Abruzzes and Maremma shepherd dog

		Abruzzes and Maremma shepherd dog
		FCI standard Nº 201

Origin		Italy
Translation		Mrs. Peggy Davis Revised by Renée Sporre-Willes Official language (EN)
Group		Group 1 Sheepdogs and cattledogs except Swiss cattledogs
Section		Section 1 Sheepdogs
Working		Without working trial
Acceptance on a definitive basis by the FCI		Tuesday 13 March 1956
Publication of the official valid standard		Wednesday 3 December 2025
Last update		Tuesday 16 December 2025
En français, cette race se dit		Berger des Abruzzes et de la Maremme
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar		Abruzzen- Maremmen Schäferhund
En español, esta raza se dice		Perro de pastor de los Abruzos y de la Maremma
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd		Abruzzi en Maremma Shepherd
In his country of origin, his name is		Cane da Pastore Abruzzese-Maremmano

Usage

Shepherd dog used mainly for the protection of flocks and guarding of properties.

Brief historical summary

This ancient breed of dogs who guard flocks comes from shepherd dogs actually still used in the Abruzzes where the breeding of sheep is still thriving even in these days, and sheepdogs which existed yesteryear in the region of the Tuscan Maremma and in that of Latium. Most especially since 1860, the seasonal moving of livestock from one region to another has favoured the developing of a natural crossing of those two primitive breeds.

General appearance

The Maremma and Abruzzes shepherd dog is a big dog, strongly built of a rustic appearance, at the same time majestic and really typical. On the whole his shape, of average proportions, is that of a heavy dog, whose body is longer than the height at the withers; is balanced as much in size (heterometry = normal proportions between the size and different parts of the body) as to the profiles (alloidism = concordance between the profiles of the head and the body).

Important proportions

The length of the head reaches 4:10 of the height at the withers; muzzle slightly shorter than the length of the skull; the body length is more, by 1:18, than the height at the withers.
Depth of thorax is slightly less than half the height at the withers.

Behaviour / temperament

His principal function as a guard and defense dog of flocks and property in general, asserts itself in the manner he accomplishes these tasks, with perception, he can also show a devoted attachment to his master and all his entourage.

Head
On the whole, the head is large and flat, of conical shape, reminiscing of that of a polar bear.
Cranial region
Skull		Is of great width with lateral sides slightly bulging. In profile, is also convex. The upper longitudinal axes of the skull and muzzle are slightly divergent, which makes the profile of the head slightly convex. The superciliary arches are moderately marked. The medio-frontal furrow line is slightly marked. The occipital crest is only just visible.
Stop		The frontal-nasal depression only just accentuated and the frontal-nasal angle is always very open.

Facial region
Nose		Rather big, in line of the muzzle, with large well-opened nostrils, moist and cool, coloured black. In profile must not protrude beyond the front marginal of the lips.
Muzzle		Its length is by 1/10th less than that of the skull. Its depth, measured at the level of the corner of the lips, must reach half its length. Its width decreases progressively according to the convergence of the lateral sides of the muzzle towards the front, but nevertheless keeping a flat fore surface. The suborbital region is slightly chiselled.
Lips		Seen from the front, the upper lips, at their junction point, determine by their lower edge a semicircle of very short radius. Slightly developed, they barely cover the teeth of the jaw, and, therefore, the corner of the lips is only lightly accentuated. Consequently the lower lateral profile is only defined by the lips in its fore part, in its rear part it is defined by the lower jaw and the corner of the lips. The rims of the lips are black.
Jaws and teeth		Look strong, normally developed, with incisors set straight, well aligned of good size and complete in number. Teeth white, strong – scissor bite.
Cheeks		Moderately visible.
Eyes		Not large in relation to the size of the dog; the iris is of an ocre colour or chestnut brown. The eye, in lateral position, is neither deep set nor protruding. Lively and attentive expression. Eyelid opening is almond shaped, with black eyelid rims.
Ears		Set very high over the zygomatic arches, they are hanging but very mobile. Triangular shape (in V), their extremities forming a narrow point never rounded; they are small in relation to the size of the dog. For a medium size dog their length must not go beyond 12 cm. The ear attachment is of medium width. Cropped ears tolerated only in dogs really used as herd dogs.

Neck

Upper profile moderately arched. Its length does not go beyond the 8/10 of the length of the head, which means that the neck is always shorter than the head. It is thick, very strong muscular and always without dewlap; covered with long and dense hair forming a collar particularly obvious in males.

