Bergamasco

Bergamasco

The Bergamasco breed came from the Italian Alps. They have a distinctive coat that is heavily matted. The Bergamasco dog breed is very protective of its family and very wary of strangers. Bergamascos are intelligent and do not readily respond to training. They do not regard themselves as under the control of a pack leader. Instead they believe they are equals in the family that they belong to. It is recommended that they be socialized while still pups to tone down their protective traits.

The Bergamasco's Physical Characteristics
Here are some of the characteristics of the Bergamasco breed as determined by the American Kennel Club's published breed standard.

Size: males 22 ½ - 24 ½ inches; females 21 – 23 inches
Coat: three layers – undercoat, goat hair, topcoat; Undercoat – short, dense, fine texture, oily water-proofing; topcoat is abundant and mingles with the goat hair; Goat hair are from withers to midpoint of body
Color: solid gray or shades of gray, up to solid black
Eyes: large, oval, set obliquely, brown
Ears: soft, thin, hanging down, set high, bit triangular, rounded tip
Muzzle: depth and width of muzzle should equal half the length of the muzzle, blunt, tapering slightly towards nose
Nose: large, black, big and well-opened nostrils
Tail: thick at base, tapering towards tip
The Bergamasco's Origins and History
Country/Region of Origin: Italy

Original purpose: herding, guarding

Name: Also known as the Bergamasco Shepherd Dog, Bergermaschi, and Cana da Pastore Bergamasco.

Historical notes: Bergamasco dogs are an ancient breed that date back thousands of years. Their ancestors are believed to have originated from Persia but migrated west with nomads to Central Europe. The nature of their work encouraged problem-solving as a common trait among the breed. They almost became extinct at the end of the Second World War because of the falling demand of wool, the sheep the wool was sheared from, and the shepherd dogs that watched over them. Dr. Maria Andreoli led the effort in saving them from disappearing forever.