We couldn't run our small farm without the help of our Maremma Sheepdogs and our Border Collies!
Dogs have always been a huge part of my life. I'm a professional Dog Trainer, hold a certificate in Animal Welfare and co-founded and ran a not-for-profit dog rescue called CAARE.
Maremma's are Livestock Guardian Dogs, a dogs bred to protect livestock from predators. Their ability to guard their herd is mainly instinctive, as the dog is bonded to the herd from an early age. Unlike our herding dogs (Border Collies) which control the movement of livestock, LGDs blend in with them, watching for intruders within the flock. The mere presence of a guardian dog is usually enough to ward off some predators, they confront predators by vocal intimidation, barking, and displaying aggressive behaviour.
Our Border Collies help us manage our herds/flock as we move them from pasture to pasture and within pens.