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The Maremma Sheepdog belongs to the group of sheepdogs, that over centuries has been selected to be used as livestock and sheeps working dog.
Sheepdogs can be divided into two large groups: guardian dogs such as The Maremma Sheepdog, The Caucasian Sheepdog, The Central Asian Sheepdog, Šarplaninac, etc. and working sheepdogs such as Bergamasco Shepherd, Border Collie, Belgian Shepherd, etc.
Guardian dogs protect the flock of sheeps or other animals toward predators, while the second group of dogs moves and gathter the flock supporting the sheepard.
The Guardian dogs are more autonomous and independent and can carry out their activity even in the absence of the Shepherd, while the second group have the exceptional ability to understand commands of the Shepherd and moves flock moves as requested.
The Maremma Sheepdog is part of the first group, the livestock guardians. They develop a strong bond with animals who they are supposed to protect and they are completely dedicated in this role even at the cost of his own safety. The Maremma Sheepdog is suitable for protection of any kind of animal, although its main use in the past was towards the flocks of sheep.
Today in the third millennium the Maremma Sheepdog is used not only as livestock guardian, but also in the countryside protecting all kind of animals living on the farm or as a guard dog in family homes.
In all these cases, however, the Maremma Sheepdog tends to create a strong bond with those who he is protecting, including humans, and he has a distinct social behaviour towards the group with whom he lives.
This bond is not nagging and intrusive, but discreet and quiet, often believed to be distracted or that he's resting, but he is mentally present and ready to intervene if the situation requires it.
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