Maremma-Abruzzo Sheepdog - description of the breed and character of the dog

Today we will talk about snow-white representatives of shepherd dogs - maremo-abruzzky dogs. Representatives of the breed were bred in France, and no particular distribution or recognition was found in our country. Nevertheless, they have a mass of European adherents, who are happy to use dogs for various purposes.

Historical background and mission

The name of the specimens of the presented breed has an interesting historical reference. Since ancient times, scientists from two regions of Italy have been arguing over where exactly the breed originated - Abruzzo or Maremmo? Due to the fact that there is little information on this subject, the answer was never found. Partly for this reason, the breed was named with a double postscript.

Individuals came to European territory from Tibet. Their ancestors were local mastiffs, wolfhounds and Great Danes.The first amateur club was created in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The generally accepted standard has been known to people since 1925. For more than 40 years, dog experts have researched the breed, constantly changing standards.

Initially, the breed was bred to help with the housework, dogs were used as shepherds and for the protection of sheep. But over time, this faded into the background, people give birth to pets as companions. At first, individuals of the breed were distributed exclusively in Italy, and later spread throughout Europe.

The dogs coped well with guard duties when wolves or bears attacked a flock of sheep. From some historical reports we can conclude that pets were called none other than Italian shepherds. At first, dogs specialized exclusively in protecting sheep, but later showed themselves, they started to protect the territory.

Generally accepted standards

1. Gender superiority exists, but is poorly expressed. Naturally, males are bigger than bitches. At first, the height at withers can reach 74 cm with a weight of 45 kg. In the second - an increase to 67 cm with a body weight of 35-40 kg.
2. It is important to remember forever that individuals of the represented breed can be exclusively white, a different shade of wool cover is considered a disadvantage.In some cases, dogs may have milky spots, this is acceptable.
3. The head is average in size, compared with the general view, it may seem small. The frontal part is flat, there is no such transition to the nose. The line is smooth. The muzzle is white, the nose is black. Because of this, dogs look like polar bears.
4. The eyes are almond shaped. It is not allowed to be perfectly round. Lips dry and tight, cover the composition of the teeth. Vices include aspects in which the eyelids of dogs, the edging of the lips and nose are pigmented with any color other than black. Bite in the form of scissors, teeth in the complete set, strong, sharp.
5. Ears falling, in no way standing, mobile. The ends are sharp. The ears are set wide enough, in their form resemble a triangle. If the main purpose of the dog is to protect the territory, they can stop their ears. But these cases are so rare that their number is difficult to identify for sure.
6. The extremities are medium in length, massive, with a wide oval bone system. Brushes collected, bent fingers, claws black or dark. The hind legs are muscular, the thighs are clearly visible.The tail is carried slightly above the level of the back, but set lower. In the calm state of the dog he is omitted.
7. The withers are well visible, overgrown with a woolen cover, stands out against the background of a smooth muscled back. There is a raisedness in a zone of a loin, croup slightly slanted. Thorax wide and indented.
8. The coat is thick and white. It was already mentioned earlier that shades of milky are allowed, but undesirable. When dogs attack or defend their territory, the fur on the whole body becomes on end, therefore the dog increases by a factor of several times. It scares rivals. The length of the wool can reach 10 cm, so the care must be appropriate.

