Using Maremma Dogs to protect Sheep Flocks

Guardian animals are proving their worth across the Upper Hunter, helping landholders protect sheep flocks against wild dog attacks.

Ellerston Station has been using Maremma Guard Dogs with their sheep flock and goat herd for many years.

Here Robert Teague from Ellerston chats to Hunter Local Land Services Biosecurity Officer Richard Ali about the work involved in training guardian dogs, and the different control programs Ellerston is involved in when it comes to tackling wild dogs.

You can speak to the Hunter LLS Biosecurity team about pest animal management by calling 1300 795 299.

[animallover]

I have a 5 month old maremma & she is taking her cues from my 10 year old labradoodle. Shylo is playing ball, tug o war, chases, she gets on well with the cat & children she watches me like a hawk & is great on the lead. I found it difficult to find the right info on feeding her. ATM as a pup, she is fed 2 cups of dry puppy feed with 1 cup of meat & 1 cup of mixed vegetables, rice & pasta. Another thing I have found controlling her barking instinct easy.

[fasteddie]

Still baiting with 1080? What happens when a bait is picked up and dropped by a crow inside the exclusion fence. Dropped 1080 baits are the main cause of guardian and domestic dog deaths after eating a bait.

[michaelcipriani]

How many local species do you kill with the 1.2 tonne of baits you throw out?

[suzuki]

Do they go out and feed the dogs every day?

[philipgrygo]

You do need to socialize the dogs to the owners so you can care for the dogs as needed

[ianrobinson]

Maremmas are also fantastic pets for the home as well. They are smart and quite "bossy" yet I would not recommend any person to come and try to break into my house. 08/08/2121

[marnoch]

We got two Maremma pups 8mths ago and haven’t had a single wilddog attack since. However, we’ve had nothing but trouble since we added a ram to our flock. They single him out and run him down or into the dams, it’s a bloody disaster. Any advice would be welcome. We’ve had to seperate the dogs from the sheep altogether now.

[adelarsen]

LOL - Meremma dogs - Killing your neighbours sheep since 1989.