* Cane da Pastore Maremmano-Abruzzese *
 

Poppea in the Majella Mountains @ Photo courtesy of Marco Petrella
 
The Maremma is a courageous, calm dog, slow to anger, but once crossed, a seriously aggresive foe.  Wartime legend holds that a captured Maremma was placed, over night in a pen with several trained military German Shepherd Dogs.  The next morning, soldiers found the holding pen strewn with the corpses of seven German Shepherds, and the Maremma sitting quietly in the pen.
 

Corso and Cleopatra  @ Photo courtesy of Marco Petrella
 
The Maremmano-Abruzzese homeland reaches from Abruzzi to the Maremma plains of Southern Tuscany.  "Improvement" of the breed was fiercely resisted by Tuscan farmers as they jealously protected the welfare of the Maremma.  The sturdier bodies and thicker coats of the Abruzzese was not enough, according to Italian canine experts, to warrant seperated breed status.
 

Poppea in the Pasture of "Femmina Morta" in the Majella montains @ Photo courtesy of Marco Petrella
 
A dense, medium-length, soft coat protects this hardy breed from the elements.  A pure white dog so that it is easily distinguished in the dark when attacking marauding wolves.    The Maremmano-Abruzzese is a capable, dependable flock guardian against wolves and bear, as well as stray dogs and thieves.
 

 
 

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