Maremmas are keen to work, and they love to protect things
The Maremmas are always looking
for intruders.
Maremmas are 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 the flocks 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 the flocks 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 of 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. |
New Maremma getting to know the flock
This is Ilona on the day she arrived. She's not too sure about all these chooks surrounding her kennel! But as an apprentice to Umberta, she is learning very quickly.
We always pair up a new pup with one of our older dogs so they can learn on the job.
We always pair up a new pup with one of our older dogs so they can learn on the job.
Ducati takes life very seriously
Ducati is one of the dogs we HAD to buy 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.
