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Breed Characteristics

Compatibility With Children

Trainability (Learning Rate)

Energy Level

Exercise Requirements

Grooming

Compatibility With Other Pets

Loyalty

Protectiveness

1 paw - breed exhibits the least amount of this characteristic
5 paws - breed exhibits most amount of this characteristic

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Bergamasco

Other Names	Bergamasco, Bergamaschi, Bergamese Shepherd, Cane da Pastore Bergamasco, Bergamo Shepherd Dog
Country of Origin	Italy
Weight	Males: 70 - 84 lbs. (32 - 38 kg) Females: 57 - 71 lbs. (26 - 32 kg)
Height (at withers)	Males: 23 ½ in. (60 cm) (with a tolerance of 1 in. (2 cm) either above or below). Females: 22 in. (56 cm) (with a tolerance of 1 in. (2 cm) either above or below).
Coat	The breed's most distinctive feature is the unusual felted coat, a normal and healthy characteristic of the breed. The coat is characterized by three types of hair: a fine, dense, oily undercoat, long harsher hairs similar to a goat's and a top woolly outer-coat. The three types of hair weave together as the dog gets older to form flat mats or flocks. The mats start from the spine and go down the flanks, growing every year to reach the ground. Bergamascos are born with short, smooth fur, which slowly develops the characteristic mats as the dog grows.
Colour	The colour of the coat can be anything from an appearance of gray or silver gray (in fact a merle) to a mixture of black to coal, with brown shades also intermixed. These colours may have served as a camouflage when working in the mountains. The coat is solid grey or with grey patches of all possible shades from a most delicate grey to a brighter shade of grey on to black; Isabel and light fawn shades are permitted. An all-black coat is allowed providing the black is really opaque. An all-white coat is prohibited. White patches are tolerated as long as their surface is not more than a fifth of the total surface of the coat.
Litter Size	6 - 10 puppies, average 8
Life Span	13-15 years
Origin & History	The Bergamasco is a very ancient breed, and almost nothing is known for certain of its origins, as it was developed long before written records were kept of dog breeding and was primarily kept by rural pastoralists who cared far less about a dog’s ancestry than its working ability. There are many theories regarding the origin of the Bergamasco, but most of them are little more than myth or educated conjecture. What is clear is that the breed has a very long history in Northern Italy where it has helped countless generations of Italian shepherds manage their flocks. The breed was primarily found in the mountainous region around the modern province of Bergamo, an area where the fertile Po Valley meets the formidable Alps. The breed became so associated with that region that it became known as the Cane Pastore de Bergamasco, which loosely translates to Bergamasco Sheepdog. Some claim that the Bergamasco first appears in the written records around the time of the birth of Christ, although it is unclear which records these refer to. Supposedly, even at this time the shepherd dogs of Northern Italy possessed a unique coat. There is great dispute as to how the Bergamasco’s coat was developed. For many years, it was believed that the breed was either a descendant of or ancestor to the Komondor and Puli, two similarly-coated breeds native to Hungary. However, the Komondor and Puli apparently already possessed corded coats when they arrived in Hungary from Eastern Europe. There is dispute among Hungarian fanciers as to whether these dogs arrived with the Magyars in 896 or the Cumans in the 1200’s. Either date would be around 1,000 years too late, and barring new genetic studies, possible connections between the Bergamasco and the two Hungarian breeds have been largely discounted. It is now widely believed that the Bergamasco was first introduced to Italy during the Roman Empire as a result of trade. The Romans were a major part of an Ancient trade network extending from Spain to Korea, and they had many dealings with the various incarnations of the Persian Empire and a number of disparate Eastern European and Caucasian tribes. At the time, vast herds of sheep were imported into Italy to feed and clothe the mighty Legions and the insatiable appetites of the Roman populace. It was common practice at the time to sell the sheepherding dogs at the same time as their flocks. Supposedly, the ancestors of the Bergamasco first arrived in Italy in this manner. Most sources claim that the ancestors of the Bergamasco were from Persia, known in modern times as Iran. Persia has been a major producer of sheep and related products such as wool and mutton for millennia and had major trading relationship with Rome. However, if the ancestors of the Bergamasco did arrive via trade, it could have been from virtually anywhere in the Ancient World. Even if the dog did arrive from Persia, it does not necessarily mean that it originated in what is now Iran. The Persian