History
Bergamasco an ancient breed hails from Persia and has been existing for the past 2000 years. It was brought by the nomads and the traders. The nomads were based in the Alpine area of Bergamo and named their pets as Bergamasco. However, they were about to get extinct after World War 2, but Dr. Maria Andreoli (Italian breeder) saved this breed from getting extinct. The official club of this race is in the USA, titled, The Bergamasco Sheepdog Club of America founded in 1996. They were registered with the AKC in the year 2014 and taking part in the Herding category in 2015.
Interesting Facts
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Its silver-grey coat acts as a camouflage for them to hide from predators.
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It is also termed as a cattle dog as it brings back the herds after grazing without the help of the owners.
Temperament and Personality
The breed is known for their peaceful, friendly and well-balanced behavior. They are an excellent companion with high intelligence and can learn to tackle their problems without any human guidance. Although they don’t bark much, they are great guard dogs and will protect its family in any situation. They are good with children and are used as a therapy dog for disabled ones and also have a nickname ‘Nanny Dogs.’ It does not harm other dogs until the time they become a threat to it, but they are not suitable for apartment life due to its size.
Exercise
The dog is highly energetic and requires space like a farm or yard to play in. They can also exercise in the form of long walks twice a day and to keep their mind distracted preventing them from getting bored. They also love puzzles and mental stimulation.
Grooming
The grooming of the dog depends upon the type of coat. It has three different types of hair.
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A fine, dense, oily undercoat
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Harsh and log strands, similar to goat’s fur forms the middle coat
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The upper layer is soft and wooly giving it a weaving texture
It is not a difficult task to groom them, although it may differ at different stages of their life. Brush the pup’s coat with a pin brush to avoid tangles and dirt and later stages try to tackle the hair manually. After it develops its wooly textured fur, brush it to remove dirt and bathe them only when necessary. Check its ears, brush its teeth and trim its nails regularly to avoid problems.
Health Problems
It is a healthy breed, so it does not have any health issues but prevent it from bloating, eye problem or hip dysplasia.
Training
Due to its keen personality, they are easy to train and are suitable for trainers who are consistent, firm and clear. If not taught with a positive mind, they can turn harsh and stubborn as they are already independent-minded. Reward-based training is the best method to guide such kind of pet and even prepare them to socialize well with other people and animals.
Feeding
As it is significant in size, it requires 3 to 4 cups of food to satisfy its hunger. Give them good quality dry food split into at least two meals daily.
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