MAREMMA SHEEPDOG

The Maremma Sheepdog is an ancient Italian livestock guardian dog that has been used to defend flocks for over 2,000 years, particularly against the wolf and other predators.The Cane da pastore Maremmano-Abruzzese (the literal english translation of the name is "The dog of the shepherds of the Maremmano and Abruzzese") is an old breed, the "Canis pastoralis" a white sheep guardian dog, described two thousand years ago in ancient Roman literature by Columella, Varro and Palladius. The Maremma-Abruzzese sheepdog has never stopped working since wolves are certainly still in the central Italian Apennine Mountains, necessitating the continual use of the dog to protect livestock.

The Maremma Sheepdog is natural protector and guardian. Since most predators are active at night, like all guardians, the maremmas are more nocturnal in nature. They routinely walk the bark throughout the night to inform predators that they are on duty.

They are a highly attached breed that becomes extremely bonded with its livestock and family; however, they are comparable to other LGD breeds in that they are not obey-minded and stand alone. Maremma dogs are one of the smaller LGD types, with well-socialized individuals demonstrating less reactivity to strangers than others while still taking their