Breeds / Large
Maremma Sheepdog puppies
Independent, alert and devoted to the people and animals they count as their own, while remaining suspicious of strangers. They guard by presence and voice rather than by herding.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin Italy
- Adult weight 35 to 52 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 77 to 115 lb
- Adult height 62 to 73.5 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming High
- Coat type Long double
- Typical lifespan 11 to 13 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
About the Maremma Sheepdog
The Maremma is the white flock guardian of central Italy, drawn from the shepherd dogs of the Abruzzes and the sheepdogs of the Tuscan Maremma and Latium, which mixed as flocks moved between regions. The standard describes a big, rustic, majestic dog with a broad flat head said to recall a polar bear. Males run 67 to 73.5 cm and up to 52 kg. They still do their original job in their home region today.
Living with one means accepting a dog that patrols and barks at night, because that is what they were bred to do. The long harsh coat needs thorough brushing and combing several times a week or it mats. Exercise is long and quiet rather than fast, and a large securely fenced property matters more than a class. New owners buy a big white pet and find a working guardian that reaches their own verdict on every visitor.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Maremma Sheepdog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Hip dysplasia, scored from x-rays under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme
- Elbow dysplasia, graded from x-rays before a dog is used for breeding
- Gastric dilatation volvulus, or bloat, a surgical emergency that deep chested dogs are prone to
Your Maremma Sheepdog puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Maremma Sheepdog.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 35 to 52 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 52 kg, the largest size in the chart, which tops out at 49.9 kg, so measure the dog before you buy; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other large breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- fci.be for adult weight and height, coat type and country of origin
- purina.co.uk for life expectancy and health notes
- royalkennelclub.com for energy, grooming and the temperament ratings
- Health notes from Maremma Sheepdog breed information at https://www.purina.co.uk/find-a-pet/dog-breeds/maremma-sheepdog. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Justlettersandnumbers, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.