Any Maremma Owners?

[Birch Run Farm]

If so tell me your take on this breed. Someone is listing a 16 week old female for sale ($200), I am considering her to put out with my 8 year old female Lab who is an LGD and lives full time with my poultry.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Maremmas make great guardian dogs. I know 2 different farms with them and they are both really happy with their guarding.

Always be careful and watchful with the introduction, though. Don't just leave an inexperienced pup out with the poultry unsupervised.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

8 year old female Lab who is an LGD

Putting a dog in fence with other animals doesnt make it a REAL LGD. The LGD breeds have HUNDREDS of years of selective breeding to get the traits they have.

Maremmas are one of the best breeds of TRUE LGD's

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/maremmasheepdog.htm

http://www.lgd.org/​

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

Quote:
Putting a dog in fence with other animals doesnt make it a REAL LGD. The LGD breeds have HUNDREDS of years of selective breeding to get the traits they have.

Maremmas are one of the best breeds of TRUE LGD's

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/maremmasheepdog.htm

http://www.lgd.org/

You're right BUT, a Lab can be trained to be a LGD. I have a 8 year old male lab who gaurds my livestock everyday, and a Newf. They chase things off and have been trained on how to act around the animals.

 

[Birch Run Farm]

Quote:
Putting a dog in fence with other animals doesnt make it a REAL LGD. The LGD breeds have HUNDREDS of years of selective breeding to get the traits they have.

Maremmas are one of the best breeds of TRUE LGD's

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/maremmasheepdog.htm

http://www.lgd.org/

I spent a lot of time training my lab when she was a puppy but she seems to have an inate ability to know her job. She keeps wildlife out of the yard but she will not keep humans out. She is too friendly. Even so, I consider her a REAL LGD, she is trustyworthy to a T around all of my animals and they view her as part of the flock. The birds are so comfortable with her that hens bring chicks and ducklings around her with no problem.

Same with my cat, she 'lives' with the juvenile chickens, pheasants and turkey poults in my east yard. While I don't think the cat would keep predators away other than feral cats ( I have seen her corner ferals which I have then shot right under her nose), she will baby sit chicks and is completely trustworthy even with day-olds. They quickly take over her bed on the porch and learn to follow her around.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Most any breed can be trained to accept other animals, and most are territorial enough to deter predators.

The term "LGD" is used to distinguish certain breeds developed strictly for that purpose, and which posses the INSTINCTS to to do it with minimal training.

I once had a Bloodhound who would keep predators off the property, while not harming my chickens, but that didnt make him a true LGD .

$200 is a cheap price for a full blooded Maremma, though, and if the dog is from working stock it should turn out well.

16 weeks is past the ideal bonding age, but it may not be too late to train it to accept birds

 

[Birch Run Farm]

Unfortunately someone got the pup before I could even go and look at her. Crud! I have the worst luck. What age is best to introduce a pup? What is the average price one should expect to pay for a puppy? I prefer females.