Differences and Similarities between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maremma Sheepdog

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Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Maremma Sheepdog: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Curly-Coated Retriever and for the Maremma Sheepdog. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Maremma Sheepdog

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maremma Sheepdog: Overview

A very important difference between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Curly-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized dog while the Maremma Sheepdog is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Curly-Coated Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

On the other hand, the Maremma Sheepdog belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maremma Sheepdog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Curly-Coated Retriever to the Maremma Sheepdog based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Curly-Coated Retriever Maremma Sheepdog
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Height 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 23.5 to 28.5 inches
Does NOT Drool 4/5 3/5
General Health 2/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 2/5
Weight 65 to 100 pounds 65 to 100 pounds
Life Span 9 to 12 years 11 to 13 years
Average Lifespan 10.5 years 12.0 years
Price Range No Data $495 – $1500
Average Price No Data $1160
Temperament Score 91.7 percent No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Shoulders
  • *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Curly-Coated Retriever in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Maremma Sheepdog. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Curly-Coated Retriever is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Maremma Sheepdog is 68 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Curly-Coated Retriever is a better pet than the Maremma Sheepdog. So, you should get the Curly-Coated Retriever!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog

    Below is a list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog are most different:

  • Curly-Coated Retrievers have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Maremma Sheepdogs are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Curly-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train. However, Maremma Sheepdogs are not easy to train.
  • Curly-Coated Retrievers are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Maremma Sheepdogs are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Maremma Sheepdogs have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Curly-Coated Retrievers are very playful. However, Maremma Sheepdogs not very playful.
  • The Similarities Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog

    The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog are most similar:

  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maremma Sheepdog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog.

    Curly-Coated Retrievers weigh 65 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Curly-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Maremma Sheepdogs weigh 65 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Maremma Sheepdogs are 23.5 to 28.5 inches when fully grown.

    Health Problems of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Maremma Sheepdog

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Curly-Coated Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Maremma Sheepdog.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Curly-Coated Retriever than for the Maremma Sheepdog.

    7 health tests are recommended for Curly-Coated Retriever while 5 tests are recommended for the Maremma Sheepdog.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and in Maremma Sheepdogs.

    Curly-Coated Retriever Health Problems

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Curly-Coated Retriever puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Curly-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Curly-Coated Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Curly-Coated Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Curly-Coated Retrievers here.

    Maremma Sheepdog Health Problems

    Maremma Sheepdogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Maremma Sheepdog puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Maremma Sheepdog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Maremma Sheepdog breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Maremma Sheepdogs for:

  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Shoulders
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Maremma Sheepdogs here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and Maremma Sheepdogs

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Curly-Coated Retriever Breed is Exercise Induced Collapse problems.

    This is because the Curly-Coated Retriever ranks 1 out of 6 dog breeds for Exercise Induced Collapse problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 145 Curly-Coated Retrievers, 12 of them had Exercise Induced Collapse problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Curly-Coated Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Curly-Coated Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Exercise Induced Collapse problems: Rank 1 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 10 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 24 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 73 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 84 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 136 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Maremma Sheepdog Breed is Hips problems.

    This is because the Maremma Sheepdog ranks 59 out of 198 dog breeds for Hips problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 159 Maremma Sheepdogs, 27 of them had Hips problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Maremma Sheepdogs, and how common these diseases are in Maremma Sheepdogs relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Hips problems: Rank 59 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Curly-Coated Retriever and in Maremma Sheepdog and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog:

    Disease Curly-Coated Retriever Rank Maremma Sheepdog Rank
    Exercise Induced Collapse problems 1 out of 6 dog breeds Not Common
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 10 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 24 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 73 out of 198 dog breeds 59 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 84 out of 182 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 136 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Maremma Sheepdog?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Maremma Sheepdogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Maremma Sheepdog

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Maremma Sheepdogs drool moderately.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Maremma Sheepdog?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Maremma Sheepdogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maremma Sheepdog

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Maremma Sheepdogs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed more than Maremma Sheepdogs?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

    Maremma Sheepdogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Maremma Sheepdog?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are moderately easy to groom.

    Maremma Sheepdogs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Maremma Sheepdogs?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Maremma Sheepdogs are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Maremma Sheepdogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Maremma Sheepdogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Maremma Sheepdogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Maremma Sheepdogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Maremma Sheepdog?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Maremma Sheepdogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Maremma Sheepdog?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Maremma Sheepdogs are not easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Curly-Coated Retriever vs. Maremma Sheepdog

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Maremma Sheepdogs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Maremma Sheepdogs?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Maremma Sheepdogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Curly-Coated Retrievers and Maremma Sheepdogs?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Maremma Sheepdogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Curly-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Maremma Sheepdog?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Maremma Sheepdogs have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Curly-Coated Retriever:

  • Airedale Terrier (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Maremma Sheepdog vs Airedale Terrier.
  • English Springer Spaniel (79 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Maremma Sheepdog vs English Springer Spaniel.
  • Irish Setter (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Maremma Sheepdog vs Irish Setter.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Maremma Sheepdog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Maremma Sheepdog that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Maremma Sheepdog:

  • Central Asian Shepherd Dog (75 percent match with Maremma Sheepdog). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Central Asian Shepherd Dog.
  • Hovawart (72 percent match with Maremma Sheepdog). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Hovawart.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Curly-Coated Retriever and how the Maremma Sheepdog compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever and of the Maremma Sheepdog to other breeds:

    Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Curly-Coated Retriever versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Mudi     Curly-Coated Retriever versus German Shepherd Dog     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Great Dane     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Whippet     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Puli     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Swedish Vallhund     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Frenchton     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Basenji     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Portuguese Water Dog     

    Maremma Sheepdog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Maremma Sheepdog versus Shih Tzu     Maremma Sheepdog versus Chihuahua     Maremma Sheepdog versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Maremma Sheepdog versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Maremma Sheepdog versus Weimaraner     Maremma Sheepdog versus Patterdale Terrier     Maremma Sheepdog versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Maremma Sheepdog versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Maremma Sheepdog versus Maltipoo     Maremma Sheepdog versus Australian Terrier     

    Conclusion: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Maremma Sheepdog. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Maremma Sheepdog better suits you and your family.