Clyde

Oh myyyyy Cassie he is gorgeous. He looks like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth too. Congrats and wishing you many happy years together

Andrea, can you explain why you would always choose an adult? Paula, I've read of a lot of casualities with stock and Maremma pups. They apparently need time to learn and bond. Chickens and ducks often accidentally get killed by pups.

Yep. Look around for a second hand Simpson stand dryer.

This just took a nose dive with the same old same old, small vs big dog debate. *yawn*

Truly sorry for your loss Noisy

She fluffs herself up and puts on a performance. She's also showed a few lucky blokes her front pearly whites. She's a sound dog and loved men at her foster carers, just here, she's decided to really flex her muscle. If people are nervous her performance is emmy worthy, if they're calm then she picks or chooses. She is fine with people on my side of the fence, but on hers - no way. She belonged to an older rural couple who moved in to town and surrendered her to the pound (10yrs old). She was quite head shy at first. She slinks away if I rouse on the goats. Another DOL'er has seen how receptive and affectionate she is to people if she's off her turf, I then put her back in her paddock and she spun around at the fence immediately forgetting her friendliness from two seconds earlier. My mother walked right in the first time she met Snowy and Snowy accepted her straight away, I think that most people get nervous and then they've lost their chance. I've had Snowy with me elsewhere on the property and people have come and she is fine, she actually really likes people (women) and will get a pat from anybody - she paws at them and nudges against their hand forcing them to pat her. She's just slightly OTT about her paddock. eta: I should add that I'm not complaining, she's perfect for us and I don't know how we will find one who suits us so well. I worry about that already as she is getting on a bit but I feel as though she is irreplaceable in terms of how fab she has been for me being new to LGD's. Initially, I had though I would just leave the chook pen open and the houseminder could throw food over the fence for the stock and dog but Snowy's been asleep on the job a bit lately and I've heard of foxes hunting in pairs - one distracts the dog while the other goes for the chooks.

I am struggling with this at the moment. Snowy will only let children in her paddock, some select women and no men. I am feeling a bit stuck about going away for a weekend.

It's not quite that easy. You simply need to separate them for the first 24-48 hours, same with Permoxin until it binds. I know plenty of dog/cat households who use it with no problems. I used it for years without issue until I stupidly applied Advantix to one of my cats as a top spot.

In my one and only experience of the Maremma I would agree with you myValkrie. Another dog could chase chooks around my garden and if Snowy is in the garden, out of her paddock, she ignores it. But if it's in her paddock, well, it just wouldn't happen to start with. She's running herself ragged this morning. There are men digging a trench down the neighbours drive which runs the length of her paddock. She'll neeed a stiff drink by the time I get home this avo.:D I can't lock her up as the men might not be there all day then the chooks are left open to a fox.

What a horrible accident Wendy, you poor thing. I am sorry for your loss

You need to exercise caution with any pesticide/flea prevention - unfortunately though, these are the products necessary to get rid of a flea problem. I, thankfully, haven't had a problem with Permoxin (or Advantix) and have used it for many years on my own dogs and in my salon. I'm sure some people have though.

I bet you feel safer knowing she is there. I have no doubt that id someone rushed at me in a threatening manner they would be pinned in a heartbeat. I would be guessing at why they wag their tail but its my experience when they are "on" the tail is the last thing you would be looking at True, I love having her. I have to admit I was very surprised when I first saw her protecting. For the week prior I even fleetingly second guessed her potential (sorry Andrea ) as she's such a gentle, affectionate dog. Boy she knows how to turn it up when she wants to. I can't imagine we will ever be without one now. Lilli, could you elaborate on that more?

Might seem like a stupid question, but I've always wondered why Snowy wags her tail when she's telling someone to back off. Her tail always seems really friendly - wagging in a happy position from side to side - it fools people in to thinking she likes them and so they walk over to the fence then she really puts her bitch pants on. (I've seen non happy wagging from other dogs so know that there are differences, but this is all over happy IYKWIM). Once she's wearing her bitch pants I haven't a hope in hell of telling her to back off so I always ask the visitor to back away and then she will stop. I've also heard that Maremma can often not like men (a breed trait) - would you agree? It seems odd to me but I've read it a few places online.

I don't show but I'm going to answer anyway, and that is No. I don't believe that the average member of public realises how serious showies are about their dogs and could let their dogs get in other dogs faces etc. I think if it got too common it would be a free for all. Behaviour, disease etc etc. I think the odd instance of puppy buyers bringing their pups along when the breeder is in town but that's about it IMO.

Agree with all the above.

They bark a lot!! I'm on another forum and suburban people are often complaining about how much their Maremma is barking. I don't think they even realised that that's what they do. I'd be curious how they go in suburbia too Steve?. There is now way I could have Snowy in town, she is a very dedicated protector and barks loads.

Well said.

But you didn't bring all your animals. You left behind your sheep, chooks and goats. I really don't see the big deal in rehoming pets provided they are the kind of pet to cope. Peoples circumstances change and who are any of us to judge. I can say with absolute certainty that one of my dogs would not cope with the flight or quarantine and she is not sick.

She is soooo cute!:D

When you see them on TV as working dogs they have enormous dreadlocks on them which I think just blow out when they have a coat drop. Lots of online sources say not to groom them. It really sounds like an awful life to be honest but I know with just my one (and first) Maremma she wants to live in the paddock. I had to lock Snowy up in the runs today as I had a lot of visitors when I let her out this avo she ran straight back to her paddock gate and sat there waiting for me to let her in. She immediately walked the boundary fence barking and peeing, announcing to any would be predators that she's back! I could watch her all day, she is fascinating. You think you know dogs and then you get a Maremma....

Call Andrea from Maremma Rescue. She will answer all your questions and is a huge help. We would be lost without our gorgeous girl Snowy who we got from Andrea.

Gee whoever had her mustn't have cared for her that much if they're happy to let her go. Good on you for persisting

Women fight like cats. They were probably biting each other.

I met someone the other day who has two BC litter mates. They really regret their decision as the dogs are so bonded, the family barely gets a look in. They've started taking them to training individually and the dogs just fall apart without the other. Sounds like you're going to go for it EVO - so best of luck and be share to come back and post pictures - I bet they'll be gorgeous puppies

He's just a cute little puppy . Probably thought it was a wrestling game and decided to sink his little milk teeth in. Where do these sort of people come from?