Collection: Personalised Maremma Sheepdog Gifts

An Italian breed and a working dog, the Maremma Sheepdog develops a loyal and trusting bond with their human companions based on centuries of animal guardianship. They are less highly-strung than some former working breeds and adapt well to family life.

The Maremma Sheepdog can be reserved with strangers and is protective over their owners and the family group, a nod to their livestock guarding past. They first arrived in the UK in 1872 and are still a pretty rare sight today despite the popularity they enjoy in their native Italy.

The Maremma Sheepdog originated in Italy centuries - the breed was mentioned by the Roman writer, Varo, in 100BC - ago but its actual foundation before that has been lost in the mists of time. Some people believe that this dog is the descendants of the white sheepdogs of the ancient Magyars whereas others support the theory that there were in fact two breeds, the Maremmano and the Abruzzese which only became amalgamated into one breed as late as mid last century.

Despite their size and striking appearance, these large dogs are gentle and friendly and reserve their working traits for livestock herding. They make excellent family pets and are both tolerant of and protective towards children.

The Maremma Sheepdog is independently minded and is better in a home with experienced dog owners not least because of their size. Their protective nature makes them natural guard dogs and their desire to work can be harnessed to produce a very well-trained companion indeed.