Bergamasco Shepherd
AKA: Bergamaschi, Bergamese Shepherd, Cane da Pastore Bergamasco, Bergamo Shepherd Dog
Description: The Bergamasco Shepherd is an ancient dog breed which can be traced back to at least 2000 years. It is a medium-sized dog, well-proportioned, and well well-balanced. It has a rustic appearance, distinctly set apart from the other breeds by its unique coat.
The Bergamasco Shepherd’s coat has three types of hair that forms mats or flocks. The mats would start from the spin and grow down each year reaching for the ground. The dog also has a thick curtain of hair covering its eyes, acting as a visor against the sun’s reflection off the snow in the mountains.
Dynamics: The Bergamasco Shepherd is an intelligent and peaceful dog. It gets along really well with its own kind and grow up in harmony with them. It has no natural impulse towards rivalry and domination and avoids provoking one another. It can be seen to have great respect for other Bergamasco Shepherds.
The Bergamasco Shepherd is attentive at the same time reserved. It would appear to be asleep or uninterested but it will participate in everything that goes around it. It is an excellent watch dog because it keeps an eye on its environment and doesn’t really like strangers appearing suddenly. When it comes to children , the Bergamasco Shepherd shows a very touching spot. It is patient, tolerant, and encouraging to the children, at the same time protecting them. This breed is actually used as therapy dogs for handicapped children.
While generally, the Bergamasco gets along with other dog breeds, it is better not to have it near a very protective breed. The Bergamasco also gets along with cats and other pets as long as it is socialized with them at an early age. Regarding strangers, it will all depend on how the Bergamasco senses him or her.
Breed Group: Herding
Weight: males 70-84 lbs (32-38 kg), females 57-71 lbs (26-32 kg)
Height: males 23 ½ inches (60 cm), females 22 inches (56 cm)
Color: The Bergamasco Shepherd can come in anything ranging from from gray or silver gray to anthracite. This color served as a camouflage for the breed when working in the mountains.
Country of Origin: The Bergamasco Shepherd officially originated in Italy. It is a very ancient breed, though, that its bloodline is traced from shepherds and cattle dogs from the Orient and the West, in the time when migration among nomad populations were happening. The first Bergamasco Shepherds was said to have been commonly found in the Alpine Arc and in the Po Basin of Piedmont and Lombardy, where they went in the winter.
Grooming: The Bergamasco Shepherd will not need so much grooming when it is fully flocked. Bathing and brushing is still needed, of course.
The three types of hair the Bargamasco Shepherd has are: the undercoat, which is fine, dense, and oily, forming a waterproof layer; the goat hair, which are long strands of hair similar to the coat of a goat; and the woolly top coat, which is soft and finer than the other two types of hair. It is when the woolly hair weaves together with the goat hair that flocking happens. The flocks continues to grow throughout the dog’s life, reaching the ground at its age of five years.
Activities: The Bergamasco Shepherd loves and enjoys the outdoors. It will be content on herding the sheep or playing with the children.
Other Info: The Bergamasco Shepherd has a life expectancy of 13-15 years. The Bergamasco Shepherd is perfect for seasonal to cold climates, as their dense coats will provide protection from the cold elements. This breed is not suitable for an apartment life and would sometimes prefer sleeping outdoors.
Tags: bergamaschi, bergamasco, bergamese, shepherd