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In the heart of Italy, in the region of Abruzzo, in the middle of the Apennines. Surrounded by mountains on a hight of two to three thousands metres, between Monte Velino and Monte Sirente, you will find a little village named Santa Jona di Ovindoli. This is the location of the family Di Michele! The Di Michele’s is a family of shepherds in this area. Here, in the heart of Abruzzo, shepherd farming is a traditional ancient profession, something you lern from father to son. This is how it always has been, for generations and for thousands of years.
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The farm
At the farm of the Di Michele family you have different species of animals such as horses, cattle, poultry, rabbits and..the sheep. With the sheep, of course, the great white defenders - the dogs
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The dogs
The dogs have followed the Di Michele family through the generations. These are the dogs of Sirio’s father, and his grandfather. In the Abruzzi area this breed for ages was named for example pastore abruzzese, cane da pastore or cane da pecora. The official definition since 1958, when the Italian Kennel Club draw up the standard which is still in force, is Cane da pastore Maremmano Abruzzese. In english: Maremma Sheepdog. The dogs of the Di Michele’s live day and night with the sheep. In the day they follow the herd on the pastures up in the mountains - at night they lie close to the fence where the sheep are. These dogs live in full freedom and it is their absolute own choice to stay by the herd from the first days of life until the last. It happens that the herd leaves in the morning without human company. Sometimes, even if rarely, the sheep don’t return from the mountains for the evening and the dogs are always with them! They will never leave their sheep, they follow them everywhere and they will do anything to protect them against wolves, bears and other wild animals, risking their lives.
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