Training Maremma Sheepdogs

There is a lot of information out there about Maremma Sheepdogs and there is a lot of information about the best training methods. Here are a few things that we have found helpful.

 

We love this book. It is a 50 day step by step training program for Maremma's. Our Maremma's have responded very well to this training program. We recommend beginning this training program after 16 weeks of age. Our puppies go to their new home at 10 weeks, so, between 10 weeks and 16 weeks, you might be wondering what you should be doing. We recommend having them get used to their new home and their new environment. Each person and dog will be different, depending on the job that they will be doing. Some of you reading this will be purchasing a Maremma for guarding your livestock and others might be purchasing one for guarding your family.

 

At 10 weeks old, puppies aim to please. You will have received a packet from us on what Puppy Culture techniques to be continuing between 10-12 weeks. You will continue many of the things that we have been working on with your puppy, which is, introducing him/her to lots of new things. Your puppy has been strategically and very purposefully handled by using a specific sequence of experiences from birth. Often it takes a puppy being introduced to something one or two times as a puppy and it will be imprinted in their mind for life. The more positive experiences that are imprinted in your puppy before the 12 week window, the more well-rounded he/she will be. If you want your Maremma to be able to ride in the car well or in a trailer, make sure to give him/her those experiences during this time. If you need to be able to move your Maremma from one pasture to another, this is a great time to introduce your new puppy to his/her new areas in which he/she will be.

 

If you continue what we have only just begun with your puppy, he/she will be set for life and should make an amazing dog for you.

 

A method that works great for Maremmas if you plan to have them working around chickens, sheep, goats, or other animals, is to have a 10 x 10 kennel for them that you put inside your existing fencing where they will eventually guard. Let them get used to the ducks, chickens, or other livestock from within that fenced area. This way they are getting used to the noises of the animals as well as learning what their job is eventually going to be. They can smell the animals, they can see where their boundaries and area is...they can go nose to nose with the livestock, but they cannot nip at them, be overly playful, or hurt them.

 

Placing a cable, line, or runner in the area in which your puppy will be living is also helpful if you do not have a 10 x 10 cage, but you have trees. This way, the puppy can still begin getting used to the area, while also being restrained an unable to chase or attack (even in a playful way) the livestock in which they are guarding.

 

If you have an older LGD that will tolerate some play, but not all and is not going to cause any physical harm to a puppy, this can be a very consistent and effective way of training as well. This way, they help you do some of the training. As long as your older LGD is a good example of what you want them to do, this works well.

 

When you are doing your daily chores with your animals, that is a great time to pull them out as well and work on training. We recommend training them in the actual area in which they will be working. That way they continue to get to know their area even better.

 

We have found that when you feed your puppy from your hand (for the most part), rather than from a bowl, you are teaching your Maremma to trust you. You are forming a relationship with your puppy and will be bonded for life. Even if you want them guarding your livestock, it is helpful that they also obey your commands and you form a relationship with them. Different people have different opinions on this, so do what works best for you...we are just sharing what has worked for us in our situation.

 

You will want to feed your Maremma puppy away from the other livestock. All livestock guardian dogs can get protective over their food.

 

If you plan on crate training, we have found that by making the crate a positive experience, rather than a negative one...this helps a lot with crate training. Crate training is helpful, that way if you have to take them to the vet or put them in a crate for any reason, they will adapt well to this. We will begin this training for you, but you will need to get them used to your area and the smells/sounds of your crate. If you give your Maremma Sheepdog a delicious raw bone only when they are in their crate, this will help create happy emotions with being in the crate...rather than making them feel trapped. Start off with shorter amounts of time and increase it. You will want to pull your puppy out of the crate before they are unhappy. When you take the bone back from them, when they come out of the crate, hand them another treat....you are doing a trade. And then they can come out. This is very helpful if you ever need to keep them in a crate for any reason.

 

Leash training actually begins without a leash. We do not recommend putting a leash on your puppy until about 12-16 weeks. First work on trust. A puppy wants to please you. Make sure you have high protein treats and reward your puppy often for giving you good eye contact and staying right with you. Once they have this down, you can introduce the leash. You do not want to pull the puppy around by the leash. It is best to think of a leash as a last resort to protect your puppy from getting into harms way. Before you introduce the leash, your puppy should be pretty good with staying with you. You do not want to yank your puppy around. When your puppy begins pulling on the leash, use the "puppy, puppy, puppy" recall that is discussed in your puppy packet. Reward your puppy when he/she continues to stay with you.

 

If your puppy begins to run after the livestock that he/she is supposed to protect while you have him/her on the leash, say sternly, "leave it". Be sure to reward your puppy with a delicious meaty treat when he/she obeys and looks you in the eye. This also will have been practiced before the puppy goes home with you, but you will need to continue teaching these methods if your Maremma Sheepdog will be guarding your animals. We have found this method to be very effective.

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We will start beginning training with a clicker as well. Using a clicker is also a very helpful way of training. They will learn that when they listen and obey the clicker, they receive a reward. 

 

This is another book that we have found helpful. It is for all livestock guardian dogs, not specifically the Maremma Sheepdog, but, parts of it are very helpful nonetheless.

 

Remember, puppies aim to please, so the key is to teach them when they are young what you want them to do. Just like with a child....consistency is the key in training. If you do this, you will have a very loyal and devoted livestock guardian dog that will be a blessing for years to come.

 

Every Maremma Sheepdog is different. They are all unique and have different personalities. No dog is perfect, just like no human is perfect. But, with consistent and loving training, your puppy should grow up to be a dependable and loving pet/guardian for you, your family, and your animals.

 

You will not want to leave your Maremma with livestock until you know that you can trust them completely. Usually that is between 1-2 years of age.

 

As always, please let us know if you have any questions, we are always here to help if we can :)