Bergamasco: Origin, Personality, Fitness & Health

Group: The Bergamasco belongs to the group of herding or pastoral dogs.

Also Known As: Bergamasco Shepherd Dog, Italian Bergama Sheepdog, Bergamaschi Herder and Cane da pastore Bergamasco are other names of the Bergamasco dog breed.

About Bergamasco Origin and History of the Breed The Bergamasco dog has its origins in the Italian Alps. This ranks as a very ancient Italian dog breed. It served as a flock guide in the Alpine regions over many centuries. The process of modernization adversely affected the flocks and their dogs. Sheep rearing no longer remained as an important economic resource of the area and the shepherd masters no longer protected sheep and sheepdogs like Bergamasco. All this led to a partial extinction of the dogs.

In recent times however the efforts of few enthusiastic breeders has made it possible to bring about a revival in the numbers of the Bergamasco breed dogs.

A General Description of the Dog

The Bergamasco has a rustic appearance. Its most distinctive feature is its felted coat made up of three types of hair (undercoat, goat hair and outer coat) growing copiously that forms mats or flocks. Starting at the spine the gray or silver gray to coal colored mats go down the flanks. They keep growing and reach the ground every year. The dogs are not considered to be shedders. It is also held that their hair is non-allergenic.

This is a medium-sized dog having a well-proportioned, solidly compact and harmonious body. Its strong and powerful build gives it great resistance while not curbing its agility and speed of movement.

The skull of the dog and the muzzle are of nearly equal length and are parallel to one another. They are joined by a pronounced stop. The skull, slightly domed between the ears and rounded at the forehead, has a prominent occiput and a marked median furrow. The muzzle is blunt and tapering slightly towards the nose. The lips are of black pigment. The eyes of the dog are brown-colored.

The darkness of the color varies according to the color of the coat. The dog has a large and black nose that does not extend beyond the forepart of the muzzle. The ears of the Bergamasco are soft and thin. The ears hang down on either side of the face. The dog has an uncut tail that is thick at the base and tapering to the tip.

Height

Male: 22-24 inches
Female: 21-23 inches.

Weight

Male: Between 70 pounds and 85 pounds
Female: Between 57 pounds and 71 pounds.

Personality

Temperament of the Dog

Bergamasco dogs are friendly dogs that bond very closely with humans. As herding dogs, they are brave and alert, independent, balanced and calm and intelligent. They are always eager to work. They are easily trained. If socialized properly at a young age they get along well with other pets. They tend to have a protective attitude towards children. The dogs act as vigilant guards.

They have patience, perseverance and other special qualities that make it an excellent working dog and a wonderful companion. The Bergamascos however require much space for moving around freely and exercising throughout the day.

Activity Level

How active is the breed?

Being working dogs, Bergamasco dog breeds are very active and energetic by nature and need to be given plenty of exercising opportunities everyday. Regular long walks can act as a good exercise for them. If a large, well-fenced large area is made available for it then the dog can well take care of its own exercising needs.

Suitable for apartment living?

The Bergamasco Dogs are energetic creatures and need plenty of exercising. They do not qualify as good apartment dogs because they just do not like to be kept locked up inside the house all day.

Living conditions

Since these dogs hail from cold regions they are best suited for cooler climates. It needs to be ensured that they never get overheated. There should be a place secured for it away from the sun where it can go and get itself cooled.

Grooming

Bergamasco dog breeds have high grooming requirements. Special grooming efforts need to be made right from the time when the dog is in a puppy stage. The coat of the puppy needs to be kept free from tangles and debris by brushing at least once a month.

Then after around 8 months of age when the matting starts to occur very close to the dog’s skin and begins pulling the skin then manual grooming is to be resorted to.

The clumps are to be separated into smaller groupings. Making use of the slicker brush in order to get rid of dirt and debris on the coat of an adult dog is recommended.

Health Problems

Bergamasco is a very healthy breed of dogs. Dog breeders have not yet known about any hereditary diseases of this breed of dogs.

Life Expectancy

Bergamasco dogs live for 11-15 years.