| Bergamasco | ||||
 This young Bergamasco's coat has not reached its adult length |
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| Other names | Bergamasco Shepherd Dog Bergermaschi Cane da pastore Bergamasco |
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| Country of origin |  Italy |
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The Bergamasco is a breed of dog with its origins in the Italian Alps, where it was originally used as a herding dog. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic Dogs with characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans bred from a known foundation The dog ( Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated Subspecies of the gray wolf, a Mammal of the Canidae family of the order Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest A herding dog is a type of Pastoral dog that either has been trained in Herding or belongs to a breed developed for herding
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Overview
| Bergamasco overview | ||
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| Weight: | 70-84 pounds (32-38 kg. ) | |
| Height: | 23 ½ inches (60 cm) | |
| Coat: | Long, thick and shabby, with three types of hair which form mats or flocks | |
| Litter size: | 6-10 puppies | |
| Life span: | 13-15 years | |
Appearance
The Bergamasco is a medium size dog, well proportioned and harmonious having a rustic appearance. It is a solidly compact dog with a strong, powerful build that gives it great resistance without taking away any of its agility and speed of movement.
Coat and color
The breed's most distinctive feature is the unusual felted coat, a normal and healthy characteristic of the breed. The coat is characterized by three types of hair; these are abundant, and form mats or flocks. The mats start from the spine and go down the flanks, growing every year to reach the ground. The color of the coat can be anything from an appearance of gray or silver gray (in fact a merle) to a mixture of black to coal, with brown shades also intermixed. Merle is a color combination in Dogs €™ coats It is a solid base color (usually red/brown or black with lighter blue/gray or reddish patches which gives a mottled These colors may have served as a camouflage when working in the mountains.
Bergamascos are born with short, smooth fur, which slowly develops the characteristic mats as the dog grows. The mats will reach as low as the dog's paws in adulthood.
Health
Health information for this breed is sparse. The only health survey appears to be a 2004 UK Kennel Club survey, which had a sample size of 0 deceased dogs and 10 living dogs, far too few dogs from which to draw any conclusions. [1]
References
- ^ http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/570 Kennel Club/British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee. 2004. Purebred Dog Health Survey. Retrieved July 5, 2007
See also
External links
- International Bergamasco Sheepdog Association
- Bergamasco Sheepdog Club of America
- Bergamasco Sheepdog Association of Canada
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