Maremma Summary
 
Activity
Maremma are large active pups, less active from around 2 years old.
They do need some training re jumping-up and boisterous behaviour around people, and especially vulnerable children.
As the dog grows and with encouragement this problem totally disappears.
Control is easily learnt if you are consistent, firm, and loving. 

Living Area
Maremma need a large area (acreage preferably) or a large yard.
This needs secure fencing; these dogs are very good escapologists!
Adult Maremma can escape under a gate where a chook would have trouble getting out.
Maremma can jump over an enclosure, but more often will barge through wire netting (soft type), or under a fence or gate.
Your pup can be trained given time and patience to ‘stay’ by belongings or in a designated area but cannot be relied on for long term compliance.
Strong secure fencing is a MUST see also comments on housing below.
Never tether you Maremma, do not put it on a rope of long chain or leash and tie it to one spot for even as little as an hour. A few minutes to keep the dog in the one spot, say while driving the car out of the yard, is fine. Otherwise please do not tether your dog. The breed does not lend itself to being tethered and will try to get away from the restraint.
 
Housing
Being an outdoor alpine dog by breeding they often resist attempts at housing them in conventional kennels. It will be the individual dogs choice IF it sleeps in a kennel or out in the open. Their double coat is weather proof, shedding water and dirt readily. Only an occasional rub-down is needed after heavy rain.
 
Guarding
Maremma are primarily guardian dogs. This is their work and without it they can become depressed and aimless. A non-working Maremma is a sad dog.
He will guard you, your family, your home and preferably livestock of any kind.
That is what he was bred for. Some Maremma have bonded so well with their family that they will only guard their humans and their humans house/property surrounding said house.
 
Territorial instinct
The Maremma is likely to become quite territorial and will guard as far as he can see.
If you have nearby neighbours it is advisable for your dog to become familiar with them. This component is essential if you have close neighbours. Please refer to the dogs ‘special place’ above if those neighbours come into the dogs territory.
A sensitive dog may become overly vocal causing problems with neighbours, it is best to discourage overt amounts of barking.
 
Barking
Overt barking at strange objects when guarding can become a problem.
Easier to train this habit out as a pup, by firmly saying ‘NO’ and then ‘good dog’ when silence reigns. But do not praise the dog instantly it stops barking as it may interpret that as being praised for barking = they need to be quiet for a few moments first. Also praise when quiet when an obviously non threatening ‘thing’ is present. The pup will learn fast to only bark when necessary.
Start young = prevention is much easier than cure.
It is important to learn which is nuisance aimless over reactive barking which is to be discouraged, as opposed to real alert barking which must never be discouraged.
A Maremmas first defence is furious barking. Attack is the last measure he will take.
 
Exercise
The adult dog will need frequent walks if the living area is deficient.
But never over exercise a young pup or put too much strain on developing bones.
It is essential they avoid shiny floors for constant walking as that can cause hip problems later in life.
 
Other pets
Maremma usually bond readily with all animals including cats. It is another matter as to what the cat thinks of the new boisterous dog.
Supervision is essential during the bonding and acceptance period, especially if the other animal is a smaller dog (or cat).
 
Strangers
Socializing your pup well is necessary and puppy school is a great place to start if possible with their natural reserve they need encouragement to socialise with people and to accept strangers to the property*.

* However I advise that the pup is given his own special place (an enclosed area = about half the size of a tennis court) with lots of water and shade and also bones and that he is put in there whenever strangers (non family members) come to the property. This area is his special place and should be a place he looks forward to going to and he will quickly learn that is the place he must go when strangers arrive, or if he is asked to go in there.

Anything or anyone seen to be unusual will at first be suspect to your dog.
Socialising is important. Maremma tend to bark at things/situations they have not experienced and are unfamiliar with.
A formal introduction to the wider family, friends and tradesmen is necessary IF you intend your dog to have contact with every person that comes onto the property.
Quality time together playing or just being together is a great base to a dogs friendly outlook.
 
Cosmetics
Some owners bathe their dogs, others use dry shampoo.
A wipe down with a cloth dipped in diluted vinegar will sanitise the coat and leave it shining.
Only ever wash an adult dog on a warm day preferably 30c or above = his inner coat may stay damp for a long time and cause a chill. Dry in a warm place use a towel if necessary.
 
