Bergamasco Shepherd

Also known as: Bergamasker

The Bergamasco Shepherd developed in the Italian Alps near Bergamo, herding sheep for centuries in harsh mountain conditions with minimal human oversight. Its most distinctive trait is a coat that mats naturally into thick felted strands called flocchi, which form over the dog's first year and act as insulation and armor against predator bites. A male weighs around 38 kilograms, with a solid, well-balanced build suited to working steep slopes. The breed is known for unusual independence among herding dogs, since it traditionally had to make its own decisions managing a flock without constant human direction. Grooming largely comes down to occasionally separating the mats rather than daily brushing. Life expectancy runs 13 to 15 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Bergamasco Shepherd: how old in human years?

56–62 cmHeight
26–38 kgWeight
13–15 yrsLife expectancy

Polish Lowland Sheepdog

FCI group: Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
FCI section: Section 1: Sheepdogs
FCI: 194
Country of origin: Italy

Energy level

3/5
Trainability

4/5
Family friendly

5/5
Grooming need

4/5

At a glance

Height

Males 60–62 cm

Females 56–58 cm

Weight

Males 32–38 kg

Females 26–32 kg

Life expectancy

13–15 yrs

Coat

corded, felted mats (flocchi) (long)

Temperament & Family Life

Bergamasco Shepherd's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 5/5
Good with children 4/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 2/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 4/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Bergamasco Shepherd's energy and exercise needs are low.

Energy level 3/5
Exercise need 3/5
Apartment friendly 2/5
Prey drive 2/5
Hunting instinct 1/5

Guarding & Alertness

Bergamasco Shepherd's guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

Guarding instinct 4/5
Watchfulness 4/5
Barking level 2/5

Grooming & Care

Bergamasco Shepherd's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 1/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 4/5

Living with the Bergamasco Shepherd

From a distance a Bergamasco Shepherd looks like a large, slowly moving haystack; up close it is a dog studying you carefully from behind its curtain of mats. This old breed of the Italian Alps guarded and herded flocks of sheep, working largely on its own, so it is calm, thoughtful and has opinions of its own. It doesn't need a punishing workload: a good daily walk, some freedom somewhere safe and something to occupy its mind suit it very well.

It learns well and understands quickly, but responds best to calm, consistent, respectful handling rather than barked orders. With its family it is gentle and devoted, patient with children and likes to be wherever its people are. With strangers it is reserved and watchful: it will announce an arrival, keep an eye on the visitor and make up its own mind whether they can be trusted, so early socialisation with all kinds of people pays off.

A flat is not the best choice for such a big dog; a house with a garden it can treat as its own territory suits it better. Its prey drive is low, so a cat or hens in the yard are more likely to become its charges than its targets. In the evening it will happily settle by the door or at your feet, where it can see both the whole family and whatever is happening outside.

Grooming and coat

A Bergamasco Shepherd's coat is like no other: it forms flat, felted mats as dense as wool felt that drape over the dog like an old mountain shepherd's cloak. A puppy's coat is still soft, but as the dog matures the hair starts to felt, and that is the busiest stretch: the forming mats need to be separated by hand into distinct sections so they don't fuse into one big rug. It takes time, so it is worth talking beforehand to the breeder or a groomer who knows this coat. A coat like this is not brushed, and it sheds very little.

Once the mats have formed, daily care is easy, but bathing becomes a project: you can wash such a dog, but it takes a very long time to dry, so baths are rare and only when truly needed. After a walk in the woods check the coat for twigs, burrs and grass awns caught in it, and look at the skin between the mats for ticks and redness. The ears and eyes sit under long hair, so check them regularly; if you see weeping, redness or a bad smell, see a vet.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (38 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 395 g of dry food a day, from €21,76 a month For a neutered, normally active 32 kg dog. Calculate for your dog