The Cane de Pastore Abruzzese has a long history in Italy. It was first described by Columella in the first century AD as a
protector of the livestock from the wolves.
Probably did these dogs first originate in the east, and they followed the humans in their migration to their new homeland in the western Europe.
Like the other large white flock-guardians of Europe, the preferred colour of the Pastore Abruzzese were white, to easier
distinguish them from the wolf. This is a very important feature, since the herder thereby did not risk killing one of his
own dogs instead of the attacker.
Sentinella & Pedro, protecting the sheeps.
The large white flock guardian of central Italy originates from the Abruzzese mountain. Dogs were brought from the mountains
and to the Maremma lowland, where they developed their own breed characteristics, possibly by crossings with other dog breeds.
As a result of the seperation of the two white Italian flock guardians the Pastore Abruzzese kept their molossoide type, while
the Maremmano developed a more lupoid type. In addition the dogs of the Abruzzese mountain is larger and heavier, has a
longer back, and is of more mastiffy type than its lowland cousin.
In 1951 it was decided that the two breeds, the Abruzzese & the Maremmano, should be bred as one breed, and in 1958 ENCI gave
this joined breed its current name; Cane da Pastore Maremmano Abruzzese.
However, there have been many studies of the difference of the Pastore Abruzzese and the Maremmano. In 1938 ENCI published
"Characters differentials between Maremmano type and Abruzzese type". Other studies of the differences of the two have
been Matini in 1925, Coupler in 1939, Brasavola de Mass in 1953, Cajelli in 1955 and finally the study by Solero. Later
studies have been done by Dr. Breber in 1977 and Mario Perricone in 1985. All these studies have concluted and agreed with
the above mentioned; that the Pastore Abruzzese is of destinctive molossoide type, while the maremmano is a refined
dog of more lupoid type.
One can ask the question of why are not these two breeds separated, even if all studies have supported that this is two
completly different breeds? This question should be sent further, to ENCI.
Still there are supporters of the Pastore Abruzzese that fights for separating the Maremmano Abruzzese into the two breeds
they were earlier classified as.
More about the subject of the differences of the two breeds, and the Pastore Abruzzese subtypes, can be found at the
"Breedfacts" page.
Pastore Abruzzese with a traditional "vreccale".
The traditional collar used by the Abruzzese is called "vreccale", which is a iron spiked collar, used to protect the dog,
since the wolf prefer to kill its prey or enemies with a bite in the throat or neck. Until about thirty years
ago there was not a shepherd that didn't have large collection of these collars.
The Pastore Abruzzese can also today be found in the Abruzzo mountain, where it still are doing its centuries old work; protecting
the sheep from wolfs, wild dogs, other predators and thieves.
