Last Updated on October 23, 2026 by Kim Crawmer, KPA CTP, LFDM
Steps to Succeed With Your Maremma
A livestock guardian dog does well when the owner is prepared. These four steps are what I recommend to every family, and the full guide goes deeper.
Step 1
Learn how dogs think and communicate. Start with the DIAL Method, Karen Pryor Academy’s Dog Trainer Foundations course, Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas, and Meet Your Dog by Kim Brophy. Busy now? Buy what you need and start when you can. Just start.
Step 2
Build a separation area before pickup. Set up a spot where dogs and stock can be kept apart on short notice, ideally sharing a fence line. You'll use this at the beginning to acclimate your new dogs to your stock, and you may need it again if you see any regression during adolescence. Separation isn’t punishment. It’s a tool you’ll be glad to have ready.
Step 3
Expect the teenage stage. Between about 6 and 18 months, a puppy who was perfect with stock may start chasing or getting rowdy. That’s not a bad dog. It’s a teenager. Regression is a normal part of adolescence for many young dogs. Expect it and plan for it. Full reliability, especially with poultry and baby stock, comes around two years.
Step 4
Learn the body language of your own livestock. Dogs signal before they act, and livestock do too. Knowing what’s normal for your sheep, goats, alpacas, or cattle helps you spot trouble early.
Read the Full Guide Below
The Plan Only Works If You Work It: Maremma Sheepdog Success
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