Bergamasco

The Begamasco is a rare breed of sheepherding dog that originated near the town of Bergamo in the Italian Alps. Like the corded Puli, it is rarely seen on the street, but is a traffic-stopper. This is largely by virtue of its heavily felted coat. The coat is thick and waterproof, and serves to insulate the dog from hot and cold weather extremes. This breed is reputed to have an excellent sense of hearing and a "psychic"� ability to sense danger. It has even warned owners before a human or another dog became unexpectedly violent. It is an excellent watchdog. It is naturally brave, and has an impressive sense of property boundaries which it will insist that the stranger honor The Begamasco is a medium-sized dog and stands from 22 to 24 inches tall. It is compact, sturdy and strong, with great agility and speed of movement. Puppies are not born with the felted coat, but have smooth, short, soft fur; the adult coat begins to develop when the pup reaches six to nine months of age. The felted lengths called "flocks"� - reach from the root on the spine to the flanks, and grow yearly to reach the ground, when they are shorn like that of a sheep. The flocks are made up of three distinct types of hair, woven together: a woolly, fine top coat that adds warmth; a middle layer called the "goat hair"� which is harsh, long and weather resistant; and a dense, thick undercoat with an oily texture that is waterproof. Several flocks hang over the eyes in a sort of bang, and it is believed that these serve as visor to block the sun that is reflected off the snow, as the dog works in high Alpine terrain. The coat color may be sliver, gray, red, brown, or black, solid or with any of these colors intermixed. It is believed that its coat once served to camouflage it as it worked in the rugged mountain terrain. The Begamasco is an ancient sheepdog of the drover style, one of many developed from sheep and cattle dogs that came west from Central Asia with nomadic tribes as they migrated. These dogs were used to guard the livestock by night and to drive it by day. They were also used to guard the camps and families from thieves and marauders. It is believed that the Begamasco comes directly from a dog that originated in Persia (now Iran). As the nomadic farmers settled in the Italian Alps, they kept their sheepherding dogs with them as part of their way of life and sustenance. In Italy it is believed that the Bergamasco is little changed since through the centuries, because for a long time the shepherds kept the breeding lines secret. After World War II, wool production in Italy was at an all-time low, and consequently the need for the services of the Bergamasco had waned. By 1950 the breed was near extinction. Dr. Maria Andreoli, an Italian breeder and scientist, studied the genetic makeup and characteristics of the breed and over half a century worked to revive it. In the end her kennels produced many champion dogs and she was instrumental in bringing the breed to the attention of the rest of Europe and the U.S. The Bergamasco has been listed with the American Kennel Club's Foundation Stock Service since 1997. The Begamasco is a member of the herding group of dogs, and as such is naturally intelligent, territorial and an independent thinker This breed is active, lively, alert and althetic under its massive coat. Its hallmark traits are an agility of movement that borders on the acrobatic, and a willingness to work. Average lifespan of the Begamasco is 10 to 13 years. There is at present little information available on the health of the breed due to its rarity outside the Italian Alps.This breed is not suited to live in warm climates, due to the character of its coat. The Begamasco is ill-suited to life in an apartment, and needs a much larger space and a larger home. It requires daily exercise in the form of a good half-hour long walk, in order to stay fit. This breed is capable of long hikes when asked, and enjoys the outdoors immensely. Some Begamascos are fond of water play. With daily diligence, the felted coat of the Begamasco is surprisingly easy to care for. When the pup is about nine month old, the puppy coat comes out, and the adult coat comes in and naturally begins to form mats. These mats continue to grow throughout the dog's life, reaching the ground when the dog is 5 years old or so. The coat does not need to be brushed. It should not be clipped short, because doing so upsets the natural balance of the oil in the skin and can cause severe skin problems. If the owner wishes to have the dog in a shorter coat, a professional groomer aware of the specific needs of the breed should be consulted. These dogs have little to no "doggie odor"�, and shed very minimally. Bathing is rarely needed. Eyes and ears should be cleaned occasionally, and fur between the pads of the feet may be trimmed. When a bath is necessary, care should be taken to rinse the dog very thoroughly several times in order to remove all residue soap from the flocking. The mats may then be wrung out or squeezed with a towel. It is best to blow dry the coat, since allowing it to remain damp encourages mildew except in the driest climates; allowing it to dry naturally requires a minimum two days time! The wise owner will train the pup early to tolerate the blow dryer, and make the session enjoyable by talking or singing to the dog and rewarding calm, cooperative behavior. Blow drying takes several hours to accomplish. Like most herding breeds, this breed looks to the owner continuously for leadership and direction, and the Begamasco has an enormous ability to empathize with human emotions. This breed is not recommended for households with very small children, because the individual Begamasco may not be tolerant of rough handling and may want to herd and control youngsters. Generally, this dog gets along well with other household pets when raised with them, and is rarely dog aggressive. The Begamasco is characteristically suspicious of strangers and visitors should be cautioned to let the dog come to them, rather than the other way around. The Begamasco is extremely independent-minded and training should begin very early and must be consistent throughout its life. The Begamasco needs firm but fair leadership or can become obstinate and overly-independent. Mental stimulation is very important in this breed. The Begamasco excels in obedience and agility competitions. For both of these, the hair may be pulled away from the eyes and put in a topknot. Begamascos also enjoy herding training and trials.

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