Coat care (brushing)
Brushing with a ‘rake type comb’ helps the shedding coat of adults; they usually have a major moult twice a year, but more often if inside dogs. A grown Maremma does need grooming to help shed the undercoat, otherwise painful and unsightly matting occurs.
It is not recommended to clip or shave a Maremma unless there is no other way to remove matting and then only the matted areas should be clipped.
By brushing your pup regularly with a soft brush you get him used to the process and he can start to find it is good together time.
 
 Food
this is here as many Maremma rescuers use this diet please consult your Vet and choose the diet type YOU are happy with

Maremma Rescuers often feed the rescued dogs a fresh raw diet with daily supply of carrots, pumpkin and especially leafy green veggies. They need carbohydrates and the good fats so add some rice or pasta and some flax seed oil and supplement with good quality ‘light’ dry food. Cooked eggs as well as boneless fish a couple of times a week is also desirable. Some Maremma really enjoy fruit too especially in the hot weather. Many will enjoy a raw carrot or apple. If you scrape a little of the skin they soon learn there is something tasty inside. It is recommended to also give a tablespoon or 2 of fresh natural yoghurt everyday and if you like a small bit of apple cider vinegar in the water (the apple cider vinegar is a personal choice you will need to make). A little garlic is ok as long as you dont overdo it as it is a member of the onion family.
NEVER give cooked bones, onions, chocolate, pineapple or grapes.
Do not over feed as it causes too much strain and their large body.
For adult dogs it is advisable to keep protein levels around 28%.
 
Once you acquire a pup please make sure you know exactly what the breeder is feeding them and take 2 or 3 weeks to slowly change your pup onto what you want him to eat otherwise you will have a tummy upset and possibly worse requiring Vet attention.

 
Water
Plenty of fresh water is essential.
An adult Maremma will drink litres of water a day, especially in hot weather.
Make sure the bowel/bucket cannot be tipped over.
 
Love and discipline
Maremma give and receive love readily. Re-enforce the relationship with fun time and walks together.
Encourage often – praise frequently – and be consistently firm.
Firm and fair consistent handling make him secure in your leadership.
An undisciplined dog is liable to be not only a handful to you but an insecure unhappy dog.
You certainly wont enjoy him and we wont like life either.
You are the pack leader = act it = without being brutal.
# a Maremma treats you as his equal = harsh over dominance will not work with this breed.
Maremma want to obey you, for love.
He will never do anything without good reason so will appear stubborn, be patient, yet firm and co-operation will come.
​
Positive reinforcement training (praise) is the best training method to use. I DO NOT recommend the ‘treats method’ as the pup will very quickly learn it will always get food for doing what you want, you then have the situation of a very disobedient dog the 2nd time he does not get that food ‘reward’.
Food IS NOT a reward = it is what keeps them alive.
 
If you own/use firearms =
Please gun safe train your dog
​Teaching a pup firearms safety procedures is essential
Once the pup is leash trained and sits on command = show the pup the firearm = let it sniff it.
Then once it knows it wont hurt it = out into the pups paddock.
Make sure you have the pup on a secured leash sitting next to you while shooting in its paddock = so it doesnt get gun shy!
At first it may go ballistic wanting to get away = DO NOT sooth it, and do not allow it to get away = keep the leash secure, firmly telling it to 'sit'  = at first more than one telling may be necessary.
When it sits, tell it (in a happy voice) it is good and pat its head to re-enforce the 'lack of reaction to the noise'. 
Let it smell the firearm again to re-establish it wont hurt it = this way it smells that it has been fired and quickly learns to recognise the smell.
Repeat the process of shooting off the firearm = 3 or 4 times at each session is enough.
Eventually it will learn when you have the gun it is to sit next to you quietly regardless of the noise = last thing you want is a gun shy dog or one that runs after what you are shooting at and getting shot itself = they can suddenly appear right in the line of fire the split second you squeeze the trigger!

Regularly use the firearms (a minimum of ever few weeks) with the dog to keep re-enforcing the need for it to sit calmly next to you when and as needed.
I do this once a week.

Love must always be the undertone
Harsh treatment will discourage your Maremma. He may lose respect for you as his leader and lost trust in you.
Remember = NEVER hit your pup/dog as he will remember and one day he may decide he no longer wants you near him.
Always make up if a severe reprimand has been necessary, and your dog remains upset from it.

# a delightful read from the Maremma Sheep Dog Club of Great Britain
 http://www.maremma-sheepdogs.co.uk/dogs/articles/answers.html 
 
# a read recommended by Maremma Rescue VIC =
http://www.invasiveanimals.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Guardian-Dogs-web.pdf