A shipping cage is extremely useful for housetraining, and it is helpful to have the dog used to being in a cage in case it has to be confined at any time. Obedience training is a necessity with any dog of this size. We recommend starting a puppy early as a part of its play with you. At 4 or 5 months they learn readily and with pleasure, though only in brief sessions. Later they are not quick to respond to a command, mainly because they feel they should decide for themselves when and where to sit, lie down, or stay.
Puppies are both curious and physical, and their energy has to be channeled.
If you provide things they are allowed to chew on along with firm indication of what is off-limits, this is not too hard to control. Barking is more difficult as barking is a significant part of its livestock guarding instincts. Your Maremma never barks without a reason, but if it is confined where many strangers pass by, it is very hard to keep it from announcing the passage of each one. Like all dogs, a Maremma should be reprimanded while performing an unwanted behavior, not even a few seconds later, or it will not understand what is wanted. Unwanted behavior should never be tolerated until a later date, as dogs are creatures of habit and routine, and have long memories for behaviors they enjoyed.