Post by elnini on Mar 6, 2014 5:47:17 GMT -5
Tomorrow week we pick up a new maremma, a six month old girl called Poppy.
This is what we know about her :
"I have a special girl here , she is a pup, 6 months old, however, in her previous home (an apartment, no less) she has been fed (I think by hand) only mince since she left the breeders! As a result she has nutrition problems, and pretty sure badly bred, on top of that.... but she is a sweety and has fitted in with all our animals and is outside with our big dogs since she arrived. She was bought because she was "cute". She will never be a working dog (she is not structurally strong enough to fight off wolves!!), her structure is poor, but I would hope with proper food and good exercise she will build up and grow into her frame. I would love to place her onto acreage so that she can run and do what pups are supposed to do! Your family would be perfect. She is very friendly, very pretty and has a big gawky body to grow into."
and this more recently :
" Poppy is good around stock.. she is a bit of a goof ball, will run and bark, but is correctable so I'd say just start out with supervision. She has filled out but is still long and lanky... must be a growth spurt, and her feet are much better. She is eating her dry heartily and will now guard her food, loves her bones."
This is her at 5 months old.
She's mainly for company for Alvin as he didn't really bond with the flock, we've talked to the local trainer that has experience with maremmas and she said that as a companion to Al she should work out well, but isn't likely to bond with the sheep, as she would take his lead. That's ok with us, we only need them not to harass the animals, their presence here keeps foxes right away. So we are happy to give a home to two LGD washouts :-)
So, diet advice ? Training advice ?
This is what we know about her :
"I have a special girl here , she is a pup, 6 months old, however, in her previous home (an apartment, no less) she has been fed (I think by hand) only mince since she left the breeders! As a result she has nutrition problems, and pretty sure badly bred, on top of that.... but she is a sweety and has fitted in with all our animals and is outside with our big dogs since she arrived. She was bought because she was "cute". She will never be a working dog (she is not structurally strong enough to fight off wolves!!), her structure is poor, but I would hope with proper food and good exercise she will build up and grow into her frame. I would love to place her onto acreage so that she can run and do what pups are supposed to do! Your family would be perfect. She is very friendly, very pretty and has a big gawky body to grow into."
and this more recently :
" Poppy is good around stock.. she is a bit of a goof ball, will run and bark, but is correctable so I'd say just start out with supervision. She has filled out but is still long and lanky... must be a growth spurt, and her feet are much better. She is eating her dry heartily and will now guard her food, loves her bones."
This is her at 5 months old.
She's mainly for company for Alvin as he didn't really bond with the flock, we've talked to the local trainer that has experience with maremmas and she said that as a companion to Al she should work out well, but isn't likely to bond with the sheep, as she would take his lead. That's ok with us, we only need them not to harass the animals, their presence here keeps foxes right away. So we are happy to give a home to two LGD washouts :-)
So, diet advice ? Training advice ?