At a glance the quick version
FCI (2025): males 40-52 kg, females 35-45 kg. Wikipedia: males 35-45 kg, females 30-40 kg.
Royal Kennel Club: over 10 years.
Coat and looks how to spot one
long, harsh, straight, with winter undercoat
A large, powerful and majestic guardian, slightly longer than tall. The harsh, flat-lying outer coat can reach about 8 cm on the body and forms a mane-like collar around the neck, while the hair on the face, ears and front legs stays short. A dense undercoat grows in winter.12
Personality what they are like
A dignified, level-headed guardian that thinks for itself. It is devoted to its owner and the whole household, and naturally keeps watch over the animals and property in its care.12
Daily activity how busy a day looks
A lot: more than two hours a day, ideally with a large area to patrol. It is happiest with a real guarding job.3
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Brush more than once a week to keep the harsh coat clean and tangle-free; expect heavier shedding when the undercoat moults.3
Home where they are happiest
Suits a large house with a big, securely fenced garden, preferably in the countryside; not an apartment dog.3
Food basics what goes in the bowl
A complete diet for a large, working breed, with portions matched to its activity level.1
Company who they like around
Bonds strongly with those it lives with, human or animal; puppies raised with sheep from a young age grow up treating the flock as their own.2
The story where it all began
White flock guardians were described by Roman writers such as Columella and Varro, and this breed descends from the shepherd dogs of Abruzzo and the Maremma. Seasonal movement of flocks between the two regions blended the local types, and in 1958 Italy's kennel club formally united them as one breed.12
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Since 2006 Maremmas have guarded a colony of little penguins on Middle Island in Australia.2
- 2
Working dogs traditionally wore a 'roccale', an iron collar with spikes, to shield the neck from wolves.2
- 3
Farmers in Patagonia use the breed to keep pumas away from livestock.2
- 4
The Maremmano and the Abruzzese were treated as two separate breeds until 1958.2
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 201, Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattledogs, Section 1 Sheepdogs. Definitive acceptance 13.03.1956; current standard dated 03.12.2025.4
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Recognised as the Maremma Sheepdog in the Pastoral Group.3
- ENCI (Italy)
- First registrations 1898; standard drawn up in 1924; the Maremmano and Abruzzese were unified as one breed in 1958.2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- BrushingDaily during heavy sheddingevery 3 days
- Double coats insulate against cold and heat, so shaving is not recommended
- Bathevery 10 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkevery 2 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 6every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI Standard No. 201 Cane da Pastore Maremmano-Abruzzese fci.beused for origin, size, weight, coat, colour, temperament, history
- Wikipedia: Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, recognition history, size, history, fun facts
- The Royal Kennel Club: Maremma Sheepdog royalkennelclub.comused for exercise, grooming, lifespan, home needs
- FCI nomenclature: Maremmano-Abruzzese (201) fci.beused for recognition dates
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.