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Maremmas

Maremmas are the perfect guardian dog. They live in the paddock with the alpacas as part of the herd.
They will also guard goats, sheep, cattle and poultry.

BUT maremma dogs are not for everyone.
They sleep most of the day and are active at night

If you live on a small property then you should consider guarding your livestock with wethered alpacas.
But if you live on a large property read on…

We breed Maremmas specifically for Alpaca guardians. They do not make good pets.
We will not release a maremma to pet owners. Maremmas can get morose and miserable when they do not have animals to herd & guard.
If you are interested in having the best guardian dog for your alpacas please contact us.

Things you should know about Maremmas
• A good guardian Maremma will bark all night, but only if there is anything out there that they think may harm the alpacas
• Maremmas never bark at nothing! ... so don't tell it to stop.
• Just like your Alpacas, a Maremma needs a place to shelter from a really bad storm and they need clean water.
Our maremmas only ask to come inside during the worst storms, and then they are out into the paddocks to be with their alpacas
• Maremmas will protect your Alpacas from a dingo or dog, but they are not indestructible and a group of wild dogs will defeat a single Maremma
• Maremmas love chasing bunnies and foxes, & will snack on one rather than have dinner, then munch their dinner later in the day
• Their thick coat requires regular brushing

Maremmas originally come from the mountains in Italy and were bred to guard sheep & goats

What you should look for in an Alpaca Guardian Maremma
The same rules apply if you are buying an adult or puppy. It should
• have been born in the paddock with alpacas
• be playful and have an open, happy expression on its face
• be happy to spend a little bit of time with you
• not growl or show any aggression towards people
• show no fear if you are carrying a stick or implement

Maremma behaviour is different from any other dog you have ever met:
They generally
• will not come when called
• do not sit, stay, drop, play on command
• do not like being told what to do
• really don't react well to being told off
• respond well to praise - there is nothing a Maremma likes more than to be told it is a good boy or girl
• expect a cuddle but only when they want it
• generally do not respond to food bribes

At Surilox we have found that the best diet for a Maremma is low fat Bonnie dog biscuits and a few raw lamb or beef bones. They are fed in the evening, when the Alpacas are fed. They won't always eat while you are in the paddock with them, and they will protect their bowl.
When you do get your Maremma settle him or her in to a pen that is located in the paddock with the part of the herd that you want it to bond to. Give it a feed, plenty of water, then leave it.
The puppy will look cute & like a little polar bear BUT Don't be tempted to bring the puppy inside. It is bonded to Alpacas and is perfectly happy to be with your Alpacas, it already thinks of them as family. It won't be lonely.
You should keep the Maremma in this pen at least for two or three days, and ignore any alarm calling from your alpacas. Your Alpacas are just getting acclimatised to having a dog with them.
It also helps to clip a lead onto your puppy’s collar & take them on a walk around your property a couple of times soon after arrival. You need to get them to understand the limit of their range.
When you do introduce a Maremma to your farm you should consider your Maremma as a guardian partner, not a dog.
Even though they look like a dog, they do not behave like one. To successfully keep Maremmas you need to think of them as your thinking partner in the paddock

 Maremma Puppies