Summer in Abruzzo
Rachel Cowgill, Summer 2000 (First printed in the NMA Magazine Hadrian)
Having been introduced only recently to the Maremma, it was one of the most exciting experiences for me to spend some time in Abruzzo this summer. Janet and I are deeply grateful to Maryel Bousquet and Sergio Pazienza, and to Augustino Molinelli for their friendship and hospitality during our stay, and for giving us such wonderful opportunities to meet the 'rustic' Abruzzese working dogs on their home turf. A friend of our hosts, Sirio Di Michele, keeps a flock of sheep in the shadow of Gran Sasso and it was a great thrill to be invited to watch as his dogs brought the sheep down from pasture one evening.
As the sun was setting, a single shepherd, aided by around ten maremmas and a small posse of heelers, guided a couple of hundred sheep down the slopes to an enclosure where they would be safely corralled for the night. Inside the compound was a small shelter, which the newborn lambs shared with a litter of three-week old maremma puppies. Left to fend for themselves since the flock's departure that morning, they were noisily awaiting their mother, and the young bitch was first back to base to feed them. Sirio told us that she had only just chosen to rejoin the flock after having the litter, and that her puppies, having already bonded with the lambs, would begin to follow her to pasture when they were around three months old. There she would start to show them the ropes, teaching them how to guard. We kept a respectful distance, but once the sheep were safely home, some of the dogs ambled over to greet us, whilst others settled down for a snooze before dark, to eat their bread and scraps, or to play among themselves. After checking us out, the dogs were surprisingly friendly and relaxed, so much so that Maryel's three-year-old son Alex was happy to wander among them and play with the puppies.
We had another excellent opportunity to watch the shepherd dogs at work, and to witness their calm temperaments. Purely by chance, our visit coincided with the annual sheep fair, or Raduno, held high up on the rocky slopes of the Gran Sasso National Park. Some fifteen to twenty flocks had made their way to the show ground by foot, covering many miles in some cases, and before the judging began, we were regaled by an Abruzzi folk chorus and the local priest's blessing of the sheep. The sheep were crowded into adjacent pens, and people moved from pen to pen. There were usually a couple of maremmas in each enclosure, lying right in the middle of the sheep or to one side. Others were dozing in the shade of the trucks, or lying up on the ridge, overlooking the show ground. Only once did we see a minor spat between them, in spite of the close proximity of the flocks, and that was simply a warning, a baring of teeth; similarly, at no point did we see any aggression towards people, even those who came very near to their charges.
At the show we met Dr Sandro Allemand, the president of the Circolo Del Pastore Maremmano Abruzzese, and heard about the project encouraging local shepherds to go back to the 'old ways': working with maremmas offers protection for their sheep without threatening extinction for the dwindling local wolf population. One of the biggest problems for local shepherds, however, are the packs of wild dogs that roam the area: indeed, we saw one briefly from the car one night?around ten dogs, all different shapes and sizes, moving along the roadside in single file, and brought up at the rear by a feral maremma. Such dogs, we were told, have even been known to attack campers at night-time (an alarming discovery for us, since we'd spent the previous week under canvas!).
Wherever we went in Abruzzo, the dogs we met were working maremmas, whether guarding houses, light industrial plants, farmyards, or sheep. They were majestic, rugged dogs, with strong bone and excellent substance. Clearly the harshness of their lives on the mountains has engendered a strength and hardiness in the local dogs, which sometimes combines with elegance and refinement, as in the case of the magnificent Catone, bred by Agostino. Always, however, we were amazed at the easy-going temperament of the dogs and their tolerance of strangers. This was not just a wonderful holiday for me; it gave me some valuable insights into the maremma as a breed, its character, background, and the life for which it was bred?something which I know I learnt a great deal from, and has certainly deepened my understanding of our own dogs.
Maremmas - A tractable breed?
Janet Finlay, Summer 2000 (First printed in the NMA Magazine Hadrian)
I was amazed to read in a recent judge's critique the Maremma described as a "tractable" breed. I wonder if this judge's involvement with the
breed extends beyond the show ring at all? I would hazard a guess that she has never spent even a day caring for a Maremma if she believes this
to be an accurate description! I have heard Maremmas called many things: independent, stubborn, awkward, delightful, addictive but never "tractable".
The dictionary defines the word "easy to manage" and "pliable". Perhaps our Maremmas are particularly unruly but I have to confess these are
not terms that immediately spring to mind when I think of them!
Seriously though, such mis-descriptions are potentially dangerous to the breed, and it is perhaps a blessing on occasions like this that the
dog papers are only taken by a specialised readership and one that would hopefully make more serious enquiries before using such information to
decide which breed of dog to acquire. But what if our breed were to be presented in such a way to "Joe Public"?
