Maremma Sheepdog vs Carlin Pinscher - Breed Comparison

Known also as the Cane de Pastore Maremmano-Abruzzese, the Maremma Sheepdog is often referred to as the Maremmano or the Abruzzese Sheepdog.

This is a working dog – a guardian of sheep and an indigenous dog to central Italy. The dog has been used for centuries already to guard sheep.

It was in 1924 that the first standard for the breed was published.

There are conflicting views as to where the Carlin Pinscher hails from, with some reports saying France and others the USA. The names of some breeders suggest it could be France.

The dog hasn’t got a long history, being developed only in the early 1900s. Two breeders, Morgan and Buenafe left their Miniature Pinscher with a Pug owner for a while and on return discovered that the dogs had mated, producing puppies which looked like miniature Rottweilers.

It was in 1998 that a breeding program began and a Boxer was also brought into the mix to improve the characteristics of the dog. The dog is still being developed and isn’t recognized by the major kennel clubs.

The Maremma Sheepdog is a large dog with a muscular build. Some people who have owned these distinctive-looking dogs say he is like a big bear. He stands at 65 to 73 cm in height, both male and female, and he weighs 35 to 45 kg.

The coat is long, thick and white with a dense undercoat. If you look you’ll see flashes of pale orange or apricot amid the white. There is thicker, longer hair around the neck area.

The nose is black, the eyes brown and the ears medium length and floppy. The long tail is set low and is thickly feathered. You can expect 6 – 10 puppies from these dogs.

Temperament:

The Maremma has always been used to guarding sheep, and today even though he is looked upon as a wonderful, friendly companion dog, he also makes an excellent watch dog, being brave and courageous. He isn’t the kind of dog that you think of as getting wildly excited over something, as he has a dignified aura about him.

He is an independent dog, so training and sociaization will be absolutely imperative as he is strong-willed and likes to do things his way. Once trained and socialized, it is amazing to see such a large dog obeying all your commands such as ‘lie down, come, sit an stay'. He is very intelligent and shouldn’t have any trouble learning these basic commands.

He is calm and gets on well with children as well as other pets in the home. With his role as guardian of sheep, he has learned to be loyal and patient and will make a loyal ad loving family pet he takes his role as guardian very seriously.

He loves hard work, and shepherds have always appreciated the splendid work he does guarding their flocks. As a companion you will also appreciate the many excellent qualities he possesses.

The Maremma Sheepdog isn’t recommended for life in the city where there is a tiny garden. He has always been accustomed to large open spaces and requires a large garden. He won’t tolerate heat well with that thick coat of his and will require a shady spot in your garden to retreat to.

The Carlin Pinscher has been developed to be a social and loving companion. Started as a cross between a Miniature Pinscher and Pug, other breeds have also been brought in. He still has varied appearances, often looking like a tiny Rottweiler but also looking like anything between the Miniature Pinscher or the Pug.

This is a small sized dog standing at anything from 27- to 33 cm and weighing 5 or 6kg. The body is compact with sturdy legs coming from the Pug side. The skull is a dome shape, the ears can be erect or floppy and unless the tail is docked it can be long, curling somewhat over the back. The coat is short and smooth and comes in shades of tan, brown and black.

Temperament:

The Carlin Pinscher is small but with a strong personality, being gentle and sweet in nature. He promises to be a loyal and affectionate companion for his human family, loving to be involved in all their activities.

He is an energetic, playful little dog and also intelligent, so apart from a walk and ball games, he’ll need some toys for indoors too that can provide physical- and mental stimulation. With early training and socialization, the Carlin Pinscher is a good friend of children and he will get on well with other pets in the house too. He is a small dog so children should be supervised and taught to handle him with gentleness and kindness.

This is a beautiful dog, but large, so don’t make the mistake of wanting a large dog like this for his looks. He will be expensive to feed.

If you have the means to provide a good home for him, he is friendly and good natured, even though he is strong-willed and independent.

Provide him with a good home and you’ll have a most splendid pet and companion.

The Carlin Pinscher makes an ideal little pet and he will be content to live in a small home in the city or in the country, just so long as he is with an owner who loves and cares for him. They are balanced, easy-to-get-along-with dogs, being even-tempered, playful and outgoing.

He is active, intelligent, strong-willed, stubborn and brave. It is true that people who have kept mixed-breed dogs rave about them. Certainly mixed breed dogs have earned themselves a reputation for being superb family pets. They’re healthy, feisty, quaint and entertaining.

These days many mixed breeds are no longer pavement specials but part of careful breeding, such as with the Carlin Pinscher. He is full of personality and makes a great family pet, getting along with other animals and also being good around children.

This ancient dog breed is robust and can reach 11 to 13 years of age when cared for properly. Like any other dogs, he can be prone to certain health problems.

One of these is hip dysplasia. Preventing your dog from becoming overweight can work towards preventing these kinds of musculoskeletal issues. Hip dysplasia occurs when your dog’s hip joints don’t develop properly so that the hips partially dislocate.

It is painful for your dog and it can be debilitating, leading to arthritis too and making it difficult for your pet to get around and to get up from lying down. There are a number of treatment options offered by your vet.

The Carlin Pinscher is a feisty little dog who can live to be up to 13, 14 or 15 years of age. He is a fairly healthy breed too, but there will always be some issues that the Carlin Pinscher might be prone to. Typical dog ailments include eye problems, hip dysplasia, liver problems, skin- and dental problems.

Liver Disease:

All liver problems with a dog are serious and will need veterinary intervention. A noticeable symptom of liver disease is jaundiced yellowing of the white of the eye. You might even see a yellowing on the underside of the ear flap. Your pet will have loss of appetite, constipation as well as highly colored urine.

Exercise:

As already suggested, this large dog will need space and he will need to be exercised. Apart from long walks in he countryside or in the park or your neighborhood, he will also need other activities that stimulate him mentally and physically.

Grooming:

The thick, all-weather coat of the Maremma will need a thorough bushing at least twice a week to get rid of all those loose hairs. When you are brushing him, look around for signs of ticks and fleas too and run your hands over him to feel for any unusual lumps.

Diet:

The Maremma is a large-breed dog, so before you get a big dog like this, decide whether you have the financial means to feed him and look after him properly. He is going to cost a lot to feed, so think it through first.

He will need to be fed a high-quality commercial dog food which has been specially formulated for a dog of his size. Keep the food of dogs simple. We’re all tempted to feed our dog treats like things such as chocolates, coffee, nuts, onions, grapes and raisins but these can cause havoc with your dog’s stomach.

Stick to simple, nutritious food. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and vegetables such as potatoes, spinach and carrots can do wonders for your pet when you sometimes mix this into his kibble.

Try and mix some raw meat into his diet occasionally. Make sure he always has access to fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

With his short, smooth coat, the Carlin Pinscher is a low to moderate shedder who is easy to maintain. The short coat will simply need a brush-down twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. If he is dusty, you can wipe the coat down with a warm, damp cloth.

Diet:

Every dog, large or small needs a balanced diet that consists of proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. A well balanced diet keeps a dog healthy but also in shape. A dog requires certain ingredients in its diet, depending on age, activity levels, size and stage of life such as pregnancy or illness.

For starters, dogs need fresh, cool water at all times. If you’re confused about dry kibble or semi-moist dog food for instance, speak to your vet about what your Carlin Pinscher needs. It’s always good to give your pet variety, so mixing in some rice, vegetables and meat will be wonderful for your pet as will some raw meat from time to time.