HE may be big and have sharp teeth, but Eudy is the best friend this penguin chick could ever want.

Eudy and his pal, Tula, protect Warrnambool's fairy penguin population from the hungry jaws of foxes and stray dogs.

The maremma sheepdogs are now more important than ever with the penguins' breeding season in full swing.

Coastcare facilitator Marty Gent said the population was at 10 when the dogs began patrolling Middle Island in 2005. There's now an estimated 180 penguins on the island, a stone's throw from the Warrnambool coastline.

"They've saved the colony," Ms Gent said.

"It was being completely decimated but, thanks to all the great Coastcare volunteers and the Department of Sustainability and Environment, we've got these great dogs."

Guarding animals is a traditional role for the maremma breed. The dogs originated in Italy, where they protected flocks of sheep and goats from wolves and bears.

Ms Gent said the scent of the dogs was enough to drive off marauding foxes.

It was local farmer Allan "Swampy" Marsh -- who uses maremmas to protect his free-range chickens -- and Deakin student Dave Williams who had the idea of employing the maremmas to protect the penguins. There were some initial hurdles -- both dogs swam back to shore -- but, with the help of 200 volunteers, the program is now a huge success.

Eudy and Tula, both two years old, have just graduated from training and will now spend up to four nights on the island unaccompanied by a handler. Their busiest period is from July to March when penguin parents are producing more happy feet.

Originally published as Sheepdogs save an entire penguin colony