Mountain Mist Maremmas

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Mountain Mist Maremmas

Breeders of Maremma livestock guardian dogs in Manitoba, Canada. We follow the ethical breeding practices as outlined by the Maremma Sheepdog Club of America.

We will be retiring our breeding program in 2025. Our Sky and Sumo litter will be our last.

16/07/2025

Ivan’s been learning something new!

As we transition out of breeding Maremmas, some of our dogs have already or will be moving on to new homes. The oldest dogs will continue on with their current jobs.

Mr. Ivan has been requested to stay on but switch over to a pony guardian if possible. This is only his second visit with the these two new creatures. The first day we failed to realize how much the ponies would want to investigate the new dog in their midst and caused Ivan some accidental anxiety until we were able to seperate through a fence and watch one of the ponies and the bigger horses in the next pen from a safe distance. By the end he was wandering the yard while avoiding the free ranging donkey.

For this second visit a few days later we chose the calmest of the ponies to join us on a lead which he was eventually allowed to drag while wandering freely. Right now we’re concentrating on positive experiences, encouraging Ivan (and the pony, he had a person too) to make space when he feels overwhelmed by moving away or seeking help from a human. As the human I get to show Ivan I’ve got his back by stepping between him and the other critters when they are following him too closely. We want the dog to trust he is safe even if a little outside his comfort zone. Even when startled in the video Ivan still feels confident enough in the situation to accept a treat. Ivan often chose to approach the pony or donkey from the oppsite side of a human, using them like a shield while he crept closer to investigate. We’ve got one person per animal on lead in case one or both needs a break or a reminder of manners.

The donkey was a free agent.

This farm does have a free range guardian dog so all the ponies, horses, and donkey are used to white dogs. But they still seem to realize Ivan is new.

13/07/2025

We’ve received email copies of the 2025 litter MSCA registration. Everyone who already has their pup should have received a copy through the email given to us. If you have not received it let us know.

Video for cuteness. We had a 34 degree Celsius day last week. All the animals were very firmly camped in the shade. Staying cool is a life skill puppies need to learn! Seems like Gabe has a good handle on it.

12/07/2025

“Little” Gabe is up to almost three hours unsupervised in the chicken run several days a week. On the hotter days all that exposed dirt in the shade is a lovely napping spot.

08/07/2025

Gabe went for his last round of puppy shots today. The vet was very confused when his staff told him his 16 week puppy visitor (as yet unseen) was 28kg! He even had his staff double check the weight was correct. And then he came around the corner and realized it was one of ours and everything made sense.

Gabe was a little overwhelmed by the number of people who wanted to pet the big fluffy puppy but luckily he had his human advocate handy to let people know to go slow and not rush straight for those pats on the head (they block the dogs vision and can be a little alarming coming from a stranger!) and he settled down for some cuddles. Gabe is looking to follow in his papa Sumo’s footsteps in size and beautiful temperament.

On that note, we’ve learned Sumo’s breeder is having to make some sudden downsizing decisions as sometimes happens with life. They have a breeding age pair of registered Maremmas looking for new placement. Currently located east/central Canada. Give Blaine a call if this is something you’re looking for and he can get you in touch. 204-734-9147.

05/07/2025

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27/06/2025

Gabe was nervous to be close to the fence with the tractor and tiller at first but eventually came up and sat with Enzo to watch several passes. I guess that got boring since he tried to chew on a tree after that. Blaine was careful to go slow anytime he was near the dogs to not startle them.

Dana is out of province this week so there may not be any updates for a few days!

22/06/2025

I keep trying to catch good videos of Gabe with the adult chickens, or even the goats and sheep, but he’s “good” 99% of the time which makes for very boring and repetitive videos. And during the other 1% of the time my focus is on appropriate and timely feedback for whatever he’s up to, and videoing is ignored in favor of that.

Gabe and his siblings are now four months old. Everyone is due for their 16 week shots soon. Reminder that:

-It is NORMAL puppy behaviour that around this age your previously “solid” pup experiments with a few behaviours that they think might be fun now that they are bigger and faster. This includes attempting to play with and/or chase livestock. Puppiess play. Chasing is fun. All dogs play and chase things. Low prey drive does not mean your dog will never play or chase. It means we have a better chance of shaping that behaviour so they only chase things that do not belong in their space, such as predators, but they tolerate all the things that normally are in their space. One reason most guardian dogs don’t seem to chase as much is because they are stuck in a fence. Interupting unwanteded behaviour the moment it starts is really irritating for your pup. If you interrupt them every time they almost start something, they are going to give up on it and just go do anything else.

