Old English Sheepdog vs Maremma Sheepdog

Compare the Old English Sheepdog to the Maremma Sheepdog. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Old English Sheepdogs and Maremma Sheepdogs.

Quick Summary

Below are a few quick comparisons between the two breeds.

Owner Experience - The Old English Sheepdog is an excellent choice for new/inexperienced owners. The Maremma Sheepdog is okay for new owners, but may not be as easy as the Old English Sheepdog.
Children - Both the Old English Sheepdog and Maremma Sheepdog are great with children.
Grooming - Both breeds have high grooming requirements, but the Maremma Sheepdog is slightly easier to groom between the two.
Barking - The Maremma Sheepdog has an average tendency to bark. The Old English Sheepdog will bark less frequently than most dogs.

Choose Another Breed to Compare

vs

Highlight Differences
Highlight Similarities

Old English Sheepdog vs Maremma Sheepdog

Breed Name	Old English Sheepdog	Maremma Sheepdog
General Details
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred
Is Hypoallergenic	No	No
Lifespan	10-11 yrs.	11-13 yrs.
Height	20-24 in.	25-29 in.
Weight	60-100 lb	66-100 lb
Intelligence	High	High
History
Origin Country	UK (England)	Italy
Origin Year	1800 AD	1400 AD
Temperament
Overall Friendliness	Very Good	Very Good
Family Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Kid Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Pet Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Stranger Friendly	Very Good	Average
Personality
	Affectionate Enjoys Attention Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Willing To Please	Affectionate Enjoys Attention Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Likes To Snuggle
Living Environment
Apartment	No	No
Indoor	Yes	No
Small Yard	Yes	No
Medium Yard	Yes	No
Large Yard	Yes	Yes
Temperature Tolerance ¹	20°F to 80°F	20°F to 85°F
Barks/Howls	Rarely	Average
Exercise Needs
Energy Level	Medium	Medium
Exercise Required	High	Medium-High
Top Running Speed	22 mph	18 mph
Strength	Very High	High
Grooming Needs
Coat Maintenance	High	None-Low
Shedding	High	Medium-High
Dander	Medium	Medium-High
Drool Amount	Medium	Low

¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.

Instincts & Behavior Comparison
Breed Name	Old English Sheepdog	Maremma Sheepdog
Breed Mentality
Dominant/Alpha	No	No
Family/Pack	Yes	No
Independent	No	Yes
Breed Focus
Distracted Easily	No	No
Average	No	No
Focused & Patient	Yes	Yes
Breed Instincts
Aggression	Below Average	Below Average
Burrow/Digging	Below Average	Very Low
Chasing	Below Average	Below Average
Follow Commands	Average	Very Low
Fighting	Below Average	Average
Guarding	Below Average	High
Herding	High	High
Hunting	Below Average	Below Average
Protection	Below Average	High
Remove Vermin	Below Average	Very Low
Sledding	Average	Very Low
Watch	High	High

Health Comparison
Breed Name	Old English Sheepdog	Maremma Sheepdog
Lifespan
Lifespan	10-11 yrs.	11-13 yrs.
Common Health Issues
Allergies	Yes	No
Bloat	No	Yes
Cataracts	Yes	No
Deafness	Yes	No
Diabetes	Yes	No
Drug Sensitivity	No	Yes
Entropion	Yes	No
Heat Intolerance	Yes	No
Hip Dysplasia	Yes	Yes
Obesity	No	Yes
Vaccination Sensitivity	No	Yes

Appearance Comparison
Breed Name	Old English Sheepdog	Maremma Sheepdog
Coat
Fur	Yes	Yes
Coat Type
Double Coat	Yes	Yes
Coat Texture
Straight	Yes	Yes
Rough	No	Yes
Wavy	No	Yes
Coat Length(s)
Medium	Yes	Yes
Long	Yes	Yes
Coat Color(s)
Black & White	Yes	No
Blue	Yes	No
Blue & White	Yes	No
Blue Merle & White	Yes	No
Blue, Gray, & White	Yes	No
Brown	Yes	No
Fawn	Yes	No
Gray	Yes	No
Gray & White	Yes	No
Grizzle	Yes	No
Grizzle & White	Yes	No
White	No	Yes