Bergamasco

FCI:

Bergamasco Shepherd Group I. - Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs,Section 1 - Sheepdogs. Recognized in the year 1898th.

General Appearance:

Bergamasco Shepherd is strong but very agile, brave and hardy, highly adaptable, quiet and very confident. Despite its courage, natural keenness and watchdog capabilities is perfect, extremely loyal, intelligent, obedient and kind friend. Nowadays it is used as social dog with very interesting look.

Temperament & Behaviour:

Owner must be calm and resolute, natural authority, able to use it without the slightest violence. Beginner is not a good owner, you must have experience with dog. If your attitude to this breed is calm, quiet and responsible. You will handle with this dog from young age like that it will develop to an impressive, easy to train dog. The relationship between it and the owner must be based on mutual understanding and respect.

Owner and members of its family remains at all times completely faithful, but it never does any "obtrusive"; it has its dignity and is very independent.  Its decisions are made in different situations fundamentally by itself, in its sole discretion, therefore, since it can never be expected even require absolute slavish obedience.

It is incorruptible and consistent guard. It is extremely distrustful of strangers and against intruders it is very strongly indeed irreconcilable. The visit, which is unknown, it must always accept and let into the apartment, house or garden when owner is not present. Initially it is reserved, then it is willing to accept and tolerate. It can become a social dog, it is very important start with its early socialization.

Remember  it barks very little, but it  still maximally  alert and ready to intervene whenever , so it must be the owner, who is absolutely sure of its reaction, if not the dog  must be under control.

Thanks to its coat it can be all year in the outdoor kennel. The coat is necessary to take care of it since young age to get individual grooming. Dog must get used to pass grooming if not the dog is aggressive, does not like it at all.

It needs a lot of exercise, long walks it is advisable to have a dog on a leash. It is advisable to always keep it at least a half-step behind the owner or max. With its nose level to owner´s knee, it can never be in front of owner.

Body:

This is a medium sized dog, rustic look strong, but perfectly symmetrical, balanced body with a rich coat. The body length should be the same as height at wither, body size can be up shortly rectangular. Ideal height at withers for males is 60 cm, 56 cm for females, with a tolerance of +/- 2 cm. Weight of body is  for dogs between 32-38 kg for females is 26-32 kg.

The head has the shape of a quadrangular prism and looks great. The skull must be the same length as the muzzle is broad and above the earlobes slightly arched. Topline of skull is parallel with the line of the muzzle. Browridges are significant, longitudinal front cutting furrow is palpable. The zygomatic arches can be seen, occiput protrudes and is noticeable. The frontal slope must be steep, with front bumps and zygomatic arches. Muzzle should be broad and toward the nose. Nasal bridge must be straight. The earlobes are set high, broad at the base and stand-off in the last two-thirds hanging triangular shape. When roused little lift off. Hair on them is somewhat wavy, soft and forms protruding ends "fringing".

The lower profile of the muzzle is almost straight, the lips are soft and bland, the edges of fully pigmented, covering the teeth. Oral mouth corners should not be visible, upper and lower jaw is well developed, the bottom has to be really strong and adequately powerful. The teeth should be white teeth are required to complete bite must be scissors.

The eyes are large and pointing straight forward, the iris according to the coat colour light or dark hazel. Eye slits are slightly oval-shaped, slightly oblique. Eyelids tightly fitting to the eyeballs.

The neck should be viewed from the side of its neck slightly arched, slightly shorter than the head, flows into the body. Topline body is formed protruding withers, otherwise it should be quite straight, only slightly arched loin and rump is somewhat sloping, well-muscled and strong. The back is straight, well-muscled and well wide. The chest should be capacious, consisting of well-sprung ribs and deep so that it reaches to the elbows.

The tail is set at 1/3 of the length of the croup and reaches to the hock. At the root has to be strong and towards the tip tapers evenly. It covers so-called soft-goat hair. It is carried on the end like the shape of sickle.

Forequarters from the elbow to the ground level. The blades are properly formed, solid, well-muscled. The shoulder bones are strong, your elbows should be parallel. From the elbow down coat limbs must be abundant, long and dense, with a tendency of pilling. Forearms are vertical, strong bones, well-muscled, the wrist should be flexible. On the back of each is clearly visible a pea bone. Pasterns should be floating and slightly slanted. Feet should be oval in shape and well arched and closed toes, nails should be strong, curved and ticked. The pads are solid, dark colours.

Hind legs are straight, legs are long, wide and muscular. Knees should be parallel, legs are strong bones and dryly muscled, hocks are vertical. Dewclaws must be removed.

Very abundant and very long coat, varies depending on the region of the body. Rather harsh (similar to goat hair) with wavy flocks on the front part of the body, while from the middle of the chest region to the rear it is woolly and forms broad strands of varied length depending on the age of the dog; the woolly coat does not moult and traps the undercoat which is quite long and soft forming mats of felted hair which are very protective. The flocks start from the topline falling down the sides of the body. The hair on the head is less harsh and falls over the face. The hair on the ears is slightly wavy and soft forming pointed fringes at the tip. The hair on the limbs must be evenly distributed all over with soft flocks on the forelegs and matted flock on the hind legs. The coat is soft in puppies and the flocks begin to form at 12–15 months. Their length depends on the age hence young dogs must not be penalised for a coat, which has not yet lengthened. In old dogs, too thick and long a coat that hampers normal movement and compromises the dog’s welfare should be avoided. The coat should be cared for and kept clean; avoiding in particular matted flocks on the beard, muzzle and ears flaps.

Faults from the requirements of the standard is to be considered as defects and evaluate accurately the degree of seriousness with regard to health and well-being. To negative defects include toe on the top line of the skull to the muzzle, a significant overshot jaw, double squint, partially depigmented nose, surpassing the size requirements of the standard (including tolerance), tail curled as trumpet.