New Arrivals: Maremma Sheepdogs
Meet our newest household members!
Our Maremma Sheepdog, Daisy, had 13 puppies— two girls and eleven boys— about a month ago, and they are the cutest things! Puppy #9 was stillborn, but we managed to revive him and nurse him to health. It’s been difficult managing and taking care of so many puppies— the average litter size for Maremmas is 6-9 puppies— but with a few baby bottles, and lots of love (and late nights), they’ve grown larger and fluffier.
Maremma Sheepdogs are also known as Italian Maremmano-Abruzzese, Abruzzese-Maremmana or Abruzzano-Maremma Sheepdogs. They were originally bred in the Italian region of Abruzzo and Maremma, in Tuscany. Their history can be traced back to ancient Roman times and depictions of them can be found in antiquary art.
In terms of temperament, they are intelligent, friendly dogs. They are extremely loyal, diligent, and noble pets. They have white, furry coats and a bear-like head, often said to resemble a polar bear. They are most commonly used as guard dogs for herds of sheep, although they have been known to be able to guard sheep from pumas and guard small penguins from foxes. Maremmas are giant in size and fairly energetic. They can get along well with older children, but require supervision with smaller children because of their size.
There are many advantages to owning a Maremma sheepdog. People who live in rural areas or in open spaces could benefit from owning one because they can act as natural guardians for their family. They are not inherently aggressive towards people, but they need to be socialized as puppies to become good family dogs. There are other disadvantages, too. These dogs can be quite expensive and need a lot of exercise, which means that the owner needs to be prepared for the responsibility that comes with this pet. Maremmas also shed a lot and require grooming more than once a week. As a result, they’re not usually recommended for first-time owners.
Although Maremmas require more attention and effort, they are a great breed that can be an excellent farm guardian, family pet, or therapy dog. Their intelligence and loyalty will not fail to impress you. It’s a joy to watch these darling puppies grow up to be such magnificent dogs.