Name: Little Bear  
Age: 3 years 
Gender: Male 
Breed: Maremma Sheepdog 
Weight: 116 pounds 
Dog friendly: Yes 
Cat friendly: Yes 
Child friendly: Yes 
House trained: Yes 
Crate trained: Yes- not necessary 
Energy level: Moderate/low 
Temperament: devoted, intelligent, watchful, affectionate 
Requirements:Guardian dog experience, fully fenced yard, own home, diet  
Adoption Fee: $325+tax 
To adopt, go to:  http://www.mendingspirits.org/dog-application.html

From the Foster Family:
First, it is important and required to fully understand the breed. The Maremma Sheepdog is a livestock guardian dog NOT a herding dog. Understanding these requirements and behaviors in full along with being savvy, is critical in securing successful pet ownership and adoptive placement.  

Little Bear has never been kept as an outdoor working dog, however he does exhibit strong guardian characteristics of the breed. He is always observing and watching so this means that unknown dogs, other random animals(ie-deer, coyote, fox, raccoon) unknown people who are near the property and or who enter the home, will trigger Little Bear to become very protective and he will display guarding behavior. Guarding Behavior Means- alert barking, approaching, will body-block to prevent access and growls. He WILL alert bark and charge unfamiliar animals on home turf. If someone is chasing after a small child or familiar animals he deems as family on home turf, he will bark and attempt to charge at the aggressor to protect.
ONLY ON HOME TURF does he need slow intros with strangers. He will NOT tolerate a stranger in his bubble in the beginning and needs a little bit of time to sniff and check strangers out. Accepting unknown dogs on home turf also applies when entering the home and does require structured slow intros.  He will NOT show guarding towards young children(even unknown children), familiar people or dogs in these situations or if he is off the property where he lives. OFF home turf this guardian behavior is not present. However he does not like other dogs who are not respectful of his space upon first meeting. 

Little Bear is a very big dog with a heavy dense dual layer coat. Maremma Sheepdogs are heavy shedders and will blow(shed) their coat two times per year. It is important and required to keep the coat brushed regularly (we do weekly brushings) to minimize the ongoing shedding between seasons.  The breed is very heat sensitive and this must be kept into consideration at all times for their safety.

Little Bear is on a limited ingredient diet that is fish based. It contains one single, easily digestible animal protein.  This type of food is required to avoid and alleviate reactivity that experiences while consuming other types of food. He also is given a supplement made by Solid Gold called SeaMeal. He does best when given this every day to maintain his digestive health because of the digestive enzymes in the supplement. He enjoys treats from time to time, squash, carrots, raspberries and pumpkin are his favorite and once in a while he enjoys chewing an antler or hoof. With chews such as antlers and bully sticks. It is best to isolate Little Bear away from other animals to enjoy those high prized items. He does tend to guard those things while enjoying them, but he will NOT guard those items around people. 

Little Bear's activity level overall is low. He LOVES going for walks, affection/interaction from humans, short session play type activities with a soccer or basketball. When in open spaces with other dogs, he does tend to play a little rough at times(he underestimates his own size), which is not always appreciated by other dogs. He isn't very graceful in his play and that can be annoying for other dogs too. Maintaining awareness of other dog's comfort levels while being proactive in these situations are important.  

He loves being brushed, going to pet stores, short strolls around the neighborhood, playing in the back yard, fetch with a basketball, exploring, relaxing and watching over the yard. His ultimate favorite is spending time with his loved ones and keeping watch over his family circle. He adores children and meeting other people in public settings. He is gentle dog and walks beautifully on a leash.

It is required that Little Bear NEVER be allowed to roam off leash at any time except when in a fully fenced secure space. A large physically fully fenced yard is an adoption requirement for him with no exceptions and the fence must be sturdy and secure. Chain link fences MUST have a tension wire installed across the bottom of the entire fence. Little Bear is very intelligent and knows how to open fence gates, patio doors and screen doors so locking them is important.  He will look for weak spots within a fence to push under and will. He can push up and under chain link fence if it is not 100% secured at the bottom with tension wire. This need to meander and wander is typical to the breed, he will patrol his perimeter and will wander away if left off leash in an unenclosed space.  He is an intelligent dog who's goal is to not just love but to also watch over his family. 

Overall, Little Bear is truly a one of a kind soul who deserves a well suited experienced home and handler to ensure safe lifelong wellbeing. It is required that those interested, own their home, have a large secured fully fenced yard, breed awareness and experience with guardian dogs, be savvy and comfortable with guardian behavior, be financially prepared to support a large dog, plus be fully aware of the necessary items that successfully promote lifelong ownership of such a majestic and noble dog.