The Italian Maremmas breed of sheepdog was enlisted two years ago as a last resort after the number of penguins on an island off the Victorian city of Warrnambool dwindled from 1,000 to just 10 due to attacks by non-native predators.

Foxes and wild dogs have been the main cause of the penguins' dwindling population.

Maremmas are well known for their trait of bonding with flocks of animals and even laying down their lives to protect them.

“We've had our best penguin count since we began in 2006 with over 80 birds counted in one night, and I think we have about 26 chicks on the island too,” said Middle Island Maremma Project manager Ian Fitzgibbons.

The Warrnambool City Council has received inquiries from conservation officials as far away as Eastern Europe on how the Maremmas could be used to protect endangered or threatened wildlife.

“Because no one else in the world has done it, no one has used Maremmas for conservation management, we're the pioneers and learning as we go and I guess it's a step-by-step process,” Fitzgibbons said.

Photo: Middle Island Maremma Project