Common Questions Asked Regarding Maremmas:

I decided to write these Maremma FAQs to put into words the most common questions asked of me about Maremma livestock guardian dogs.
Before I begin I will give you some background on me. My husband, Tom, and I (Janice Buttitta of Desert Mountain Alpaca Ranch) have been breeding and raising Maremma lgds for over five years in Mansfield, GA . We have two breeding pairs, Santino & Gianna, and Vincenzo & Donatella. Our dogs are registered with the Maremma Sheepdog Club of America. We use our Maremmas to guard our growing herd of alpacas with a count now of 34. We have never lost an alpaca to a predator. For more information on Maremmas or if you are in need of a Maremma livestock guardian dog contact Janice at info@desertmtnalpacas.com or visit our website at www.desertmtnalpacas.com/education-maremmas/ to learn more about our breeding pairs.

Q. How big do Maremmas get?

A. Typically the adult Maremma male will weigh between 100-120 pounds. Females are slightly smaller weighing between 85-100 pounds.

Q. How aggressive are Maremmas?

A. The Maremmas can be quite aggressive but it all depends on the situation. When a predator or stranger approaches the fence line the Maremmas will charge the fence barking aggressively. They can be quite intimidating; however, if I escort the stranger in and allow the dogs time to sniff the stranger they will become subdued.

Q. Will Maremmas fight a predator?

A. Yes, if forced. The Maremma does not want to fight. Instead its first action is to patrol the perimeter and mark its territory by passing on its scent. If a predator insists on coming up to the fence the Maremma will then charge the fence. If a predator comes inside the perimeter the Maremmas will circle it and not allow it to leave until I come over and advise to stand down. When the predator takes an aggressive action towards the Maremmas the dogs will fight. They have a job to do and that is to protect the livestock at all costs.

Q. Is one Maremma enough to guard the livestock?

A. This depends on what your predators are. One Maremma is not as intimidating as two Maremmas charging the fence. A pack of coyotes may not find one Maremma enough to deter them from taking a chance to enter the farm to eat. A mountain lion will not think twice either. My recommendation is that two Maremmas be purchased.

Q. Does a male or female Maremma do a better job at guarding?

A. It doesn’t matter. Both will guard the livestock; however, if only one dog will be guarding a farm then I recommend a male as it will be larger in size and appear more intimidating.

Q. How do you train a Maremma to guard?

A. You don’t. The Maremmas guard because it is instinct.

Q. Are Maremmas wanderers like other livestock guardian dogs?

A. Not typically. If you have proper fencing the Maremma will understand what its perimeter is and will stay in it. Three board fencing is not proper fencing for a Maremma because if they can easily go under the third board they think it is ok and will leave the property. Although the Maremma can probably jump over the fence it is highly unlikely that they will.

Q. Will Maremmas dig?

A. Yes, Maremmas are excellent diggers. They do not dig to get out of their area but dig to get to the coolness of the dirt underneath or to make an ambush area for themselves.

Q. Do Maremmas bark?

A. Yes, but they are known for not being incessant barkers. They only bark when they actually see or hear something out of the ordinary. Warning- if you have neighbors in close vicinity a Maremma may not be for you if you are worried about the neighbors complaining. Maremmas do not care what time it is and will bark to warn off the predator.

Q. What type of livestock do Maremmas guard?

A. Past litters are currently guarding chickens, goats, horses, alpacas, and sheep. Maremmas will guard any type of livestock but it is important that you introduce anything new to them when they are young. The older Maremma will have a harder time understanding that the new livestock is not a predator and will need to be supervised more closely until they finely recognize the livestock as not a threat.

Q. How much does a Maremma eat?

A. I feed my Maremmas anywhere from 2-3 cups of dry food with some wet food mixed in two times a day. This all changes for the pregnant or lactating female. Gianna is known to eat approximately 14 cups of puppy food and 3 cans of puppy wet food per day while nursing.

Q. How often do you breed your female Maremmas?

A. Tom and I signed the ethical agreement with the Maremma Sheepdog Club that we would breed our females once per year. We are not looking to be a puppy mill but because we truly believe in the Maremma’s capabilities and have such a strong love for them we breed them to offer other ranchers and farmers the same security we have on our farm.

Q. How are the puppies raised?

A. Our Maremma puppies are whelped in the barn and share a fence line with the alpacas until they are about 4 weeks old. At that time they are introduced with the alpacas and over the next couple of weeks they spend more and more time with the alpacas until they are left out with the alpacas 24/7.

Q. Will Maremma pups play with the livestock?

A. Yes, puppies are puppies after all. However, when you get two puppies they will tend to play with each other more than the livestock but they should still be supervised and reprimanded if they begin to play with the livestock.

Q. Can Maremmas be shipped?

A. Yes, I like to use Delta cargo. I have past litters nationwide, in Puerto Rico, and Canada.

Q. How much does it cost to ship a Maremma?

A. The airlines charge by weight and size. The lighter the Maremma pup the cheaper it will be. Past charges are from $250 – $280. Eight week old pups usually weigh between 20 -25 pounds. The new owner is responsible for shipping costs and the kennel.

Q. What type of kennel is needed to ship?

A. For an 8 week old pup I recommend getting a kennel that is 27”L x 20”H x 18”W. Airlines insist that the pup be able to stand, sit, and lay normally with at least 3” of head space between the dog and the roof of the kennel. All kennels must be airline approved meaning that they have to have ventilation on the sides, a metal door, and metal nuts/bolts. The kennel must also have an attachable water and food bowl as well as something to absorb if the Maremma pup has an accident.

Q. What can be expected when the Maremma lgd pup arrives?

A. After traveling and having new faces to greet the Maremma lgd pup it probably is no surprise to learn that the pup will be taken back some and quite shy. It is normal for the Maremma lgd pup to take a few days to learn its new surroundings and family. Even though the pups are raised with alpacas they can tell the difference between my alpacas and anyone else’s.

Q. How soon before placing the Maremma lgd pup in with the livestock?

A. I recommend introducing the Maremma lgd pup immediately but only while supervised, especially if the livestock has never been around dogs before. This is more to protect the puppy from being stomped on. As the puppy grows you can leave the Maremma more and more with the livestock. Eventually the livestock and the Maremma will create a bond of trust.

The loving and trusting relationship between DMAR Armani (alpaca) and his Maremma livestock guardian, Vincenzo. I just love this photo!

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