Breed Standard
Head: Large appearance. Capacious skull. Pronounced superciliary arches. Marked stop. Fairly short, blunt muzzle. Large nose.
Ears: Soft, triangular drop ears. Thin leather
Eyes: Large and oval. Brown color. Darkness of shade varies with color of coat. Black rims. Long fall covering the eyes.
Body: Square body outline. No dewlap on the neck. Full brisket. Short, powerful loin. Straight, well-muscled back. Broad, sloping, solid, well-muscled croup.
Tail: Thick and strong at the base tapering toward the tip. Covered in slightly wavy, shaggy hair. Hangs in the shape of a saber when relaxed.
Hair: Very long and wiry (goat hair) on the front portion of the body. Corded over the rest of the body. Short, dense, soft undercoat.
Coat: Gray flecked with black, tan, or white. Uniform black coat is acceptable, though uniform white is not. White spots covering no more than 1/5 of the body are permitted.
Size: Dog: 58 to 62 cm. (22.8-24 in).Bitch: 54 to 58 cm. (21.2-22.8 in).
Weight: Dog: 32 to 38 kg. (70.5-83.8 lb).Bitch: 26 to 32 kg. (57.5-70.5 lb).
History
The origins of the Pastore Bergamasco are unknown. A genetic study in 2018 found evidence of haplotypes shared with other European breeds including the Berger Picard, the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Briard.
A dog of this type was exhibited at the first Italian dog show in Milan in 1881. The first registration of the breed in the Libro Origini Italiano, the Italian national stud-book, was in 1891. A breed association, now called the Associazione Amatori del Cane da Pastore Bergamasco, was established in 1949. The breed was recognised by the Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana in 1956, and was definitively accepted by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in the same year.
In the nine years from 2011 to 2019, annual registrations in Italy averaged 97 per year, with a maximum of 149 and a minimum of 48.
Behavior
Alert, keen, and well-balanced, this dog has an ideal personality for flock guarding. This breed's friendly disposition, gentleness, and patience also make him an excellent pet. His impressive size makes him a good guard dog. This often stubborn dog requires early, firm training.
This is not a city dweller. He needs space and a lot of exercise. Groom the coat by running your fingers through the hairs to separate the cords.
Function
Sheepdog, Guard Dog, Search-And-Rescue Dog (avalanches, natural disasters), Pet.
Health
Health information for this breed is sparse.
