- Breed name: Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog
- Original name of the breed: CANE DA PASTORE MAREMMANO-ABRUZZESE
- FCI Classification: Group 1- Shepherd dogs and herding dogs
- Origin: Italy
- Size: Large dog
- Average life expectancy: 11-13 years
Maremmano is a breed originally from Italy, an exceptional guardian loyal to its owner and the family he lives with. Due to its size and thick white coat, it looks a lot like a smaller polar bear.
ORIGIN
Maremmano originates from Italy, from the region after which it is named. He kept flocks of sheep in the area of Tuscany and Abruzzo, which he still does today, but to a lesser extent. A dog resembling a maremmano can be found in ancient Roman literature from the 15th century. Although this breed is one of the oldest breeds from the Apennines, the maremma has only recently received real recognition thanks to English dog lovers. It was not until 1958 that the Italian Kennel Club recognized this breed under its current name.
APPEARANCE
Maremma is a strong, huge and harmoniously built dog. The length of the body is greater in relation to the height, and his rich white fur is straight and close to the body. The hair is shorter in the area of the head and on the front part of the legs, while it is visibly longer on the rest of the body. He is always white, but yellowish to light orange shades are tolerated. He has a large and flat head, conical in shape, somewhat reminiscent of the head of a polar bear. The ears are triangular and fit well on the head. The eyes are ocher or auburn brown, and are small relative to the size of the rest of the dog. The neck is slightly shorter, extremely strong, without a chin and very muscular. The tail is also strong, set low and covered with thick hair. The average weight of males is between 35 and 45 kg, and the weight of females is between 30 and 40 kg. In terms of height, males are on average between 65 and 73 cm tall, while females are slightly lower with a height between 60 and 68 cm.
CHARACTER
An exceptional guardian, intelligent and very gentle towards the entrusted herd. Determined, brave, loyal to his owner and the family he lives with. He is distrustful of foreigners and requires early socialization due to his enormous size. Maremma is a real working dog, and he will be happiest when he works, either to protect his family or herd from potential intruders. He needs a strong hand and an experienced owner, but does not tolerate coercion and strict breeding.
HEALTH AND CARE
This dog prefers to spend time outdoors, where he also likes to sleep. The cold doesn’t bother him in the least, it’s definitely not a dog to keep in an apartment or house. As far as care is concerned, he is not dificult, except that a dog of this size needs a larger amount of food. Bathing of this breed is not recommended, and the whiteness of the fur can be maintained with dry hair shampoos. He needs regular brushing with a metal brush to remove dead layers of fallen hair. They are generally considered a healthy breed, but they can suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia, as well as glaucoma, chronic ear infections, obesity and bloating.
Statistics
* Energy level: High level
* Playfulness level: Low level
* Attitude towards other dogs: May be hostile
* Relation to other pets: May be hostile
* Attitude towards strangers: Extremely distrustful
* Ease of training: Moderately difficult to train
* Protection: High level of protection
* Maintenance required: Easy to maintain
* Heat tolerance: Moderate tolerance
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