The documentary explained how, for many centuries, The Maremmano had lived alone in the mountains. Because of this type of life, he had
developped a nearly infallible instinct for life and survival in the mountains. He knew how to get food (hunting small game), knew how to
defend himself and his puppies from bears and wolves. With time, through contact with the sheperds who also lived in the mountains or took their floks to graze there, a bond was born between man and dog, made of respect and friendship. For the dog, the flock became its family and while continuing to live its own life, he became the flock's custodian and defender. He knew "his" own sheep, and nobody (outsider or plunderers) could approach them, as he would attack them. In exchange, he demanded freedom of movement: nothing more. These dogs were particularly active towards evening, when they knew that outsider were more inclined to hunt. Maremma shepherds lived in a pack made up of males, females and puppies. Together, they defended the flock of sheep, hunted, and raised the puppies. There was a leader of the pack, chosen for his qualities, strength and intelligence, and all members of the pack obeyed him. This was his lifestyle since time immemorial.
With time, people took this dog to live among other people, in country houses, in villages. There are some important conditions for the Maremmano to become used to this new lifestyle, and it is necessary to know them before taking one of the house:
- they should live in a country house, with a large piece of land around it (they will consider this land as their territory and will defend it).
- they must live with mother and brothers for several months, as this in the only way they will develop their own character. If they grow up alone, in a few months they will loose their natural instincts, feeling that they are in a foreign world, where they cannot even start competing or playing in accordance with their nature
- even as adults, these dogs should live at least as a couple, to fulfill their nature at least partially. This way they will breed, defend the house and its owner, without ever being completely submissive. On the contrary, if the Maremmano grows up alone and lives alone, he will live in a world which is not his own, will become very submissive and will lose most of its natural qualities.
After having understood these things, finally I could really see Nuvola! And this after years I had had with me!

Only now I understood how many things I had not done for him, how I knew what I could do for him, but maybe it was already too late? Then two months ago, NUVOLA started too loose appetite, started loosing weight, and loosing his characteristic enthusiasm. The Vet discovers a problem with his kidneys:
he was drinking a lot, although he evacueted very little. We start a treetment (injections) but there is little progress, as his belly becomes bloated, a worrying sign. He eats very little, and the little that he swallow, he vomits within half an hour with whitish saliva. After a few days, a new blood test shows that all index are abnormal.
The Vet tells us that NUVOLA will not live very long. NUVOLA spends the next days pratically without getting up, his eyes sad and cloudy, without any spark.
With difficulty, I manage to get him up a couple of time, taking him on the road next to the house, in the hope that he will find some smells that will encourage him to urinate: he walks slowly, and then sits down aimlessy.

On 31 January '00 I decide to try something else, and in the afternoon I take by car to a Veterinary Clinic where there is a team of doctors. They X-ray him, do an echography, then meet, discuss among themselves, then call me and tell me that the dog has lever cancer. NUVOLA is quiet, even if he is in pain, and we all just look at him and at ourselves, quite powerless. I ask whether something can be done, at least taking out the liquid from his belly, which they do with a small catheter for almost an hour. After that, NUVOLA's breathing seems more regular and the doctors give him some more medications:
"You never know!" they tell me, "If the only would react to the treatment, we never despair!".
We go home, where NUVOLA eats a little and then sleeps. I explain the situation to my mother and father, and how we can continue the treatment. We have little more to tell, it is almost midnight and we go to sleep.

NUVOLA died in the morning of February 2 .