| Last spring we lost five newborn lambs to
a family of foxes, despite our six-strand high tensile electric fence, and
our faithful guardian dog, Marco. We also lost 12 ducks and two
chickens and we were at our wits end with the losses. Marco is
older, he turned ten this past March, and he has picked up some
arthritis in one hip. So when the weather is cold or particularly wet,
Marco is not able to stay out in the field but has to come in to the house.
Determined to put a stop to our fox troubles, we made the overdue decision this winter to
bring on a new maremma before the lambs came this spring.
After doing some research, we settled on Jackie Church of Windance Farm in Gouverneur, New York as our maremma breeder. Jackie has a wonderful reputation both as a breeder, and as an expert in maremma behavior and training. We purchased Maya, a one year old spayed female who has come to us as a trained guardian dog, and we are so very happy to have her. Calm, friendly, clearly hand raised and hand trained, Maya is all that we had hoped for and more! She also has clearly been raised with children, something that is very important to us here, with two teenaged girls at home, four grandbabies, and lots of young friends and visitors. We have been so pleased with Maya that we have resolved, when we are in need of our next maremma, that we will absolutely be going back to Jackie for another dog. Likewise, if ever asked for a reference, we will happily and without reservation, recommend Jackie as a maremma breeder and trainer. Jackie Church can be reached for inquiries about her dogs at Windancefarm@earthlink.net . |
| While we were waiting for Maya to finish
her training, we unexpectedly adopted Amos, a two-year old
neutered male maremma. So in a matter of months, we have gone
from one, old and semi-retired Maremma, to a veritable flock of guardian
dogs!
Our old man Marco, semi-retired and a love. Then came Amos. Marco first viewed him as a young whippersnapper and interloper, but then quickly realized that Amos represented a welcome respite from Marco's guard duties.
Amos, young, energetic and also a love.
And then Maya came!
Here she is as she checks out a new paddock. Amos is happy to show her around! Here she is checking out
the new dog house.
Maya decided that it was Amos' house and that she would leave well enough alone. ;-D
Maya is a big, beautiful girl and we love her!
Now we have all three dogs out on pasture with the families, to keep our new lambs safe. We worried at first about how the dogs would adjust to each other, but Marco is glad of the help, and Amos is thrilled to have a young and active dog to romp with. Here are Amos and Maya as he introduces her to the joys of the duck pond.
Now Marco has two assistants, and can spend more time dozing in the sun, as is his due as "The Old Dog". We are hoping that with three maremmas on duty, the foxes will now have to look elsewhere for their meals!
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