This is happening elsewhere in the world: in the US and in particular, Australia, some "breeders" are producing Maremma puppies to be sold to
unsuspecting owners through pet shops as "easy care family dogs". These unfortunate Maremmas often find themselves in rescue centres a year
later when the "easy care" dog starts to guard and become "difficult". Via friends on the Internet, I know of several such rescue Maremmas
and hear of far too many for whom it was too late, who were put to sleep by owners or rescue workers as dangerous or aggressive.
And it is not just abroad. Any of you who have bred even one litter will know the sinking feeling when the phone rings and one of your puppy
owners is experiencing the start of the "terrible teens" where the dog starts to mature as a guardian. If you are lucky, with sensible advice
and patience, the family and their dog will come through this with a steady, confident companion. If you are not so lucky the dog will
come back to you, possibly too damaged to rehome. I learned this year the hard way that breeding is not just about delightful puppies,
show successes or even happy family pets. It is also about picking up the pieces when things go wrong. And with the best will in the world,
vetting of homes, sales contracts and the most careful selection of dog and bitch for temperament, go wrong they can. "Finn" was sold at
8 weeks to a young couple. They had done their homework, visited the dogs and given all the right answers. They genuinely believed
a Maremma was for them. Follow up calls suggested he was happy and settled and advice given about 12 months later seemed to be getting him
through his "teenage" stage. Then a year ago I had a call from someone I didn't know telling me that they had the dog and were having
problems with him. He had jumped up and "grabbed the arm" of a woman who had come into the house. Without my knowledge and against our puppy
sale agreement, "Finn" had been moved on. His new home, though willing and very loving, was unsuitable for a Maremma, being on the high
street of a busy town and, after six months, the new owners were conceding defeat. I took him back and, unable to keep him
at home with my own two males, placed him in an experienced home, where he began to settle. Unfortunately the resident dog would not accept
him and, for his own safety, he had to be moved again. His final home was with a couple, experienced with similar breeds. It looked hopeful
for a few months but it was not to be. Whether he had been affected by some previous experiences, had some unknown problem or had simply
moved on one time too many, he was now unpredictable and increasingly aggressive. It was the end of the road and I had the heartbreaking
task of taking him to the vet and holding him in my arms as he was put to sleep. He was not even three years old. Many of you may be
thinking - that wouldn't happen to me, I'd be more careful, I'd only choose the right homes. How would you be sure, exactly? Or perhaps
that it was the breeding that was at fault. Well maybe. But it would be hard to find two more reliable and good natured Maremmas
than his parents - and would you be certain about the temperament of every dog in your bitch's pedigree or those behind your chosen stud dog?
The bottom line is breeding is a risk. Once that puppy leaves your care you have no control over what happens to him - but you have responsibility
for him for life - even if, in tragic cases like Finn, all you can do is give him a dignified and peaceful end. Of course owners also have
responsibility for the puppy they have bought and should do all they can to resolve problems, but, ultimately, if they can't keep him, then
it is up to you as his breeder. If you are unable to take that responsibility seriously, please do not breed.
I sincerely wish someone had involved me sooner, but I find it hard to judge these first-time owners. The change from goofy,
playful young pup to teenage hoodlum can be a shock to even the more experienced owner (as I believe it can be for parents!) and with a young male
it comes with tremendous physical size and strength. It is only a phase, of course, and it is manageable. But let's recognise how many young males
there are in the experienced Maremma homes that have not made it unscathed through this stage, that can no longer be taken out or that have
been put to sleep, before we judge the inexperienced new owner.
Maremmas are not a tractable breed. They are independent and can be difficult to manage. They will guard by nature whether you want them
to or not. In a typical pet home, with regular visitors and passers by, that can lead to problems. Far from wanting this breed to become more
popular, I hope that we will work to protect it from over-popularity. Let's recognise that this is a working breed: noble, magnificent and
exceptionally competent for its job of protecting its flock. It is beautiful, loyal and rewarding as a companion in many, many ways.
But it is not the ideal pet for the vast majority of "Joe Public" who really want a dog that will "fit in" with whatever is going on, with
as little effort as possible. Good Maremma owners are a rare breed. And for those of you who may be experiencing the "terrible teens", perhaps for
the first time, and who are determined to see your dog through it, some of the "Dos and Don'ts" that I have found helpful from those
who have been there before:
Note: Since writing this article we have had experience of rage like aggression in our young Maremma which was confirmed by the vet as having a
physical origin (see Ambrose's Page). If your Maremma suddenly shows extreme and uncharacteristic
aggression, particularly if this seems to switch off as suddenly as it flairs up, and if the dog has shown no signs of challenging or
dominant behaviour, then please have your dog checked for possible physical problems such as thyroid imbalance.
There are links on Ambrose's page that detail the symptoms and the tests involved. This is NOT to suggest that every Maremma that
tries it on or misbehaves is ill - but it is worth a simple blood test if you suspect there might be a problem.