Empire was once much bigger than the modern nation state of Iran, and at various points extended from Egypt in the west to India in the east and from Arabia in the south to Russia in the north. Included in the Persian Empire were vast tracts of Eastern European and Central Asian Steppe, seemingly endless plains inhabited primarily by nomadic pastoralists until the last few centuries. It was from these same steppes that the Magyars and Cumans migrated to Hungary. The presence of the ancient corded-coated herding dogs in both Italy and Hungary may be evidence that such dogs were once common throughout the steppes, and were exported to Europe on multiple occasions. Although rarely mentioned, it is very possible that the Bergamasco was developed by Italian shepherds with little influence from outside dogs. Sheepherding dogs have probably been found in the area since the introduction of agriculture many thousands of years ago. It is very possible that at some point a mutation occurred in a local dog that caused its hair to cord. The corded coat would have provided additional protection from the elements and predators, just as it does on the modern breed. By selectively breeding dogs with that trait, farmers could have eventually developed the Bergamasco. It has also been suggested that the Bergamasco could be descended from long-haired sheepdogs introduced to Italy by the Phoenicians, but there is seemingly no evidence for this theory. However and whenever the Bergamasco’s ancestors first arrived in Northern Italy, they became highly valued by local shepherds. The breed was one of the few capable of working in the region. Life in the Alps can be quite difficult, especially before the introduction of modern technology. Temperatures get well-below freezing, worsening in the winter. The mountainous terrain is often difficult to cross and frequently changes due to landslides and avalanches. The foliage of the region is often very thick and protected by sharp leaves or spiky thorns. Strong winds and torrential downpours strike the region, sometimes with little warning. In the search for fresh grazing, flocks would sometimes have to travel for miles, leaving shepherd and dog alike stranded in the elements for days at a time. Although much rarer now, the Alps were once home to large populations of wolves, bears, feral dogs, and bands of thieves. To operate in the region, a sheepdog has to be able to tolerate extremes of temperature, inclement weather, traverse the diverse terrain found in the Alpine peaks and valleys, and fight off attacks by wild and human predators. The Bergamasco’s unusual coat provided the dog with plenty of protection from both the elements and other creatures, allowing it to survive in an often unforgiving world. It is old and simple logic that the more sheep that a shepherd owns, the wealthier and more secure he can become. More sheep need more land to graze, and one farmer can only cover so much land. In order to help them cover as much ground as possible, and therefore own as many sheep as possible, Northern Italian shepherds bred only the Bergamascos that were most capable of working independently. Bergamascos were often left unsupervised for hours at a time, during which they were responsible for keeping their flocks together and safe from danger without the aid of their masters. The breed developed into an expert and intelligent problem solver, capable of doing its duty no matter what situation arose. Even the most well-connected parts of the Alps, such as those around Bergamo, are relatively isolated. Travel is so difficult that it discourages all but those with the greatest need or desire. As a result, the dogs of the area tend to remain very stable and unchanged for long periods of time. Such was the case with the Bergamasco, which remained virtually identical until well into the 20th Century. However, change does come to the Alps, albeit somewhat slowly. The introduction of modern technology in the late 19th and early 20th Century reduced the need for sheep dogs. The industrialization of Northern Italy combined with a number of other factors such as the growth of the Australian and New Zeeland sheep industries caused a severe reduction in sheep herding in Bergamo. New dog breeds were introduced to the region from across the world. These changes meant that fewer and fewer Bergamascos were being kept by local farmers, and many of those that remained were crossed with other breeds. World War II was devastating to the Italian populace and economy. During the War, dog breeding was almost completely abandoned and a large number of shepherds were recruited into the Italian military. By the time that fighting had ceased, the Bergamasco was nearly extinct and many, perhaps most, of the dogs which had survived were not pure blooded. Luckily for the Bergamasco, a small number of local shepherds had continued to maintain the breed through the worst of times. The reasons that they did so are unclear, but it was likely a combination of necessity and desire. Dr. Maria Andreoli became