Meet barney
Maremma Sheepdog, 3 years old
He came from hoofprints miniature haven .
My favourite thing about barney is...
He will stand by the hose pipe if he wants a drink when in garden or at the farm He stands by the hoover when you get it out as he loves being hoovered He will pretend to be asleep if it is raining to avoid going outside. He loves playing with his squeeky toys but always has to empty his toybox of all his toys but then plays with the first one he took out. He gives his paw if he wants a treat
The biggest challenge with barney is...
when we took him on at a 1yr he was very boisterous and tried to hump anyone who came into the house. He had never been let of his lead so it took time to get his trust so he could be let off the lead. He has a very sensitive stomache through being fed inappropriate diet. Having tied lots of different foods we have now found a combination that he likes and helps his digestion and skin issues
The most surprising thing about owning a Maremma Sheepdog is...
They are very independent and selectivley ignore what they are being told. They have a double coat and when they get muddy they dry off anf the dirt falls off like a repellent coat and leaves a area of dirt when they get up. They dont eat a massive amount compared to their size.
What I wish I’d known about Maremma Sheepdogs is...
They are guard breed and very vocal. They will bark if they need someone to know they are too close to their property. They like to walk round the boundary of property several times a day. They are very bonded to owner They will accept strangers if introduced properly but they never forget if someone has upset them
Did you know
Three Maremmas, Oddball, Tula and Eudy found their ideal and unique job of protecting the world’s smallest penguin - Eudyptula minor, standing just 33cm high and weighing only 1kg, often called the Fairy Penguin - from predators. The dogs lived with the colony on Middle Island just off the Australian coast during breeding season, and prevented foxes from eating eggs and killing the tiny penguins.
