Maremma Sheepdog Puppies
We are now accepting applications for our 2024 Maremma Litters.
September 2024 Litter out of Gabe & Cass
Please fill-out our Maremma Sheepdog Puppy Questionnaire if you are interested in a Black Alder Maremma puppy.
September 2024 Litter out of Gabe & Cass
Please fill-out our Maremma Sheepdog Puppy Questionnaire if you are interested in a Black Alder Maremma puppy.
Previous Litters
Click each Litter Box link to see updates!
If you are interested in a Black Alder Ranch puppy...
First, please read our Maremma FAQ. The Maremma Sheepdog is unlike other breeds of dogs most people are familiar with owning, and is not a breed suited for everyone!
If you are still interested, please contact us by email. We ask that you fill out our Maremma Sheepdog Puppy Questionnaire so that we get a better idea of your lifestyle and what you are looking for in a Maremma Sheepdog. It is not unusual to be on our waiting list for a year or more as we have a very limited number of litters and try to have most of our future puppies with potential homes before breeding.
We are more than willing to help you to find a puppy from another reputable breeder if we will not have a puppy for you in the time that you desire.
Please read "How to Choose a Good Breeder" (click link)
Most of our puppies are placed on a spay or neuter contract. We occassionally will co-own a breeding potential puppy to select homes. All of our puppies are sold with a contract and health warranties.
First, please read our Maremma FAQ. The Maremma Sheepdog is unlike other breeds of dogs most people are familiar with owning, and is not a breed suited for everyone!
If you are still interested, please contact us by email. We ask that you fill out our Maremma Sheepdog Puppy Questionnaire so that we get a better idea of your lifestyle and what you are looking for in a Maremma Sheepdog. It is not unusual to be on our waiting list for a year or more as we have a very limited number of litters and try to have most of our future puppies with potential homes before breeding.
We are more than willing to help you to find a puppy from another reputable breeder if we will not have a puppy for you in the time that you desire.
Please read "How to Choose a Good Breeder" (click link)
Most of our puppies are placed on a spay or neuter contract. We occassionally will co-own a breeding potential puppy to select homes. All of our puppies are sold with a contract and health warranties.
Our breeding program is based on ethics and the protection of the Maremma Sheepdog breed against people who breed with no thought to ability, temperament, or health standards. While you are looking for a puppy, please beware of breeders who tell you that their dogs do not have health problems and thus do not need tested.
Health problems are present in the Maremma Sheepdog breed, that is why health clearances are done by all ethical breeders. We believe in health testing! Every Black Alder puppy that gets their health testing done earns a rebate!
Health problems are present in the Maremma Sheepdog breed, that is why health clearances are done by all ethical breeders. We believe in health testing! Every Black Alder puppy that gets their health testing done earns a rebate!
Once we have received your questionnaire and spoken with you personally via email or phone, and you have been accepted to our waiting list, we will maintain contact with you to provide updates on our breeding status. We track a lot of data on our puppies from the minute they are born and take frequent pictures to share with their future owners.
We believe in and uphold a breeding Code of Ethics, which states that all breeding dogs must be OFA/PennHip certified.
PUPPY CULTURE by Jane Messineo Lindquist
Puppy Culture is a socialization and training program specifically developed for puppies from birth through the end of their critical socialization period, with age appropriate protocols and lessons.
Puppy Culture is based on the premise that the puppy always leads the learning, and puppies learn best by appropriate experiences at the appropriate time.
Puppy Culture is a socialization and training program specifically developed for puppies from birth through the end of their critical socialization period, with age appropriate protocols and lessons.
Puppy Culture is based on the premise that the puppy always leads the learning, and puppies learn best by appropriate experiences at the appropriate time.
Puppy Culture is a "positive," reinforcement-based program and we do not use corrections or outmoded dominance theory, but that is really all a by product of observing the puppy and serving him the learning experience he is asking for.
The puppies are temperament tested (Puppy Aptitude Test - PAT) at 7 weeks and graded for conformation and structure at 8 weeks of age. Placement selection is done between 9 and 12 weeks of age.
We do our best to select the best possible home for our puppies based on each puppy's instinct, abilities, and conformation, and the desires of the prospective owner. We have the best interest of the puppy in mind when placing them in homes and want to ensure a good fit for both the puppy and the new owner.
The puppies are temperament tested (Puppy Aptitude Test - PAT) at 7 weeks and graded for conformation and structure at 8 weeks of age. Placement selection is done between 9 and 12 weeks of age.
We do our best to select the best possible home for our puppies based on each puppy's instinct, abilities, and conformation, and the desires of the prospective owner. We have the best interest of the puppy in mind when placing them in homes and want to ensure a good fit for both the puppy and the new owner.
Whether you decide to get a Maremma Sheepdog puppy from Black Alder Ranch or someone else, we would be happy to take the time to educate you about the breed so that you may make an informed decision when choosing your puppy.
Our personal breeding principles and goals
We take the act of creation very seriously: both parents must have passed their health testing, be of proper temperament, excellent conformation and have intrinsic guarding instinct. Our dogs and their breeding partners must receive their OFA/PennHIP certification which tests for Canine Hip Dysplasia. We also test dogs for elbow dysplasia and inherited eye diseases.
We take the act of creation very seriously: both parents must have passed their health testing, be of proper temperament, excellent conformation and have intrinsic guarding instinct. Our dogs and their breeding partners must receive their OFA/PennHIP certification which tests for Canine Hip Dysplasia. We also test dogs for elbow dysplasia and inherited eye diseases.
