Whispering Aspen Ridge Livestock Guardian Maremmas
Whispering Aspen Ridge Livestock Guardian Maremmas
About The Maremma And Our Journey
About The Maremma And Our Journey
Maremma Livestock Guardians (Maremma Abbruzze)
Maremma Livestock Guardians (Maremma Abbruzze)
The Maremma originated in Italy and they are held in high esteem by the shepherds, especially in the mountains where they thrive in the snow and are resistant to both cold and brambles. The Maremma has proven to be a friendly and well-balanced Livestock Guardian who loves their work. They are very loyal, dignified, brave, and determined dogs with friendly and affectionate dispositions. Maremma Livestock Dogs are independent, alert and guard their flock and family with dedication. They love the attention of their human partners and are very attentive to children. Maremmas will defend their flock, house and master with their life if needed.
Maremmas get along well with other family dogs and pets. They are respectful and strive not to intrude or trigger conflict with other animals. They can be a little smaller in size than some livestock dog breeds but they are just as capable, and they have a much smaller roaming area. Overall they are very content to stay with the flock they love and protect, and in their pasture, as they like stability. Maremmas bark only when they need to, provided there are enough dogs to manage the predator load. A maremma's bark is their first line of defense when it comes to dealing with predators and they can sound very ferocious. Maremmas have the ability to communicate with predators and develop a mutual understanding of whose territory is whose. They will not hesitate to do battle if required. Maremmas are an excellent and versatile choice for family acreage owners, hobby farmers, as well as those with large ranching operations.
Maremmas are intelligent and bred to be thinkers and to follow their instincts. A successful partnership with your dog requires a level of mutual respect in handling and in the tone of your voice. They are highly aware of your body language and thought processes, and they instinctively take the lead from you. It is very important to think about what you expect of them and the desired result. Maremmas have very good instincts when it comes to people. They may be slightly reserved and standoffish with strangers, or they may be outright friendly. People who are not welcome on your property or in your pasture will know it immediately.
They are a terrible enemy to predators including wolves, bears, and cougars. They are pack orientated and work very well together to protect the livestock entrusted to their care, patrol their pastures, and have the ability to coordinate their duties very well. They work best in Male Female pairs. If you have a large predator load more than one Livestock Guardian Dog is vital. For example, study done in Alberta over several years proved that cougars would challenge two Livestock Guardian Dogs but not three.
Maremmas get along well with other family dogs and pets. They are respectful and strive not to intrude or trigger conflict with other animals. They can be a little smaller in size than some livestock dog breeds but they are just as capable, and they have a much smaller roaming area. Overall they are very content to stay with the flock they love and protect, and in their pasture, as they like stability. Maremmas bark only when they need to, provided there are enough dogs to manage the predator load. A maremma's bark is their first line of defense when it comes to dealing with predators and they can sound very ferocious. Maremmas have the ability to communicate with predators and develop a mutual understanding of whose territory is whose. They will not hesitate to do battle if required. Maremmas are an excellent and versatile choice for family acreage owners, hobby farmers, as well as those with large ranching operations.
Maremmas are intelligent and bred to be thinkers and to follow their instincts. A successful partnership with your dog requires a level of mutual respect in handling and in the tone of your voice. They are highly aware of your body language and thought processes, and they instinctively take the lead from you. It is very important to think about what you expect of them and the desired result. Maremmas have very good instincts when it comes to people. They may be slightly reserved and standoffish with strangers, or they may be outright friendly. People who are not welcome on your property or in your pasture will know it immediately.
They are a terrible enemy to predators including wolves, bears, and cougars. They are pack orientated and work very well together to protect the livestock entrusted to their care, patrol their pastures, and have the ability to coordinate their duties very well. They work best in Male Female pairs. If you have a large predator load more than one Livestock Guardian Dog is vital. For example, study done in Alberta over several years proved that cougars would challenge two Livestock Guardian Dogs but not three.
