Bergamasco Shepherd Dog
Other names: Bergamasco, Cane da pastore Bergamasco, Knut

The forerunner of the Bergamasco breed originated in Persia (yesteryear Iran) and was brought westwards by migrating farmers and societal drift. Since its conception in the mid-1800s the breed has been used for herding and roving. The dog is extremely rare in the UK: ten years ago it was estimated that only 30 such dogs were native to the British Isles.
Key facts about the Bergamasco Shepherd Dog
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Origins and history
The ancestor of the Bergamasco came from Persia. According to students of canine heritage such a dog may have existed more than seven millennia ago. It migrated westwards amid centuries of societal shifting to find its more recent home (1850s) in the Italian Alps near the town of Bergamo. Genetic ‘paw-printing’ shows that it was around this time that the first Bergamasco was born.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Section
Section 1 : Sheepdogs
Physical characteristics of the Bergamasco Shepherd Dog
Adult size
Female : Between 21 and 23 in
Male : Between 23 and 24 in
Weight
Female : Between 57 and 71 lb
Male : Between 71 and 84 lb
Coat colour
The Bergamasco is only found of black or grey colours. The black coat tends to bronze in the sun.
Type of coat
The double coat is long and actually consists of three types of fur: the undercoat, the top coat and the goat hair.
Eye colour
Dark brown or chestnut.
Description
A medium-sized dog with an abundant matted coat. The dog is stocky and sturdy; its body is almost square in appearance. The muzzle is rather flat and broad leading to a gradually sloping stop and upwards to a medium-sized and reasonably flat skull. The ears are set high and drop but are not flat against the cheek.
Good to know
The coat of the Bergamasco is self-cleaning. As a result of this, the dog should only be bathed once or twice a year. The exception to this rule would be if the dog needed to be cleaned for some reason. Cutting or over-grooming this dog’s coat can cause the dog to develop skin infections and irritations.
Temperament
Behaviour of the Bergamasco Shepherd Dog
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Is the Bergamasco Shepherd Dog right for you?
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Compatibility
Price
The price of purchase for a Bergamasco Shepherd puppy is between £700 and £1,000. It will cost approximately £80 to £120 per month to keep this dog.
Grooming
The Bergamasco’s coat changes in texture and quality throughout the dog’s early years; it is worthwhile to read a more comprehensive account of how to treat the dog’s coat. By the time the coat is fully-formed (when the dog reaches 3 years old) it should be left ungroomed.
Nutrition of the Bergamasco Shepherd Dog
It is always worthwhile to feed a Bergamasco a high-quality and specially formulated dog food rather than human food.
Health of the Bergamasco Shepherd Dog
Life expectancy
Having been successfully bred for centuries the Bergamasco is generally healthy and robust. Its life expectancy is 13 to 15 years.
Strong / robust
This particular breed of sheepdog is one of the hardiest.
Withstand heat
Due to the insulating quality of the coat, the Bergamasco will tolerate hot weather but still needs an abundant supply of fresh water during the summer months.
Withstand cold
The double coat of the Bergamasco keeps the dog warm even when walking in the rain and snow.
Tendency to put on weight
Weight gain can be a feature of the Bergamasco. If your Bergamasco is not exercised as regularly as it should be and is fed too much human or substandard food it will become obese.
Common illnesses
- Hip dysplasia
- Eye issues
- Obesity
- Bloat/gastric torsion