Bergamasco Puppies in Maine- what to expect from a preservation breeder

Many people begin their search simply looking for Bergamasco puppies, but availability is only one part of the picture. As a preservation breeder in Maine, my focus is on raising puppies that reflect the breed’s original function, sound structure, and stable temperament. It’s pretty easy to decide that you want a Bergamasco, but what should you look for in a breeder? If I were looking for a puppy to join my program outside of our own breedings, there are a few key things that I would be looking for:

Does my breeder know their pedigrees?

As a family looking for a puppy to love, you may not really care about what their great x 6 grandparent was like but as a breeder, I do. Our puppies are a sum of all the parts that came before them. A rare breed like this, sometimes it’s difficult to know what the dogs were like several generations back because they were likely from another country in Europe and there are no records that are accessible other than registration info. If we are lucky, we can find some health tests and old photos and possibly some old writings about some of these dogs. What we really have to go on, are the generations closer to us that start to give us a back-story. Any current breeder in the U.S. should at the very least know what is immediately behind their own dogs. If we’re lucky, we have multiple generations of information to draw from to make informed breeding decisions.

Are the dogs health tested?

Is your breeder transparent about the health of their breeding dogs? If your breeder is unwilling to provide you with tangible proof of health scores including but not limited to ( OFA or PennHIP for hips and elbows) I would not walk, I would run. Ask for it on paper and online. Why wouldn’t you want a puppy from a person who is making informed choices in their breedings? Don’t take someones word for it because words are well, just words. Does your puppy have to come from all passing scores? That is your discretion but you should still have this information to help you decide. Does your breeder do DNA on all of their dogs? DNA such as Embark ( there are many others) can test for well over a hundred of genetic variants . Does your breeder plan their litters with this in mind or are they mating together whatever dogs they happen to have at their disposal?

Does my breeder understand the canine anatomy and structure of their breed?

If you are looking for a show puppy, a puppy that can do sports, a puppy that can work with livestock, a puppy that can hike with you as an adult, a puppy that can keep up with children….then this matters. This also ties into health testing. A dog that is dysplastic and in pain can not do many of these things and a dog that is poorly structured will have many of the same limitations. Does your breeder know which structural faults will impact your goals with your puppy? Does your breeder know what to look for in a show prospect? These are questions worth asking.

Does my breeder enrich the development of my puppy ?

This ties in early stimulation, socialization, securing good footing, ensuring good nutrition of the dam, ensuring the safety and well-being of the growing puppies. Do the puppies go outside and do they hear household sounds? Are they age-appropriately exposed to surfaces, sounds, textures, people and dogs and conversely does your breeder recognize a fear period, thus limiting exposure at these times. This kind of framework is what helps your puppy become adaptable and makes your job a bit easier when your puppy comes home. If your puppy has been exposed to the car and crates early on, the transition into the new home will have a few less bumps and make the new experience better for everyone, especially those first few days.

Does my breeder let me pick the puppy?

Let me explain why this is not a great thing. As a person/family looking for a puppy, you may have an idea of what you want. Maybe it’s that beautiful merle female with the gorgeous contrasting pattern or maybe its the big beautiful black male with the huge paws that steals your heart. Your breeder has been with these puppies since their entrance into the world and has watched their personalities develop( we have another blog post on this subject you can check out). If you are looking for a couch buddy, a snuggle puppy etc. the merle girl with the flashy markings that has high prey drive, endless energy and requires more targeted training to follow some of the rules may not be the right puppy for you. Only your breeder can know which puppy is a good temperament and personality match for your needs. A breeder that lets you pick your puppy is not only doing a disservice to you, but also to every other puppy family on pick up day.

Does my breeder provide guidance and support?

You are likely going to have questions, at the very least, about the coat. Is your breeder willing to help you in a way that sets you up to be successful? Is your breeder going to shame you when you struggle? If you want to clip the coat short is your breeder going to say you’ve broken the contract over that? A Bergamasco can live in it’s fabulous coat or not. Either way, this is your choice. The only caveat is for dog showing. A Bergamasco needs to be in a natural length of coat for this particular reason but this should be discussed with your breeder beforehand.

Does my breeder have a contract that protects us both?

The contract is there for both sides and it’s ultimate function is to protect the puppy. Always read it ahead of time before picking up your puppy.

Finding the right Bergamasco puppy is not just about what is available in the moment, but about choosing a breeder who is thoughtful in how their dogs are bred and raised. There are some really wonderful breeders out there, and others who may not put the same care into the decisions behind their puppies. My puppies often go to homes all over the country, and what matters most is making a good match for both the puppy and the family. Take your time, ask questions, and do not feel rushed into a decision.