In 2016 we moved to our acreage near the village of Annaheim in Saskatchewan, Canada. The farmyard had been vacant for ten years when we purchased it and the deer and moose loved to graze in the yard and bed down in the shrubs at night. There is also a creek behind our place that attracts various predators. Mainly coyotes, but also wolves, foxes, skunks, and raccoons. Cougars, wild pigs, and the occasional bear have also been seen in the area. With such a heavy predator load right at our back door, we knew we would need protection for livestock.
After extensive research into different Guardian Dog breeds, we decided the Maremma was best suited to our needs. We have neighbors within two miles of us in each direction and the friendly disposition of the Maremma was a very big draw. That Maremma’s are not continual barkers, are more content to stay with their animals and become bonded to their area were also reasons we decided on the Maremma. Our search led us to RLT Farms in Spirit River, Alberta. We purchased our first two Maremma female/sibling pups, Sheena Maria Chevalier and Lexy Anna Starling. RLT Farms imported their Sire and Dam into Canada directly from Italy and there are many champions in their bloodlines. That may not mean a lot to some, but to me it says good genetics and sound minds.
Lexy Anna Starling with her last litter of pups. An amazing guardian and exceptional Mom.
Lexy Anna Starling with her last litter of pups. An amazing guardian and exceptional Mom.
A Unique and Special Breed of Livestock Guardians
A Unique and Special Breed of Livestock Guardians
It did not take long for us to fall in love with the two pups and even less to realize that though we had spent thirty-odd years raising and working with other breeds, we knew absolutely nothing when it came to these two. They were fascinating, confident, and independent. They were thinkers, with their very own sense of what was right and wrong, of what they wanted to do and when they wanted to do it. We had no idea how to get them to respond to direction. Everything we tried failed. They were hardwired differently than any other dog we had worked with previously and to be honest we had no idea how to proceed.
We decided to step back and began observing them, allowing the two pups to teach us. Refraining from micromanaging was difficult at first, but we soon learned that they had a reason for everything they did. These girls taught us so much. How to be able and willing partners, to have patience and self-awareness, the power of thought, and how to be present in the moment. The importance of body language and facial expression, personal awareness and reactions, the difference between corrective and positive training, the difference between discipline and redirection, proper communication, respect, boundaries, relationships, love, appreciation … and so much more.
We did not have much of a setup at first. We created a makeshift pen outside the dining room window so I could keep a close eye on them and be able to quickly redirect any unwanted behavior. We used a horse trailer for their shelter. One day we were out putting up a fence along the property line and a coyote came in the yard. He was right by the pen that the goats and pups were in. My son ran to the house for the gun and his dog chased off the coyote. While this was happening, the two pups had put the Dowlings into the horse trailer and were standing guard. Total confidence in what they were doing and had no hesitation in putting their young three-month-old lives on the line for their Dowlings. They earned their weight in gold that day and we never looked back. They had proved that the Maremma was an outstanding breed. And our journey continues.
We decided to step back and began observing them, allowing the two pups to teach us. Refraining from micromanaging was difficult at first, but we soon learned that they had a reason for everything they did. These girls taught us so much. How to be able and willing partners, to have patience and self-awareness, the power of thought, and how to be present in the moment. The importance of body language and facial expression, personal awareness and reactions, the difference between corrective and positive training, the difference between discipline and redirection, proper communication, respect, boundaries, relationships, love, appreciation … and so much more.
We did not have much of a setup at first. We created a makeshift pen outside the dining room window so I could keep a close eye on them and be able to quickly redirect any unwanted behavior. We used a horse trailer for their shelter. One day we were out putting up a fence along the property line and a coyote came in the yard. He was right by the pen that the goats and pups were in. My son ran to the house for the gun and his dog chased off the coyote. While this was happening, the two pups had put the Dowlings into the horse trailer and were standing guard. Total confidence in what they were doing and had no hesitation in putting their young three-month-old lives on the line for their Dowlings. They earned their weight in gold that day and we never looked back. They had proved that the Maremma was an outstanding breed. And our journey continues.
Sheena Maria Chevalier with some of her goats
Sheena Maria Chevalier with some of her goats