Depending on the weather, we whelp our puppies in the house or in the goat shed. They and their dam are with the goats full-time by the time the pups are 3-4 weeks old, in a safe enclosure designed and built specifically to stimulate the puppies and build their self-confidence; and where they will have access to the goat pasture and supervised interaction with our other livestock - poultry, cows, and pigs; as well as multi-daily cuddling sessions with our us and our kids! At 7 weeks we start crate training the puppies as well as teaching them basic obedience; how to walk on a leash, sit, have their nails trimmed and be groomed. From the very beginning we focus on building confident, bold puppies! Starting at birth we use a variety of building block techniques geared towards improving the puppy's natural temperament, judgment and self-assuredness, which include bio-sensory stimulation, early bonding, and training, such as Early Neurological Stimulation, The Rule of 12's (adapted from the original Rule of 7's), and Puppy Culture.
We feel that the puppies need to develop this initial bond with humans to become confident, stable working partners with man. The ancient shepherds, who trusted these dogs with their livelihoods, also trusted them with their lives! You cannot develop that kind of bond unless there is mutual love, respect, and trust.
Maremma Sheepdogs guarded the flock during the transhumance - the seasonal migration of the flocks between the highlands of Abruzzo and the plain of Puglia - not as it is nowadays where flocks primarily reside in one location.
Maremma Sheepdogs guarded the flock during the transhumance - the seasonal migration of the flocks between the highlands of Abruzzo and the plain of Puglia - not as it is nowadays where flocks primarily reside in one location.
Because of this migration (traveling up to 1860 miles) the dogs would have been naturally selected for stable, confident temperaments because of the many villages and homes located along the tratturi (sheep trails). It has been mentioned by someone that when people (villagers, etc) would come to see the flocks, sometimes one of the dogs would bite them and thus have to be destroyed. I personally feel this led to automatic selection against overt (unsteady) aggressive temperaments, because the dogs who had correct, stable temperaments were more likely the ones to produce puppies, just based on the fact of a longer life-span!
We also feel it is important that you be able to handle your dog for grooming, vaccinations, etc, and that you can take your dog to the veterinarian when needed, without the dog becoming overly stressed at being on a leash, in a crate or in a car - and NOT attacking the veterinarian on sight! Which also applies to your family and visitors. For the Maremma to be able to interact with people, they need to learn social skills in the same way you would teach social skills to a puppy of any dog breed.
Between 7 and 12 weeks, the puppies start to get more individual interaction with our livestock and with us. Our puppies are up-to-date on their vaccinations, have been wormed, microchipped and vet checked. The puppies are started on a variety of livestock which will work for a future on a small farm or a large ranch, and that they have had the proper socialization and training to be good canine citizens as well.
We provide a written health guarantee with full contract, registration paperwork, 4 generation pedigree, Maremma Sheepdog breed and training information booklet, puppy starter kit and a lifetime of support. All puppies are placed on a co-ownerships until all required contractual agreements have been met, at which time full ownership will be transferred to the owner.
Between 7 and 12 weeks, the puppies start to get more individual interaction with our livestock and with us. Our puppies are up-to-date on their vaccinations, have been wormed, microchipped and vet checked. The puppies are started on a variety of livestock which will work for a future on a small farm or a large ranch, and that they have had the proper socialization and training to be good canine citizens as well.
We provide a written health guarantee with full contract, registration paperwork, 4 generation pedigree, Maremma Sheepdog breed and training information booklet, puppy starter kit and a lifetime of support. All puppies are placed on a co-ownerships until all required contractual agreements have been met, at which time full ownership will be transferred to the owner.
Our breeding objective is to maintain the natural guarding instinct of the Maremma as well as the breeds inherent good health. We emphasize excellent temperament and conformation. We believe that there is no departrature between correct conformation and working ability - they are one and the same. A dog that does not have good conformation would not be able to perform their duty as they have been doing for thousands of years. The conformational standard should reflect the working ability of the breed and we breed to that standard.
Both females and males should not be bred before reaching adulthood and receiving their health clearances. Our mission is to better the breed through selective breeding of only sound dogs that will pass innate guarding instinct, good health, stable temperament and correct conformation onto their offspring.
Our goal is to place puppies in working homes or with people who are familiar with livestock guardian dog breed's character, temperament and self-thinking attitude. The Maremma is not for everyone and you need to make sure that you understand their needs and how different they are from other breeds before getting one - which is essential to your, and your new puppy's, future happiness.
Our goal is to place puppies in working homes or with people who are familiar with livestock guardian dog breed's character, temperament and self-thinking attitude. The Maremma is not for everyone and you need to make sure that you understand their needs and how different they are from other breeds before getting one - which is essential to your, and your new puppy's, future happiness.
Puppy comes with:
Registration Papers
4 Generation Pedigree Contract with Health Guarantee Black Alder Puppy Booklet Litter Pictures Health Record Veterinary Health Certificate |
Puppy Food Starter Package
Collar/Lead Chewies Toys Puppy Blanket Microchip Lifetime Support! |
Recommended reading:
We highly recommend these booka and feel they are a great benefit to new owners to have read the books before getting their new Maremma puppy.
We highly recommend these booka and feel they are a great benefit to new owners to have read the books before getting their new Maremma puppy.
- Livestock Protection Dogs: Selection, Care and Training by Orysia Dawydiak & David Sims.
- Mine! A Guide to Resource Guarding In Dogs by Jean Donaldson
If you are interested in rescuing a Maremma Sheepdog, please contact the Maremma Sheepdog Club of America, a non-profit organization, works to help place Maremma Sheepdogs who need new homes.
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