Body
Body		Solidly constructed, its length is more by 1/18 than the height at the withers.
Topline		Straight from withers to rump where it becomes somewhat sloping.
Withers		Slightly above from the topline; wide because of the distance separating the shoulder blades.
Back		Straight in profile, length reaches about 32% of the height at the withers.
Loin		The loin which merges perfectly with the topline has a slightly curved profile with well developed muscled in width. The loin reaches in length 1/5 of the height at the withers and its width is nearly equal.
Croup		Wide, strong and well muscled. Its inclination from the hip to the tail set is of 20° increasing to 30° and more if we refer to the ileum-ischium line; that is why the rump of the Maremma and Abruzzes shepherd dog must be qualified as sloping.
Chest		Ample, descending to level of elbows, deep and well-rounded at mid-height. Its circumference must be more than ¼ of the height at the withers; its maximum width at mid-height must reach at least the 32% of the height at the withers, then decreases progressively downwards while retaining a good width in the sternal region. Its depth must reach half the height at the withers.
Ribs		The ribs are well sprung and oblique with inter-costal spaces of good width; the last false ribs are long, oblique and well opened.
Underline and belly		The sternum-ventral profile is characterised by a long sternal line in the shape of an arc of a circle of very big radius rising slightly towards the belly.

Tail

Low set due to the sloping rump, in normal stand reaching below the level of the hock. Hanging when dog stationary; carried level with back line with a rather strongly hooked extremity when the dog is in action. Well furnished with dense hairs without fringes.

Limbs

Forequarters
Generality		Straight limbs from the front and in profile; forequarters well balanced in relation to the body, and the various parts of the forequarters are well proportioned between them.
Shoulders		Long, oblique with powerful muscles. Must be really free in movement. In length measures about ¼ of the height at the withers. Its obliqueness below the horizontal is of 50° to 60°.
Upper arm		Set close to the body in its upper two thirds, with powerful muscles. Its obliqueness below the horizontal varies between 55° and 60°; its length measures about the 30% of the height at the withers. Its position is more or less parallel with the median plane of the body. The scapula-humeral angle varies between 105° and 120°.
Elbows		Normally close to the chest, they are covered with a soft loose skin. Their position must be parallel to the median plane of the body; the point of the elbow must be on an imaginary vertical line starting at the rear angle of the shoulder blade. The opening of the humeral-radial angle varies between 145° and 150°.
Forearm		Straight, and vertical, heavily boned. Its length is slightly more than the length of the upperarm, while being a little less of a third of the height at the withers. The front leg from ground to elbow measures 52,8% of the height at the withers.
Carpal		In extension of the vertical of the forearm. Strong, clean, smooth and of good thickness; the pisiform bone is clearly protruding.
Pastern		Strong, lean and broad, neither too long nor too short. The presence of dewclaws is tolerated.
Forefeet		Large, of roundish shape, well closed toes, covered with short thick hair, nails preferably black. Chestnut colour is tolerated.

Hindquarters
Generality		Seen as a whole : limbs straight when seen from the behind and in profile. The general aspect is in proportion with the body, and the various parts of the hindquarters are harmonious.
Upper thigh		Long, wide protruding muscles and a rear edge slightly convex. Its width, measured from edge to edge, reaches ¾ of its length. It is a little oblique from top to bottom and rear to front; the coxal-femoral (hip bone) angle is about 100°.
Lower thigh		Its length, a little shorter than the thigh, corresponds to 32,5% of the height at the withers. Its obliqueness below the horizontal is about 60°. Strong bone, muscles lean and the groove in the leg well marked.
Stifle		Perfectly in the vertical of the limb, without internal or external rotation. The fermoral-tibial angle rather well opened, varies between 135° and 140°.
Metatarsus		Strong, lean and broad. Its length reaches 30,9% of the height at the withers. Eventual dewclaws must be eliminated.
Hock		Quite thick, with broad lateral faces. The angle opening varies between 140° and 150°.
Hind feet		Like the front but more oval.

Gait and movement

Walk and extended trot.

Skin

Tight to all parts of the body; rather thick. Black pigmentation of the mucous membranes, third eyelids as well as the central and toe pads.

Coat
Hair		Very well furnished. Hair long, rather harsh to the touch, closer to straight horse hair, flat to the body; slight wave is tolerated. The hairs form an important collar around the neck and fringes of limited length on the edge of the hindquarters. But the hair is short on the muzzle, on the skull, the ears and front edge of the limbs. On the body the length of the hair reaches 8 cm. The undercoat is only in winter abundant.
Colour		Solid white. Shades of ivory, pale orange or lemon are tolerated but only in certain limits.

Size and weight
Height at withers		Males 67 to 73,5 cm, females 62 to 70 cm.
Weight		Males 40 to 52 kg, females 35 to 44 kg.

Faults

• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

Disqualifying faults

Aggressive or overly shy.

Nose completely depigmented.

Muzzle definitely convex or concave.

Moderate or bilateral depigmentation of the eyelids.

Wall eye.

Bilaterally cross-eyed.

Jaws undershot mouth.

Tailless or short tail, whether congenital or docked.

Coat curly.

Isabella coat; well defined patches or Isabella or ivory colour.

Black shadings.

Faults of non-confirmation

Cranial-facial axes convergent, accentuated and disfiguring prognathism.

Tail rolled over the back.

Dog which paces continuously.

Size over or below the limits fixed by the standard.

NB :

• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Bibliography

https://www.fci.be/

Details: Also available:; Last Updated: 17 December 2025; Hits: 1616

Abruzzes and Maremma shepherd dog