-It is NORMAL to go back and forth on how much supervision your pup needs as they age. I’m convinced they can only remember three things at once, and it will be the three things most frequently reinforced. If your pup has been “good” that means they have not needed the reinforcement of certain behaviour much or at all recently. As their brain grows they drop the unused connections and concepts they had learned if they are not routinely reminded, and will need a refresher to rebuild that wanted behaviour. If you are consistent and present, they will pick up on that reminder quicker each time. If you are at a point where you cannot trust your pup unsupervised with livestock right now, even though you could yesterday, it is okay and encouraged to seperate them out for a few days and do only supervised time in the pen. It is better to take a few calm days to rebuild a wanted habit than to let a dog build an unwanted or harmful habit that you may not be able to get rid if later.

-It is NORMAL for a puppy to explore the world with their mouth just like a toddler does. They are teething until almost 8 months old. They will try to gum or chew everything at least once. Everything that’s not nailed down will be moved. The things that are nailed down might still be chewed on. Your puppy only has access to things you gave them access to. If you choose to let your puppy outside of fences, that is your choice, free for all for the pup with what they find. If you keep your pup in a fenced area, they only have access to the things you put in there. They do not have opposable thumbs. They cannot leave. If you don’t want your pup to chew on something you need to remove, secure it, or spend the time to teach them not to put their mouth on it.

These puppies are going to get really big really fast these next few months, but they are still puppies. Making sure they are eating enough throughout the day to offset this growth will help a lot with some unwanted behaviours.

19/06/2025

Gabe on chicks. He’s hit that fluffy head stage of puppyhood.

16/06/2025

Anyone else have sore arms today?? Missed the photo of Chiara again (probably around 50% done but she had no patience today). 3 hours of work today.

13/06/2025

I was making this video for one of our folks having some trouble with a nippy puppy and decided I might as well post this stellar bit of videography for everyone. Im working withth Gabe who already has been learning the gentle cue for the last 2-3 weeks. Now that he is the only pup his nibbling tendencies have drastically decreased. The competition between multiple dogs to get treats often increases the chance of a pup or dog trying to grab things out of your hands.

Tips to decrease puppy biting

1) Hand feed at least one meal a day. Teaches to differentiate between what the dog wants to eat vs not want to eat. (ie, skin!) great if everyone who works with the pup can take turns at this.

Take whole handfuls of food and just let your pup eat them out of your hand. If your pup bites or nibbles at your fingers at all close the hand over the food and say “gentle” or whatever word you choose, just be consistent. As long as pup bites or nibbles keep the hand closed. If they lick or back their head away from your hand for even a moment give verbal praise and let them eat again. It’s important to be ready for those teeth and not jerk your hand away from the dog, as that can promote snapping at their disappearing food in reflex.

2) consider if there are certain ways the dog is less comfortable being touched that lead to more biting. Practice touching the dog from area of least resistance (long slow back pat) to most likely to get a snap (the head). When hand feeding meals after a day or two, withhold the food the next handful of food, tell your dog you’re going to pet or touch them (use one word for where you will touch, ex tummy or paw) and give them one gentle touch, do not move fast toward them or pull away fast, and then reward with the holds handful of food. Progression feom least likely to cause a snap to most likely is often: back, chest, tummy, feet, tail, and then head was last. Note that dogs tend to react with snaps to overhand pats but will tolerate an underhand/under chin rub way better in the learning stages. Specifically teaching your dog the words for the parts you will be touching helps pup better predict and tolerate what you are going to do.

3) Teach a gentle command for treats. Teaches them to use tongue or nose (not teeth) consciously. This is shown in the video. Missed was to add the verbal cue of “gentle” and then when first learning make it quick and easy for pup. The moment they lick or nose at your hand instead of use teeth, say “yes!” and open your hand for them. As they seem to grasp the no teeth rule gradually increase the time you make them work for the treat.

The next level of the gentle cue is to hold something at the edge of your finger tips, say gentle, and have them pick it off your fingers with the tiniest of tooth grabs or by licking.

4) Consider teaching a touch cue. I typically dont teach this to the big dogs, but I do use it regularly with house puppies. Taught as shown in the video. For my own snappy house pup the “touch test” became a litmus teat of sorts. If ever she was being very nippy but could touch the hand on cue, we would keep working on what we were doing. If she could not politely touch on cue then training or cuddle time would be over. Continuing to work with a pup that is not in the mood will just frustrate everyone!

5) Respect nap time! Puppies need a lot of sleep. If they or tired or hungry, attempting to train ks not going to go well. Watch for your pups natural awake and nap times and use that knowledge to plan your best training times.

6) Match your energy. If you are not calm, they definitely are not calm. If you are moving fast, they are moving fast. The more amped up pup is, the more likely they are to be nippy.

10/06/2025

And then there was one.

Knox went home yesterday. This morning during chores Gabe was a little extra cuddly after his first night without a sibling around. He had the big dogs sharing a fence with him and was in with them all day, but it’s still a change.

06/06/2025

Went out to check on the shedding status of the big dogs. Everyone was happy for a quick visit and a treat.

Chiara also got a visit but no photo. Thanks to some matting she is developing from her favorite warm weather hobby - laying in mud/puddles - she has been voted the dog most in need of grooming.

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+12047349147

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http://mountainmistmaremmas.com/

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