concerned that a valuable and ancient part of rural Italian life would be lost forever, and took it upon herself to rescue the breed. Dr. Andreoli began to collect the last surviving Bergamascos and brought them to her Dell’ Albera Kennel. A renowned geneticist, Dr. Andreoli was uniquely suited for the development of varied and healthy lines of Bergamasco, and the modern breed exists in its present quality and standardization almost entirely due to her efforts. Dr. Andreoli got increasing numbers of breeders throughout Europe interested in the breed, and helped spread the Bergamasco across Italy and Western Europe. In the mid-1990’s, Donna and Stephen DeFalcis, a couple living in America, became interested in the Bergamasco, at a time when the breed was known primarily as the Bergamasco Sheepdog. The DeFalcis’s worked very closely with Dr. Andreoli to found the Bergamasco Sheepdog Club of America (BSCA). The DeFalcis’s began to import Bergamascos from across Europe. Assisted by Dr. Andreoli, they were able to select and acquire the finest examples available in Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, and England. The goal was to create as large of a gene pool in America as possible in order to avoid the genetic bottlenecks experienced by a number of other rare breeds. Almost immediately upon acquiring their first Bergamasco, the DeFalcis’s travelled repeatedly across America, exhibiting their dogs at rare breed shows and other canine exhibitions. At the same time, they operated their own kennel which produced a number of very high quality dogs. The DeFalcis’s and their dogs introduced a large number of Americans to the breed, and they attracted a number of fanciers. Largely dedicated to working dogs, the United Kennel Club granted full recognition to the Bergamasco in 1995, at a time when there were very few breed members in the United States. The BSCA worked to responsibly but steadily increase the breed’s population in the United States, and there are currently over 600 Bergamascos living in the U.S. The BSCA itself has grown and now has a fully-functioning board and over 100 members. The ultimate goal of the BSCA is to have the Bergamasco achieve full recognition with the American Kennel Club (AKC). The Bergamasco was entered in the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service (AKC-FSS), the first step towards full recognition. In February of 2010, the AKC selected the BSCA as the official parent club for the breed with the AKC. At the same time, the AKC determined that the Bergamasco Sheepdog met enough criteria be entered into the Miscellaneous Class, into which the breed was officially entered January 1st, 2011. Membership in the Miscellaneous Class allows for Bergamascos to compete in almost all AKC events other than conformation showing. Once the AKC determines that enough criteria have been met, the Bergamasco will be granted full recognition as a member of the herding group.
Personality	Strong, sound and brave, the Bergamasco is above all very intelligent and balanced. The intelligence of the dog has been refined for natural selection. Being alone with hundreds of sheep to look after and having to sort out different and unexpected problems caused the Bergamasco's intelligence to develop steadily. The Bergamasco is a peaceful dog. Puppies play together nicely. Attentive and reserved, it participates constantly in everything that goes on around it and, even when it appears to be asleep, its eyes will be following you, because it always wants to know where you are and what you are up to. Although not instinctively aggressive, the Bergamasco is an excellent watchdog because it doesn't like strangers invading its world. Its relationship with children is something special. Their presence awakens its most profound and primitive instincts, first as a wolf and then as a sheepdog. Patient, tolerant, attentive and protective, it seeks their company, encouraging their games and establishing true friendship with them. The Bergamasco is both a watchdog and guard and will alert when people come to the home, however, the Bergamasco is not aggressive as long as there is no serious threat to the family. The Bergamasco is great with all children and has been used as a therapy dog for handicapped children. Bergamascos are usually okay with other dogs as long as they don't challenge them or appear as a threat. They will usually do okay with cats, but it is best if they were brought up together while the dog is still a puppy. The Bergamasco sees each individual that comes to the house as a separate person. As to whether to Bergamasco is friendly with strangers, all depends on the feel of that person and what the dog senses. The Bergamasco is not a dog for everyone, but with the right owner, is a true pleasure to own. Bergamascos need an owner who displays an air of authority over the dog. Not harsh, but calm and firm, setting rules the dog must follow and being consistent about them. This is not a dog for the meek or passive owner. He does best with natural leadership.

