Bergamasco

Bergamascos are generally calm and tolerant with other dogs — their steady, even temperament means they rarely seek confrontation. They are gentle with family children and typically accepting of visitors once they have assessed them in their measured way. Their pastoral guardian heritage means they take their role seriously — they are watchful and protective without being aggressive. Early socialisation develops appropriate social confidence. They are naturally clean dogs and relatively quiet, making them manageable in a domestic setting despite their large size and extraordinary coat.

The Bergamasco’s coat is unlike any other breed and requires specialist knowledge. The coat is composed of three different types of hair that weave together to form flat mats or flocks — never cords like the Puli or Komondor, but distinct flat felt-like layers. The coat must never be brushed once the flocking process has begun, typically from around one year of age. The flocks must be manually separated by hand on a regular basis to prevent the entire coat matting into one solid mass. This separation work is time-consuming but not painful for the dog when done correctly and regularly. Bathing is infrequent — the natural oils in the coat provide significant self-cleaning properties — but when bathed, the coat requires many hours to dry thoroughly. Grooming appointments should only be undertaken by professionals with specific experience of corded or flocked coat breeds. Any groomer unfamiliar with this coat type should not attempt to groom a Bergamasco without prior research and consultation with breed specialists.