the breed who have managed to get used to living in a city apartment, but it is important to understand that in such cases the animals simply adapt to the situation. We are not talking about any full life in cramped conditions.

The ideal option is when the pet can move freely from the house to the yard and back. Maremmas are also not designed for life on a chain: such restrictions break the shepherd’s psyche, turning it into an embittered and uncontrollable creature. The breed does not require intense physical exercise, but an adult dog needs to exercise by walking twice a day. A Maremma is supposed to be walked for 1.5-2 hours, in any weather, so for inactive owners, the Abruzzo Shepherd Dog is not the most suitable option.

Hygiene

The coat of the Maremma Abruzzese Sheepdog is considered self-cleaning. This means that the dog is capable of getting dirty, but this condition will not radically affect its appearance. Dirt sticks to Maremmas in rainy weather, and only the dog’s coat gets wet, while the undercoat remains dry and clean in any case. The breed's coat does not become tangled if the dog is healthy and is at least minimally cared for.

Male shepherds shed once a year; with females, such transformations can occur more often, especially during gestation and birth of puppies. Many breeders recommend bathing the Maremma at the very beginning of shedding - this speeds up the process of coat change. In other cases, it is better to replace bathing with systematic dry or wet brushing - during the period between shedding, Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd Dogs hardly lose hair.

Puppies need to be brushed more often, ideally daily. In order for junior wool to be replaced more quickly by adult wool, you need to purchase a slicker coat. Maremma babies do not like this device, but with regular use they quickly learn to tolerate it. Puppies have their nails trimmed every two weeks, and adults’ nails once a month. Systematic hygiene of the Maremma's ears and eyes is also mandatory. No specific skills are required for this. You need to remove dust bunnies from the corners of your eyelids daily with a damp cloth, and clean your ears once a week with a napkin moistened with a special lotion.

Feeding

The breed is suitable for a natural diet, which should be based on any lean meat and offal. Heat treatment of meat is not required, since raw animal protein is healthier for shepherds. You can supplement the menu for maremma with frozen boneless sea fish, low-fat cottage cheese and yogurt. Eggs can be given no more than 1-2 times a week. Be sure to make shavings for your pet from raw fruits and vegetables - apples, pumpkins, carrots, zucchini. Such salads can be seasoned with sour cream, unrefined sunflower oil or fish oil. For porridges with meat, it is better to use buckwheat, rice and oatmeal.

There must be a bowl of water freely available, and a bowl with lunch and dinner is given to the pet for a strictly defined time. If the dog does not want to finish the portion, the food is removed. This approach allows you to discipline the animal and quickly accustom it to the regime. From 1.5 to 2 months, Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd puppies are fed six times a day. From 2 to 3 months - five times a day. By 3 months, it is recommended to reduce the number of feedings to four per day. From 4 to 7 months, the maremma is fed three times a day. An 8-month-old puppy is considered an adult, so his puppy's bowl is only filled with food twice a day.

Important: do not be impressed by the impressive dimensions of the breed and do not try to increase the standard portion of food - the shepherd dog should not become fat and expand in width, which will create additional problems for the joints.

Education and training

The slight detachment of behavior and reluctance to blindly follow the owner in maremmas was formed deliberately. Historically, contact between puppy and owner was kept to a minimum, and individuals that became friendly with humans were often discarded. At the age of one and a half months, maremmas were already placed in a pen with sheep so that they learned to protect their “flock” and lost the habit of communicating with the owner. This helped to train the shepherd dogs to be responsible defenders capable of making independent decisions, but not the most obedient servants.

There is an opinion that Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd Dogs, in principle, are not aimed at remembering commands, so if the pet manages to develop adequate behavior in response to the demands of “Come to me!” and “Sit!”, this is already a great achievement. In fact, everything is not so sad. Yes, maremmas are not servants and, when faced with the choice of protecting the territory or rushing after the stick abandoned by the owner, they will always choose the first option. However, it is possible to train them. In particular, with a six-month-old puppy you can easily complete the OKD course. The training methodology is the same as for all shepherd dogs - Maremmas do not need exceptions or concessions.

