Discover the Wairarapa Eco Farm
The aim across everything we do is to facilitate and catalyse the transformation of our community into a society based on food quality, environmental care and inclusive, holistic thinking. We call it Soul & Soil-Based Living.
Ixobel Maremma
The Livestock Guardian Dog
Discover our first choice of pest control for the ecological farm!
natural solutions
Looking for symbiosis
The world we live in has become heavily populated by toxic solutions to all our challenges. These dogs are not one of them!
Here on the farm, everything we do is underpinned with respect for life, in all its shapes and forms. That includes pest control!
01
Ecological Pest Control
No toxins required!
They use their instincts to find and kill rodents in barns and outbuildings. Dogs can also be trained to detect and deter larger wildlife, such as deer or wild dogs, from damaging crops and livestock.
02
Livestock guardian
Working Dog
Unlike herding dogs, full-time LGDs are bonded with the livestock and live full-time with them as a member of the herd. Their mere presence is often enough to ward off predators.
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Companionship and security
Eco-Friendly Approach
LTG Dogs offer loyalty, support, and friendship, helping to alleviate the stress of long and difficult hours. These dogs serve as alert and visible watchdogs for the entire homestead, alerting farmers to intruders or other potential problems.
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Coution
Please note!
They like to think for themselves and can take a few moments to obey. They can be taught, but they will never win first prize in an obedience competition, as they like to take their time with most things. They need a fair amount of exercise and space to run.
Our Dog Journey
After some internet research back in 2012, we came across a type of breed called Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD), a perfect mixed-purpose breed for an ecological farm. Availability of LGDs is limited in New Zealand, the Pyrenean Mountain Dog already having been made extinct due to breeding restrictions by the few breeders at the time. Luckily, the Maremma was in a somewhat better state due to the breeding efforts of Carol Gun, who ran Balagan Kennels for many years in Tauranga and some other small-scale breeders.
Discovering Maremma Sheepdogs
In our search to naturally enhance our farm and family resilience, dogs play an important role. They provide a natural, cost-effective, adaptable, and low-stress solution for managing livestock and protecting farm assets, maintaining their status as “the farmer’s best friend”. A perfect symbiotic relationship!
The Maremma on our Farm
The Wairarapa Eco Farm is proud to be home to Leonardo, Olive, and Luna, our family of Maremma Sheepdogs. In our desire to keep this rare breed alive and strengthen its base here, we created Ixobel Maremma New Zealand
Discover Our Dogs
We now have 3 purebred Maremma Dogs, namely, Balagan Leonardo (28/4/17), our Australian import Allevare Olive (1/12/2000), aka Izy, and their daughter Ixobel Luna (15/12/2022).
Lueie
Balagan Leonardo
Izy
Allevare Olive
Luna
Ixobel Luna
Wairarapa eco Farm kennel
Our Puppies!
The farm uses Maremmas to support its organic gardening efforts and permacultural investments. You can too!
We have a history of breeding these dogs, having supplied other Maremma owners and being a source of valuable information and support for new owners.
How We Work
Maremma Puppies
01
Interest in a puppy
Perhaps you’re already sold, or perhaps not, but you are interested.
Simply sign up for our mailing list to receive more Maremma Info!
02
Stay in the loop
We will send out email updates about upcoming puppy litters.
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Contact us
Let us know if you have any questions or are ready to meet a puppy!