Keeping Maremma's Safe and Sheltered Outdoors As they Are Working

We get many questions about how to keep Maremma Sheepdogs safe and sheltered while they are outdoors. Here are a few recommendations regarding this:

• It is best to have 2-3 Maremmas. One Maremma is not able to ward off a pack of wolves trying to attack your livestock.

• Provide a comfortable, weather protected space (barn, dog house, garden shed, sheep shelter, livestock igloo, etc.)

• Dog houses should be kept off the ground a few inches

• The front of the shelter should be facing away from the wind

  • Older and younger dogs need more protection from the cold

  • Trees in the fenced area help to provide shade if you do not have shade areas you will need to provide man-made shade areas

  • Adding wind blocks with hay or something like it is helpful

  • Having several different shelter options for different weather conditions is best

  • Shade Sails from Amazon or Costco can be helpful

  • A dog kennel with a canvas roof

• Give your Maremma sheepdog proper nutrition and care (as we know...it is difficult to do a job well when we do not feel well)

• Provide proper and secure fencing for your Maremma

  • Keep all fencing repaired

• Regular grooming (brushing, checking for ticks, occasional bath)

• Make sure your Maremmas have access to clean water

  • Mosquitoes and other insects like to lay their eggs in the water, so, to keep your animals healthy and avoid vet bills, keep the water clean.

• Provide a swimming pool or water trough in the hot summer months

  • Automatic waterers or misters can also be helpful

  • Electrolyte popsicles (freeze blocks of ice with electrolytes or coconut water)

  • Make homemade ice packs out of milk jugs and put them in the pool or trough

  • Fans can be helpful, depending on your setup

  • Cold Cellars are often great places to shelter from heat

• Grooming and de-tangling your Maremma daily or weekly helps the air circulation in their fur, which helps prevent over-heating as well as mites and other insects laying their eggs in their fur, which will cause disease.

• Work on boundary training your livestock guardian dog

  • Keep your Maremma in a 10x10 kennel in the area where they will be working so they can get used to their new home and the area in which they will be protecting. When you are taking care of your farm and/or livestock bring them out on a long leash or line, so they can begin seeing the area they will be working in.

  • Step 1: Keep her on a long lead line or leash (30 ft. ish)

    • Zip line runners also work well for this

    • It is a good idea to do some leash training just in case she ever gets out or you need to move her somewhere

    • Teach her, her name, so she can come to you when called

    • Show her the boundaries in which she will be working

  • Step 2: Once you can trust her, she can be off the line while you are out doing the livestock, where you can still supervise her.

    • Correct her if you see her chasing any animals that she is supposed to correct, etc.

  • Step 3: Allow her to spend more time with the livestock without needing to be supervised the entire time.

    • Correct any temperaments which are not acceptable with a firm, "leave it"

  • Step 4: Full time work with the livestock

• Remove any poisonous plants that might be consumed accidentally

• Keep a first aid kit on hand for your livestock. We recommend Doc Jone's first aid kit: https://homegrownherbalist.net/search-results/?q=dog

• Here are some resources that also might be helpful:

  • https://sanangelo.tamu.edu/research/lgd/

    
    

    Do you have things that have worked for you? Please contact us so we can share them with others. We love learning new techniques.