Life Span:	10-13 years, as much as 15
Litter Size:	6-9 , average 8 puppies
Group:	Herding, AKC Herding, Working, Flock Guard
Recognized By:	CKC, FCI, UKC, ANKC, NZKC
Color:	White with occasional markings in ivory, yellow or orange around the head and ears. The nose is always dark; usually black.
Hair Length:	Medium
Size:	Extra Large
Shedding:	Heavy Shed
Male Height:	25.5-29.5 inches (65-75cm)
Male Weight:	75-100 pounds (34-45kg)
Female Height:	23.5-27.5 inches (60-70cm)
Female Weight:	65 -90 pounds (30-41kg)
Living Area:	The Maremma was bred to live outdoors for months at a time in harsh mountainous conditions. They should live on farms and ranches with as much room to roam free as possible. They have an all-weather coat that once allowed them to sleep in the open. Most Maremmas will be perfectly happy sleeping outside if you decide that's how it will be, though they usually won't bother with the doghouse you so thoughtfully provided - they prefer to find their own spot to lie instead. Even rural homeowners who want to keep them as pets in large yards are not advised to do so. The Maremma is are absolutely not apartment dogs and are certain to go insane and eat the walls or something else as impressively destructive.

About this Breed

This large, fluffy, white shepherding dog is native to the mountainous regions of the Apennine Mountains in the Italian region of Abruzzo. They are somewhat smaller than many similar working dogs, but they make up for it with fierce determination and intelligence. In it's native Italy, the Maremma Sheep Dog is well known for its endurance. Males and females are both quite strong - more than capable of resisting you and a few friends if they really want to. They tend to form partnerships with humans rather than bow to being man's servant. What Maremmas lack in bulk, they also make up for in hair: great billowing mounds of it in the heat of summer. They are not very well adapted to heat. Being smart, they usually lie down in the shade near a water source and refuse to move when it's too warm. They've been bred for 2,000 to be fierce and smart guard dogs. They will not take kindly to anyone trying to tease themselves or their families, and they feel they're in the best position to make that decision, no matter what you think. The Maremma Sheepdog can be quite fierce, given that they were bred to defend against human robbers and wolves. Though not typically aggressive, they are very defensive. Though not terribly affectionate, they do get intimate with their families very much on their own terms. This usually involves leaning, pawing and nuzzling. They are fiercely loyal and this trait increases with age. This guarding instinct often means there's a constant barrage of barking to alert all potential threats that he or she is on duty and no one in your household is to be trifled with.