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Frequently asked questions

 

On this page you can find some questions, that people have asked me in recent years. 

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Is a Maremma good with children?

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Is a Maremma good with cats and/or other pets?

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How can I get a puppy to be house-trained?

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Does a Maremma bark a lot?

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Does a Maremma dig holes in the garden?

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Does a Maremma moult?

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Can a Maremma be obedient?

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How many Maremma are there in Holland?

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Can a Maremma be left on its own home?

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Does a Maremma chew on things?

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Is a Maremma playful?

 

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Is a Maremma good with children??

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In general a Maremma is good with children. That is IF your children behave! A dog (and also a Maremma) will not tolerate everything from a child. So YOU have to take care that your child behaves and does not: 

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take the food away from your dog, 

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dangle his food in front of your dog,

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want to eat from the same bowl, 

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poke his eyes, 

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pull his ears or his tail,

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pull his hair, 

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put him in a corner and insist on stroking your dog, 

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startle him when he is asleep,

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rush forward yelling,

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mistake the sound like a cat purring for a growl.

When your children have learned all that, they will become inseparable.

 

 

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Is a Maremma good with cats and/or other pets?

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Yes. But the question should rather be, whether you cat (or other pet) is good with dogs! When your cat is not used to dogs and gets furious the minute a curious puppy comes to investigate, chances are that this first encounter is a bad experience for the dog. This bad experience will then influence the future relationship between your dog and your cat(s). When at an early age experience is positive, problems will be minimum. 

 

 

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How can I get a puppy to be house-trained?

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Very likely your puppy will already be house-trained when you get him. A Maremma is by nature a very clean dog. When they can, they will go as far away as possible to relieve themselves. When a so called accident does happen NEVER ever put his nose in it.  That's old wives tales and leads to maltreatment of an animal; he just hasn't understood what is asked of him. When you've left the puppy on its own and you find something messy when you get back, don't punish the puppy. For the puppy there is no connection between what he did and his punishment, but he will connect the punishment with your homecoming. So for him it means 'when my master is coming home, be careful, because you get told off'.
Usually a puppy has to pee/relieve himself after eating and after sleeping. When he is sniffing with his nose over the floor, big chance he has to go. Put him outside as fast as possible and reward him when he indeed relieves himself. Probably the most difficult time will be in the morning, because a puppy is physically not yet capable of holding his water. Try to walk him as late as possible in the evening and put him outside in the morning as early as possible. When you are too late every time, you can try taking up the puddle with a newspaper and absorbe the smell and move the paper gradually towards the door . The paper will have a nice smell for the puppy and he will relieve himself on the paper again. In this way you will lead him to the door automatically so he get the idea where he needs to go. Furthermore patience is a great virtue; keep on going and don't get angry. The puppy isn't doing it on purpose in order to tease you.

 

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Does a Maremma bark a lot?

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Only when he sees or hears something unusual. And usually that's more often than you or your neighbours appreciate. 

 
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Does a Maremma dig holes in the garden??

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Yes, especially when the weather is hot, because a hole is nice and cool. And of course also to burry a nice bone. You best allow your dog at least one place to dig holes. When you do not want the dog to dig holes in an other location, then don't give the dog bones, or prevent the dog from digging, by paving the garden or some other protection. 

 

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Does a Maremma moult?

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A Maremma moults twice a year. Especially when the dog is outside a lot, he will get a very thick undercoat that he will shed in spring. The thicker the undercoat, the more a Maremma will moult. 

 

 

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Can a Maremma be obedient?

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A Maremma has, as all other dogs, two ears, so he can hear you very well. You do not need to shout to make yourself heard. Question is whether your Maremma really wants to hear you. A Maremma can be very stubborn and  headstrong, and when you do not make sense, he will not obey. 
A Maremma was bred for centuries to guard and protect the flock independently and to act according to his own resources. This independent behaviour results in the fact that you will have problems to make a Maremma come to you when asked. (A Maremma should stay with the herd, not follow someone or something and leave whatever he was guarding!) 'Sit' or 'down' , especially when a reward follows by some cheese or liverbait, should not be a problem. But to come when ordered, expecially when the dog thinks he has something better to do, is one of the most difficult things to teach a Maremma. You can and will only be succesful if you have a lot of patience. 

 

 
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How many Maremma are there in Holland??

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The Maremma are a rare breed in the Netherlands. Fortunately the number stays about the same: approximately about 100 dogs. In Italië there are of course many more Maremma, but the number is decreasing. See: number of puppies in Holland or number of puppies in Italy. 

 

 

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Can a Maremma be left on its own at home?

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Yes, except when you expect him to be alone for 5 days a week, 8 hours a day and you can only find the time at the weekends. A Maremma needs your attention, just as every other dog does. 

 

 

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Does a Maremma chew on things?

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Especially as a puppy, but also when growing up or at an adult age a Maremma likes to have something to chew on. He prefers the things you don't want him to chew, e.g. your new shoes, a table-leg or some piece of carpet. It often has to do with changing teeth. My advise is to give the dog something he may and can chew, such as special bones or toy ropes. 

 

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Is a Maremma playful?

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Yes. A Maremma loves to play, especially with other dogs. But to run after balls and things ceaselesly is not one of his things. 


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