A Life With Bergamascos
My introduction to the Bergamasco Sheepdog came in 2005, when I came across a photograph in a rare dog encyclopedia. At the time, I was living on a farm in Nova Scotia with goats and sheep, and there was something about this unusual breed that immediately caught my attention. Its history, working heritage, and unmistakable presence all appealed to me.
Being Sicilian and having strong ties to my Italian heritage made the breed's origins even more meaningful. I've always felt a deep connection to Italy, its culture, and its traditions, and the idea of helping preserve a breed with such a long history in my ancestral homeland held a particular appeal. The more I learned about the Bergamasco, the more I felt it was a breed I wanted to be part of.
Our first Bergamasco was Lothario, who came to us from the United States. A year later, we imported our foundation female, Mezza, from England. From the beginning, I was never interested in the breed simply because it was unusual. I wanted to understand it. I wanted to know where it came from, how it was supposed to move, how it thought, what kind of structure supported the work, and what made the Bergamasco different from other breeds.
In 2007, Mezza and Lothario produced the first Bergamasco litter born in Nova Scotia. Since then, Alp Angel has grown through seven generations of our own dogs, and puppies we have bred now live throughout North America and in Europe.
My interest in the Bergamasco has always gone well beyond producing puppies or showing dogs. I have been involved in the breed club world for most of my time in Bergamascos and served as president of the Bergamasco Sheepdog Club of America for ten years, during an important period that included the long process leading to AKC recognition in 2015. I later founded the Bergamasco Shepherd Association of Canada and have worked toward Canadian Kennel Club recognition for the breed. The Bergamasco has since gained Miscellaneous Class status with the CKC, an important step toward full recognition.
Education has also been a major part of my involvement with the breed. I am an AKC Open Show judge and have been involved in judges education for both the American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club for nearly two decades. I have given seminars and talks to judges, breeders, owners, students, and members of the public, and I genuinely enjoy teaching people about the breed. Bergamascos are easy to misunderstand if you look only at the coat. Correct type, sound structure, movement, temperament, working ability, and breed character all matter, and I believe education is one of the most important parts of preserving a rare breed well.
I have also been exhibiting dogs for more than twenty years. Alp Angel dogs have set records in AKC competition and have earned multiple Best of Breed wins at Westminster. Those accomplishments mean a great deal to me, but they are only one part of the picture. I am equally proud of dogs we have bred who have earned herding and performance titles, because the Bergamasco is first and foremost a herding breed. Structure, temperament, conditioning, and type should all support the dog’s original purpose.
Today, my husband and I live on a farm in Maine with our dogs and horses. The dogs live as part of our everyday life, not as kennel dogs, and that has always been important to us. They are companions first, whether they are show dogs, breeding dogs, performance dogs, retired dogs, or simply lying around the house being themselves.
Living with Bergamascos for more than twenty years has shaped the way I think about dogs. They are intelligent, perceptive, funny, serious, independent, and deeply connected to their people. They are not a breed for everyone, and they are not simply a shaggy dog with an unusual coat. They require respect, understanding, and an appreciation for the whole dog.
Alp Angel Bergamascos grew out of that relationship. It was never intended to become a commercial kennel. It has always remained a small, personal breeding program centered on a rare breed I love, with the goal of preserving health, temperament, sound structure, working ability, and authentic Bergamasco character for the generations that come next.
Breeding Philosophy
After more than twenty years with Bergamascos, I feel a real responsibility to this breed. There aren't many of them, and I don't take the decision to bring another litter into the world lightly. I've always kept my breeding program small because I want to know my dogs well and have a good reason for every breeding. I love the Bergamasco for what it is, but I also believe that loving a breed means being honest about its strengths and weaknesses and recognizing where we can do better. I spend a lot of time thinking about structure, movement, health, and temperament. I've never been interested in exaggeration or following trends, whether it's in the show ring or in breeding. I want balanced, sound dogs that can move comfortably and enjoy long, active lives. To me, good structure isn't just about how a dog looks standing in a photograph. It affects how that dog will live and move every day of its life. Temperament is just as important. One of the things I love most about Bergamascos is how thoughtful and observant they are, and the wonderful relationships they develop with their people. I want my dogs to be confident, steady, and comfortable in the world, without being sharp or reactive. My puppies are raised in my home, surrounded by the normal activity of everyday life, and I put a great deal of thought into the experiences they have before leaving me. Health testing is an important part of my breeding decisions, but I also try to look at the bigger picture, considering not just the puppies in front of me but the generations that will follow. I'm equally thoughtful about the families my puppies go to. I don't place puppies simply because someone contacted me first. I want to get to know people, understand their lives, and make sure the dog and the family are a good match. And that relationship doesn't end when a puppy leaves my home. I'm always available to the families who have my dogs. I've never wanted to produce large numbers of puppies. I want to enjoy the dogs I live with, make thoughtful decisions, and hopefully contribute something positive to the future of a breed that has been such an important part of my life.
Recognition & Affiliations