A very important nuance is punishment. No physical pressure should be applied, no matter how the puppy provokes it. And the point here is not in the subtle mental organization of the dog. It’s just that the Maremma-Abruzzese Shepherd Dog will never forgive you for a blow and will stop recognizing your authority after the first execution. The most difficult period in the life of every owner of a male Maremma is the age of 7-9 months. This is the period of puberty, when the puppy grows up and begins to encroach on the title of head of the house.

You will have to deal with a grown-up hooligan more strictly, but without assault. A short leash is effective for disciplining your pet. Training at this time is not canceled, but is carried out in the standard mode, but with more stringent requirements. Another “cure” for disobedience is a demonstration of physical superiority. This approach is used only in a situation where the dog challenges the owner to an open confrontation. Usually, to sober up an overbearing animal, a push in the chest (not to be confused with a blow) or a sharp tug of the leash is enough.

In articles devoted to training the breed, inexperienced owners are strongly advised to resort to the services of a professional dog handler. However, do not rush to blindly follow the recommendations: a professional Maremma, of course, will teach you, but she will mainly obey him, and not you. If you want to get a well-mannered and adequate dog, train it yourself, and take your pet to classes with a canine trainer a couple of times a week to get useful advice and correct mistakes.

How to choose a puppy

If you do not plan to raise a working shepherd dog from a Maremma to guard livestock and property, look for breeders who breed show and domestic lines of the breed. Their charges are more focused on human contact and less suspicious of others.
A good Maremma puppy is a brave puppy! If at the entrance to the nursery you are barked by a four-legged shaggy ball, you can rest assured that in the future he will grow into a brutal and stern watchman.
It is not advisable to take a pair of same-sex puppies: both in work and in everyday life, Maremma males and females get along better with representatives of the opposite sex.
Assess the living conditions of the puppies in the kennel: dogs should not be locked up and afraid of people. An unpleasant smell in the room where animals live is also not the best characterization of the breeder.
It will be a great advantage if sires have their litter tested for genetic joint dysplasia.
Always check the age of the manufacturers. Keep in mind that Maremma Abruzzese Shepherd bitches are allowed for breeding from the age of 18 months and finish their breeding “career” by the age of 8 years.
Find out from the seller what the litter of puppies is for the year. Ideally, a maremma breeds once every 12 months. In some cases, two litters per year are allowed - FCI no longer registers more than that.

Breed characteristics and character traits

Italian wolfhounds have an independent character, so they need to be trained from a young age. The characteristics of the Maremmo-Abruzzese Shepherd dog breed are of interest to many people.

Security qualities

These dogs make excellent guards. They will not allow strangers into their territory. Dogs are able to monitor the herd for a long time, keeping predators away. At the same time, the dog constantly monitors the territory, trying not to miss a single corner.

On a note! Being on a leash, when a threat appears, the dog simply jumps towards the intruder’s face, so there is nothing to be afraid of with a Maremma - she will always protect.

Attitude towards children and others

Not all owners say that the dog has a rather capricious character. The pet is wary of strangers. If raised incorrectly, a dog can show aggression, even if a few minutes ago it was absolutely calm.

Dogs can constantly show their leadership qualities if the balance of power in the house is not immediately explained to them. They behave calmly with children, but their friends may be wary and perceive them as a threat. The pet is not very fond of children's noise and pampering.

Note! Despite its willfulness, in case of danger the animal will always defend its family.

Shepherds are excellent guards; they will always protect their owner and family.

Relationship with other pets

Maremma accepts most other dogs quite normally, communicates well with other pets, considers them his property and constantly protects them.

The only thing this dog does not allow is to eat its food. You need to feed it separately from all animals, do not take away the food so that the dog does not rush.

On the street, animals generally behave calmly, but they can fight with rivals for the female. At the same time, the dog’s fur stands on end, almost vertically, and he looks simply huge.