Care Requirements

Health	There is almost no health information on the Bergamasco, and the only health survey seems to have been conducted by the Kennel Club in the United Kingdom. As that survey only included 10 living dogs, it is virtually impossible to draw any conclusions. However, this dog is apparently a very healthy breed. This breed was bred almost exclusively as a working dog in some very harsh conditions for thousands of years. Any potential defects would have been eliminated by natural or artificial selection. As a very ancient breed, the gene pool of the Bergamasco was at one point quite large, although it went through a recent bottleneck. Because the breed’s primary savior, Dr. Andreoli, was a geneticist, she was able to create a breeding program that would maintain as wide a genetic base as possible. Due to its general good health, the Bergamasco often is quite active well into its early teens. Bergamascos were bred to work in the Alps which often have frigid conditions. Although the unique coat of the Bergamasco makes the breed surprisingly tolerant of the heat, this dog is still somewhat vulnerable to heat related conditions. The Bergamasco overheats and dies of heat exhaustion both quicker and at lower temperatures than many other breeds. Owners should protect their Bergamascos from the heat, ideally keeping them inside when the temperature gets too hot and only exercising them when it cools down.
Grooming	The Bergamasco coat once fully flocked requires very little care, except for occasional brushing and bathing. The coast is forever changing, from the adorable, soft, fluffy, puppy coat to the beginning flocking stage which may start as early as 8-9 months to 1 year. When the flocking starts, it lasts until the dog is approximately two years old. From 2-3 years the coat is settling into a flocking pattern and will continue to grow throughout the dog’s life. The coat is made up of three types of hair: the undercoat, which is fine, dense and oily (not greasy) to the touch and forms a waterproof layer; the goat hair, which are long strands of harsh hair similar to the coat of a goat; and the woolly top coat, which is finer and softer to the touch. The combination of the woolly hair mixed with the goat hair weave together to create the flock. These flocks continue to grow throughout the dog’s life, creating multi layers of flocks that magically appear before your eyes, eventually reaching the ground at about the age of 5 years. The Bergamasco is a very simple, genuine dog which is reflected in his coat; it is best to let the coat develop as naturally and spontaneously as possible. The Bergamasco does not shed like other breeds, however, at times, like humans, you will find hair, especially during the puppy stage. Once the coat changes from puppy to adult and the flocks are set, hair loss is minimal. The Bergamasco coat is considered hair, not fur and is considered non-allergic, however, there are extreme cases that a person could still be allergic to the hair, depending on the type of allergy. See Grooming the Bergamasco for more details. Bergamasco coats grow with "flocks" (the cords) for a specific reason: the coat acts as an insulation for cold and warm, and the wiry goat hair that grows into the undercoat and the woolly coat at a year old weave into the former to create this unique characteristic that has developed naturally over the course of centuries. If the coat is shaved or clipped the wiry goat hair no longer weaves into flocks but instead in homogenous giant mats that are almost impossible the comb out. By doing so, the skin which is always visible at the base of the cords is completely blocked. The Bergamasco skin produces a tremendous amount of oil to lubricate the long cords, keeping them clean and odor free. By blocking the oil next to the skin, the skin tends to rot or mildew since it is not allowed to breathe and clear the oils, creating infections, skin rashes, and hot spots. For those people who want a shorter coat, they can keep the dogs in a sporty coat. That means keeping the cord, but in a shorter length (4 to 5 inches instead of to the ground). That way the skin and coat continue to work in the natural way these dogs have evolved to be while allowing the owners to have a more manageable coat.
Exercise	The Bergamasco enjoys the outdoors and will exercise on its own accord if it lives and works on a large farm. A long daily walk, herding the sheep or a romp with the kids is ample exercise that is necessary for a happy Bergamasco.
Other Considerations	The Bergamasco Sheepdog is best suited for seasonal to cold climates. Given its dense coat which provides protection from the elements of the climate, it is not uncommon to find the Bergamasco spending its nights sleeping outdoors. The Bergamasco Sheepdog would not do well in apartment living, rather a house with a yard to provide for daily exercise.