Although a large breed, Maremmas are not hyperactive and will happily spend much of their day sleeping, with one eye always on their charges, whether human or stock. However, like all dogs, Maremmas do need regular exercise to keep them healthy.
Exercising Puppies
You should also avoid the puppy going up or down stairs for the first six months at least and lift it in and out of the car for as long as you can!
If you cannot lift it as a 6 month old, consider buying a car ramp, or teach it to put its front feet on the car sill and let you lift its back feet.
All this is again to avoid stressing the puppy's joints.
It is important not to over-exercise puppies while their bones are developing as this can lead to joint problems.
With a reasonable sized garden a Maremma puppy will get all the exercise it needs playing, without formal exercise.
Trips out can therefore be for training and socialisation. As a rule of thumb
we recommend 5 minutes formal exercise (e.g. lead walking) per month of age from the age of three months (when most puppies are able to go
out in public after initial vaccinations). So that is 15 minutes at 3 months, 20 minutes at 4 months and so on. This builds up
exercise slowly without putting stress on the puppy. It should be noted this is a guide - and that the 5 minutes per month of age does not include any rest time.
So a 3 month old puppy could easily have a half hour trip out which involved a 5 minute walk to the park, some play
time or a few minutes training mixed with watching the world go by, and 5 minutes walk home, and be well within the safe limit. The key is to be sensible and not overdo it.
In the first 6 months, socialisation and new experiences are far more important than actual exercise.
Exercising adults
Exercise should be built up gradually until the dog is fully grown. Certainly before the age of 12 months the puppy should not be
doing significant exercise or long walks. After this walks can be built up and adult Maremmas can take as much exercise as you care to
give them.
Housing your Maremma
The main requirement is that the dog has somewhere warm, windproof and dry to sleep, though you may find that your Maremma
will prefer to sleep out in the snow and rain! This should of course be choice not necessity. Maremmas should not be chained
but they must be secured within adequate fencing. Remember a Maremma can jump great heights and squeeze themselves through impossibly small holes,
so check boundaries if your Maremma is going to be left unsupervised outside.
If you intend to have your Maremma as a house dog, decide on your house rules from the start and stick by them. It is a good idea to provide your dog with
its own bed - though again they may prefer to sleep elsewhere (the sofa is a popular alternative in our house!).
Remember also you will need to invest in a heavy duty vacuum cleaner!
Whether outdoor or in, Maremmas are social animals who need company. This can be from people, or other dogs or stock. Wherever your dog lives, please make sure it is not isolated for
long periods.
Maremmas can live happily outdoors or in. If they are working dogs they will obviously live with the flock or livestock
and sleep where they do, whether outdoors if safe and warm enough, or in a barn or pen. Companion Maremmas can live wherever
you want them to: outside (with a suitable dry, warm sleeping place) or indoors (with suitable access to an outdoor area).
Site design and content
by Selladore © 20052006
No text or images from this site may be reproduced in any form, except for personal individual use, without
our permission. If you wish to use any part of this site please contact us.
Last updated January 2006
