Maremmas are keen to work, and they love to protect things
The Maremmas are always looking
for intruders.
Maremmas are pretty big dogs and can take on a fox easily. They were bred in northern Italy to protect flocks of sheep, goats or any other animals from marauding bears and wolves - so foxes present no problem for them.
Each of our flocks has at least one dog on duty 24 hours a day, watching for any intruder. Some of them have two dogs because we have found that they work better in pairs - or even as a pack.
Occasionally a Wedge Tailed Eagle may swoop in and take a chook - but if the Maremma sees it coming, the warning bark sends the chickens under cover.
Each of our flocks has at least one dog on duty 24 hours a day, watching for any intruder. Some of them have two dogs because we have found that they work better in pairs - or even as a pack.
Occasionally a Wedge Tailed Eagle may swoop in and take a chook - but if the Maremma sees it coming, the warning bark sends the chickens under cover.
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Maremma dogs are an integral part our business. We couldn't operate as a true free range farm without them. Each flock has its own dog as protection from foxes and wedge tailed eagles.
And there are always a couple who just poke around the place day and night looking for anything suspicious. We don't even have to lock the hens up at night because the dogs are always patrolling--on the lookout for interlopers! Until we bought our first dogs we always had to make sure we were home before dusk every day to lock the hens in their sheds but with the dogs constantly patrolling, we can stay out till all hours (if only). Our Maremmas really are just as important as the hens! |
 A little Maremma with big ideas. |
This was the first meeting between Berkley and Chicca
Until Chicca arrived, Berkley was the biggest dog on the farm. He was taller than Chicca but she was 15 kgs heavier at around 70 kgs.
Chicca was only about three years old when she arrived and Berkley was about six. Unfortunately Berkley died in the paddock with his chooks and Chicca had to be euthanased when she developed untreatable mammary cancer. As far as we know, she was the only working Breton Pyrenean Mastiff in Australia. All the others here have been show dogs. Both Chicca and Berkley were tremendous workers and great friends.
Chicca was only about three years old when she arrived and Berkley was about six. Unfortunately Berkley died in the paddock with his chooks and Chicca had to be euthanased when she developed untreatable mammary cancer. As far as we know, she was the only working Breton Pyrenean Mastiff in Australia. All the others here have been show dogs. Both Chicca and Berkley were tremendous workers and great friends.
Ducati takes life very seriously
Ducati is one of the dogs we were given because his owner was scared of him. He was called Duke, but we felt that an Italian name was more appropriate. In his previous life he spent a lot of his time on a chain. His owner said to us - 'if he gives you any trouble just put him on a chain and belt him'. Naturally we couldn't leave him there! It took over a year for us to gain his confidence. Every time I said 'good boy' to him he'd run away expecting to be thumped. Some people just shouldn't have dogs - or children.
