This is Penny from Flying Circus Bergamasco in Norway (find link here). The four pictures are great examples of how the coat changes from the puppy stage through to a mature adult stage.
Puppy coat
There's no denying it, Bergamasco puppies are adorable! They have long, unbelievably soft hair that requires minimum maintenance. They'll get dirty, all puppies do, however, at this stage it's very easy to give them a quick wash and they will dry quickly. Whilst the maintenance of the coat is minimal, it is a good idea to get your puppy used to grooming and a gentle hands on approach will ensure your pup is comfortable whilst being groomed. Regular brushing is recommended to avoid any unwanted Mats and tangles forming.
Adolescent coat
Somewhere between 8 to 12 months the coat changes. Your pup suddenly becomes a fluff ball (see top left picture). The adult coat is starting to grow and you will notice a woolly undercoat appearing, as well as course grey hair starting to appear (This is known as Goat hair). As a puppy owner, you'll often wonder how you will know when it's time to put the brush down and let the matting process takes on it's natural course. All I can say is, you'll just know. The coat goes crazy and your brush can be put away (well almost). A mixture of panic and excitement kick in and you'll wonder what you need to do and when it needs to be done. Clumps of hair will start to form and your once beautiful puppy will start to look rather unkempt. At this stage it is important to just leave it and let nature take its course. Some parts of the coat will develop faster than others; I seem to remember that it was my Gertie's legs and chest that went first with her back matting at a later stage.
A few months after the brush has been put down, the matting will finally become long enough to set i.e. you can create the flocks (see top right picture). Everyone has there own method of doing this and also their own preference of how they want their Bergamasco to look. I, for example, created vertical lines of mats before splitting each of the lines into flocks but there really is no right or wrong way.
This video shows one of the methods. Whether or not you want to follow this method, the video is worth a watch to give you an idea about the state and length of the coat and when the setting/flocking process should be attempted. The Bergamasco in the video was 16 months old.
The adult coat
You've set the coat. How long does it take before my Bergamasco looks like a Bergamasco? No coat is the same but as a guideline it will probably when your dog reaches 2 years old that the flocks are prominent enough for your dog to be instantly recognisable as a Bergamasco. From here, it's plane sailing and coat maintenance is minimal. You will still need to regularly and carefully brush around the eyes to ensure no matting occurs and pay particular attention to the ears. Regular brushing of the head is recommended.
The now prominent flocks will continue to grow longer and longer (See Penny at 4 years old - bottom right) and you won't be able to walk down the street without getting stopped every few meters by people wanting to ask about you dog and wanting to take photos. This is (probably) what it feels like to be a celebrity!
Coat Questions
Does the coat smell? It depends what your dog's rolled on/in! If your dog has behaved and hasn't rolled in anything, the coat doesn't smell. If your dog is wet then it can smell a little like wet woolly jumpers but as long as you dry the coat it'll be fine. At the end of the day, don't all wet dogs smell?
How long does the coat take to dry? It can take a long time if left to dry naturally and it really will vary from dog to dog due to coat length and thickness. If it's a fairly warm spring or sunny day, then the simple way is to squeegy the flocks by hand and let them dry in the warm air. If you want to speed up the process then you can use some fans to blow away the worst of the wetness.
Can the Bergamasco see? You'll be surprised how often you'll get asked this question by strangers. I've found the best approach is to just say no! Of course they can see, their vision is absolutely fine and their long hair is kept out of their eyes by wonderfully long eyelashes. That said, there will be times when your Bergamasco will walk into things (mostly through not paying attention). My Gertie has walked into lamp posts, bins and, last week, a mobility scooter with an elderly lady sat on it.
Can I bathe my Bergamasco? Yes. It's a dog and it will roll in something it thinks smells nice - like fox poo. We've found it best to do spot washes as and when required rather than the whole coat.
Can I clip my Bergamasco's coat? Theoretically, yes. There are Bergamascos with a short, clipped coat. The question is, why would you want to? The Bergamasco is an ancient breed and its coat has naturally developed and evolved to protect the dog from the environment, the heat, the cold and predators. The coat is such a big part of the dog and it truly is amazing. Whilst the majority of Bergamascos are no longer sat on top of the Alps with their shepherd, the coat still plays an important role in regulating the dogs temperature and protecting its skin.
There will be times when it is absolutely appropriate to clip the coat back. For example, a clipped elderly dog will benefit from not having to carry around the additional weight of a full coat; There will be veterinary reasons that may require the coat to be clipped and also there will be owners living in particularly harsh or hot environments (although definitely not in the UK!).
Can I continue to brush my Bergamasco's coat so it doesn't flock? Theoretically, yes. Good luck with that! You'll brush the beginnings of a flock out only for it to be back the next day so continually brushing will be a real labour of love.
I hope that helps a little. My aim is to post a blog about all things that will help with owning a Bergamasco, from cheap home made treats to grooming care. One thing I won't be blogging on any time soon is general training. I can barely get my Bergamasco to sit. If I give the command, she'll just look at me as if to say "why?". Another common trait of the Bergamasco!
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