Balagan Farm in the Kaimais is barking wild with a new litter of Maremma sheep dogs just born and excited following their vaccinations.

Vet Scott Raleigh with some of Carol's Maremma sheep dogs.

Owner Carol Gunn took the litter to Barkes Corner Vet on Monday and is pleasantly surprised by the good behaviour of the six four-day-old puppies when around the last litter of eight eight-week-old puppies who she also took to the vet.

'I like having the puppies around,” says Carol.

'We just had a group around and the children all said that the puppies were amazing.”

Maremma dogs are an Italian breed of sheep dog and are quite rare in New Zealand, with the first thought to have arrived in the country about 25 years ago.

'They are kept here as a family pet that protects.”