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About the Abruzzes and Maremma Shepherd Dog

Origin: Italy
FCI status
Recognised by FCI
FCI group
Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Origin
Italy
Also called
Perro de Pastor de Los Abruzos y de la Maremma
Known hereditary risks
Not researched yet

About

What the breed standard says

Bred for
Shepherd dog used mainly for the protection of flocks and guarding of properties
Behaviour and temperament
The principal function as a guard and defence dog of flocks and property in general, asserts the manner in accomplishing these tasks, with perception and also with devotions to his master and all his entourage

Quoted from FCI standard n°201. It describes the breed the registry recognises, not any individual animal.

Characteristics

Size
Exercise needs
Easy to train
Amount of shedding
3 of 5
Grooming needs
4 of 5
Good with children
Cost to keep
Tolerates being alone
Intelligence
Health of breed
Not researched yet

Pros & cons

Pros & cons for the Abruzzes and Maremma Shepherd Dog

What you get with the Abruzzes and Maremma Shepherd Dog

  • Purpose stated in the standard: “Shepherd dog used mainly for the protection of flocks and guarding of properties”
  • The standard describes the breed as: “The principal function as a guard and defence dog of flocks and property in general, asserts the manner in…”

What you are taking on

  • High grooming needs — the standard’s own description is “The hair forms an important collar around the neck and fringes of limited length on the…”

Drawn from sources rather than written as an opinion — cited health research, the registry’s own standard, and peer-reviewed longevity. FCI breed standard. One breeder’s animals can differ from any of it, and an empty column means we hold nothing for that side rather than that there is nothing to say.

Characteristics

FCI standard · Abruzzes and Maremma Shepherd Dog

Coat and colour

As the FCI standard sets it out. Every line below is the standard’s own wording, tagged permissible.

Coat

Very well furnished.

Hair long, rather harsh to the touch, close to straight horsehair.

Flat lying on the body, slight wave is tolerated.

The hair forms an important collar around the neck and fringes of limited length on the edge of the hindquarters.

But the hair is short on the muzzle, on the skull, the ears and front of the limbs.

On the body the length of the hair reaches 8 cm.

The undercoat is only abundant in the winter

Colour

  • Preferred
  • Permissible
  • Undesirable
  • Disqualifying

Preferred, permissible, undesirable and disqualifying are FCI’s own words about the breed. They describe what the standard asks for — not an assessment of any individual dog, and not ours.

Base colour

Solid white

  • Permissible: Shades of ivory, pale orange or lemon but only in certain limits

Shortened from FCI standard n°201 — each label is the standard’s own wording with the verdict lifted into the tag beside it. Read the full clause at source.

What the standard penalises

What a judge marks the Abruzzes and Maremma Shepherd Dog down for, and what puts one out of the ring, in the registry’s own words. This describes the breed standard — it is not a checklist for the animal in front of you, and a pet with a disqualifying fault is an unshowable dog rather than an unhealthy one.

Severe faults

Marked heavily against a specimen in the ring.

  • Convergent cranio-facial axes.
  • Tail rolled over the back.
  • Constant pacing.
  • Size over or under the standard limits

Disqualifying faults

Puts an animal out of the ring altogether.

  • Nose completely non-pigmented.
  • Muzzle definitely convex or concave.
  • Eyelids moderate or bilateral non-pigmented. Wall eye. Cross- eyed.
  • Undershot mouth.
  • Tailless or short tail, whether congenital or docked.
  • Curly coat.
  • Colour that is a solid isabella or ivory or have well defined patches of isabella or ivory colour. Black shadings

FCI standard n°201

Breed-level information from The Dog API. It describes the Abruzzes and Maremma Shepherd Dog in general; any individual animal can differ.

Health guide

What to ask for in a Abruzzes and Maremma Shepherd Dog

No breed-specific health panel has been written up for the Abruzzes and Maremma Shepherd Dog on this platform yet. That is a gap in our records, not a clean bill of health — ask the breeder which hereditary conditions their lines are tested for, and ask to see the results for both parents, dated and from a named laboratory.

Puppies

No puppies listed right now

No Abruzzes and Maremma Shepherd Dog breeder has a record on this platform yet, so there is nothing to list. That is a gap in our coverage, not a fact about the breed.

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