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Bergamasco Sheepdog Temperament (Intelligent, Patient): Ideal For A Home With Kids

The Bergamasco Sheepdog temperament makes this breed a joy to have around the house, especially if you have children.

He generally does well with other dogs and is okay with cats, but he prefers not to run into strangers if he can help it.

Bergamasco Sheepdog Dog Temperament and Personality

Here are four “must-know” traits that can help you decide whether the Bergamasco Sheepdog temperament is a good fit your personality and lifestyle.

1. Determined

The Bergamasco Sheepdog needs rules and boundaries to keep him in line.

Otherwise, that determination that works so well for him while he’s in the field can work against you when you’re trying to train him.

Determined dogs can be stubborn dogs, so be sure to rely on positive reinforcement to re-focus his determination and help him use it for good.

2. Intelligent

The Bergamasco’s intelligence is perhaps his strongest quality. This is because breeders bred him specifically for intelligence, and over time only the smartest dogs survived and procreated.

The purpose behind breeders’ intense focus on intelligence was so that the Bergamasco could easily spot and correct problems with the sheep herds.

He’s always keeping an eye on things, even when you think he’s sleeping. He always knows what’s going on, and where, and to whom.

3. Patient

The Bergamasco is a peaceful pup that plays well with others. He doesn’t get overly excited or “licky,” preferring to keep his deep love and loyalty for his family discreet.

His patient nature makes him a wonderful dog around kids. In fact, the Bergamasco is one of those breeds that participates in therapy sessions with handicapped children.

Those who have observed the Bergamasco with children have noted that children tend to bring out both his herding and protecting instincts.

The Bergamasco Sheepdog is not aggressive whatsoever by nature. However, he is still an excellent watchdog and not a fan of random strangers intruding upon his normal daily routine.

He will let you know if someone new is approaching your home, but he won’t be aggressive unless someone poses a direct threat to his family.

The Bergamasco is also patient and kind with other dogs as well, so long as he sees them as an equal and not as a threat. He does okay with cats, provided you bring them up together.

4. Vigilant

The Bergamasco’s vigilance is perhaps most evident when he is working on a farm, herding sheep.

He is very good at his job, and he takes it very seriously.

A Brief History of the Bergamasco Sheepdog Dog Breed

The Bergamasco Sheepdog’s history is mostly unknown.

In fact, experts only discovered in 2018 that the Bergamasco originated around 1859 as part of a group of dogs that all descended from a European hunting dog.

In addition to the Bergamasco Sheepdog, the German Shepherd and the French Berger Picard, along with four other Italian herding breeds, were part of that group.

Bergamasco Sheepdog Puppy Training

Bergamasco Sheepdog puppies are intelligent dogs who long to please their masters.

He is an independent soul, but this does not make him as stubborn as other breeds. Instead, it makes him feel like an equal to you, rather than a subordinate who must obey your commands.

Help him to understand that you need him to do something, and guide him in understanding why, and you should have better luck getting him to listen to you.

As with most other breeds, the Bergamasco does better with people and animals in general if you socialize him early and often.

The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan a world-class Dog Trainer from New Zealand is worth taking a look at. This online resource has hundreds of fun informative dog training videos that will help you quickly learn the basics and more.

Bergamasco Sheepdog Grooming

While grooming a Bergamasco may look like it could be a nightmare and a half, he actually does not require significant maintenance at all!

That’s right – if you can’t stand grooming, or have trouble keeping up with it, then the Bergamasco is the dog for you!

There are three types of hairs in the Bergamasco’s coat: “dog,” “wool,” and “goat.” He does not start to show his goat and wool hairs until he is a year old.

Once these hairs come in, you will need to separate his coat into mats. However, once you do this, you’re done!

The Bergamasco does not shed, does not require brushing, and does not need to be bathed more than once or twice a year.

His coat keeps him warm, so you should never shave him. Just leave him be, and you will both be happier for it.

Exercise

Bergamascos don’t need an overabundance of exercise, but they do need to exercise every day.

Because they always want to be around their people, you should go out there and exercise with him. Don’t just open the door and let him out.

The Bergamasco may surprise you in that he can be calm most of the time, but he finds plenty of energy to join you for exercise.

Anything you can come up with is acceptable to the Bergamasco. Playing fetch, going for a brisk walk, and running together in an open field are all agreeable to the Bergamasco.

Bergamasco Sheepdog: Staying Healthy

When it comes to health issues, the Bergamasco is a rare breed – both literally and figuratively.

Because he is so rare, he has not been overbred, and overbreeding is what typically leads to health problems. In other words, the Bergamasco does not really have any health issues to speak of.

However, it is also important to note that there are no issues to mention because experts do not have as much data gathered on the rare Bergamasco’s health.

The Bergamasco Sheepdog's life expectancy is between 13 and 15 years.

Paying close attention to your dog's size and weight can be good indicators of a healthy dog.

The average Bergamasco Sheepdog size is between 23 and 24 inches for males, and 21 and 23 inches for females.

Note: Even though the Bergamasco Sheepdog is generally healthy no dog is immune for sickness. You should still make your dog's health a top priority and get a copy of The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health.  Your Bergamasco friend will love you for it. This guide will help save you money, time and most of all you will be prepared in the event your dog starts to look unwell.

Finding the Perfect Bergamasco Sheepdog

Are you considering purchasing a Bergamasco Sheepdog puppy? Wonderful!

If you’re unsure of where to purchase one, or how much one typically costs, you can consider the following options.

Bergamasco Sheepdog Puppies for Sale

The average Bergamasco Sheepdog price is surprisingly low for a rare breed, coming in at between $1,000 and $1,200.

You can find a Bergamasco Sheepdog for sale either from a breeder or through a rescue or adoption agency.

Bergamasco Rescue and Adoption

Your local rescue organization or adoption center may have a Bergamasco Sheepdog puppy available for adoption.

However, because of his rarity, you may have to keep an eye on the local listings for a while before you find one.

It may be easier to find a Bergamasco Sheepdog mix, but probably not that much easier. If you’re looking for a Bergamasco purebred, then a breeder is probably the best way to go, since he’ll be nearly impossible to find otherwise.

Bergamasco Sheepdog Breeders

In the case of rarer breeds, like the Bergamasco, you may be better off looking for a breeder on the breed’s official website.

In this case, that website would be for The Bergamasco Sheepdog Club of America.

The club began in 1996, and it is the first official club established by members in the U.S. for the breeding and showing of Bergamascos.

An uncommon thing for an official breed’s website, there are no breeders listed. However, you can contact those who run the site for more information.

Conclusion: Why the Bergamasco Sheepdog Dog?

The Bergamasco Sheepdog temperament makes him an ideal choice if you have children. He treats children like his very own flock of sheep that he must herd and protect.

And while his coat may look like it takes days to brush, he’s actually relatively maintenance-free! Separate his three different types of hairs once they’ve all grown in, and that’s it – you’re done!

The Bergamasco loves few things more than spending time with his people, so when it comes time for exercise, get out there with him! Opening up the door and setting him free won’t cut it.

It may be tough to find Bergamasco Sheepdog dogs for sale because of the breed’s rarity but stay vigilant. You never know when you might find one or, at the very least, a mix.