Character

1. Immediately it should be said that dogs are endowed with a complex character, which is caused by the history of the origin of the animal. Since the dogs were taken out for protection, they must be tough. The reaction of the dogs is lightning, they attack as soon as they see the threat. Therefore, if you plan to keep a pet to protect the local area, make sure that the neighbors will not come without an invitation.
2. Security quality at height.If a dog protects the territory designated for it, it never sleeps, does not sit in the corner, bypasses all its possessions day and night. Dogs mark territory, do not allow other animals. Famous for their sharp mind and ability to make decisions.
3. If the animal is kept in a residential environment, then a long sitting at home may adversely affect its health. The dog needs constant walks, with long and intense walks. The future owner needs to take into account his schedule and bring the dog walking into it.
4. As for the union of a shepherd dog — man, everything is ambiguous. There are many reviews of the owners who complain about the excessive rigidity of the pet in relation to people. In particular, this attitude is reserved for children. Therefore, this shepherd subtype absolutely does not fit an unprepared, weakly characterful, apathetic person. She needs an owner who can curb the animal and temperament in particular. In some situations, the dog can literally catch up with horror.
5. If you are planning to become the happy owner of an individual of a given breed, it is worth bearing in mind possible aggressive behavior.Pet may negatively relate to attempts to put him on a chain, put on a collar, pick up a bowl after a meal. It has already been mentioned that the dog does not warn before an attack, therefore this behavior carries with it a certain danger.
6. A dog of the represented breed is a true leader by nature, this superiority applies to all life circumstances. The dog will not gently wag its tail or hammer into a corner. Any of his dissatisfaction is manifested roar, grin, rupture of soft tissues. Therefore, think three times before you start a dog of this breed. It is important to remember that its main purpose is protection.
7. However, it is impossible to characterize the dog as a leader and an evil pet solely in relation to the owner. Yes, if not to be engaged in education, it will be bad for all members of the household. But with proper training shepherd protects family members.
8. Separately, it is worth mentioning that the Maremmas do not apply to nannies-dogs. Therefore, such individuals are not very fond of small children. The presented breed can relate well to small family members only if you initially raise the animal correctly.This should be done with puppy age.
9. Consider, friends of the child and other children who very rarely appear in your home, shepherd dog may be regarded as a potential threat. Therefore it is necessary to observe extreme caution with such a dog. Parenting is also important. Most dogs simply do not like the arrogance and noisy running of children.
10. With the timely socialization of the maremma will be absolutely neutral to other pets. The animal perfectly gets on with any breeds of dogs. A strong friendship between pets can start in the event that they grew up together. Due to the shepherd’s character, the Maremma treats pets as their property, so they are inviolable to strangers.
11. Sometimes small difficulties arise when feeding the breed in question. The problem is that such shepherds are very sensitive to the encroachment on their own food. In this case, the Maremma will immediately show aggression when trying to approach its bowl. Therefore, it is recommended to feed shepherd dogs in isolation.
12. As for walks, in the fresh air, the breed in question will behave very calmly towards its congeners.In some cases, the cables may show aggression in the fight for the female. A characteristic feature of the breed is that the Maremmas are able to vary their own sizes.
13. Such shepherd dogs, when threatened or attacked, strongly raise their fur. Due to this, the dog visually increases in size. As a result, the attacking enemy is frightened of a similar phenomenon and remains amazed and frightened.

Care and maintenance

1. Maremmas are not whimsical in food and enjoy eating normal food, which is intended for working large dogs. You can cook your own natural food or buy ready-made, balanced. The diet of feeding maremma coincides with the diet of many sheepdogs. Therefore, you will not encounter anything special.
2. It should be borne in mind that during the period of growth the pet does not need food of high caloric content, even with a large size and proportional physique. The same rule applies to the cultivation of moloss. In order for the ligaments and joints to form correctly, it is necessary to give hondoprotectors during the period of active growth of the puppy.
3. Many experienced breeders claim that the breed in question will suffer if it is maintained in a housing environment. If you figure it out, it's not so bad. First, the difficulties fall specifically on the shoulders of the owners. The dog sheds abundantly 2 times a year, you need to be prepared for this.
4. Otherwise, you should not be surprised when all the rooms will be covered with an impressive layer of fluff. Also, the dead wool emits an unpleasant stinking smell (similar to carrion). In addition, the maremma needs long daily walks. They must be quite active. An animal needs to waste energy.
5. The ideal content for a shepherd dog is considered to be in the yard. The breed in question is not afraid of hot weather or severe frosts. Soft dense undercoat and thick coat completely protect the dog from wind, cold and rain. In summer, the Maremma will feel great in the shade.
6. Consider, due to the fact that the guard hair has a smooth surface, the wool can be independently cleaned from various contaminants. Therefore, after drying, the dirt quickly rolls. In any case, the pet will have to comb daily.Thus, the dog will not form mats. The undercoat will always remain soft and thick. Maremma can be bathed a couple of times a year.

Presented shepherd dogs have a rather peculiar temperament. Such a dog should be started only by an experienced person and in the absence of small children in the family. Pet should be socialized as soon as possible. Also, the animals need to constantly walk and engage. Maremma gives way to training pretty easily. Before purchasing a puppy, learn all the details.

Video: Maremma-Abruzzo Shepherd Dog Breed