This section outlines a few basics rules, guidelines and training tips to help you get the very best from your new bergamasco puppy.

 Early days:
Your new puppy may need a little peace and quiet when she first arrives home. Some puppies take a new environment very much in their stride, while others may need a day or so to adjust. Help your puppy settle into her new home by ensuring she has her own bed or basket, where she can go and rest undisturbed. You will need to use soft bedding for your puppy to sleep on. We are supplying you with a toy from our home that she has been used to so she can have a little something with her that makes her feel safe.
Avoid bean filled beds as they may cause choking if torn open.
Give your puppy a routine: a time for each meal, a time to play and time to rest.

Potty training
Your puppy has been trained to do her business on pish pads. You can substitute it with wee-wee-pads from your local pet store or plain newspaper. Always put the pad (or paper) in the same place. You can also start taking your puppy outside right after each meal and after she wakes up when she is most likely to want to relieve herself. Praise her when she goes where desired. If she makes mistakes, reprimanding severely won’t work; Bergamasco puppies are very sensitive to your tone of voice and body language. A facial expression and a sharp “NO” are sufficient.

Exercising Growing Puppies
A very young puppy will get all the exercise she needs through play. In early days, keep playtime and walks short but regular. Allow your puppy to sleep and rest as much as she needs.
It's important to remember that, although most puppies have lots of energy, their bodies are immature and not ready for exercise that causes sharp or repetitious impact during the first year. Avoid strenuous exercise or forced activities (trade-mill, forced jogs etc….) at a young age, for large and giant breeds the recommendation should be 18 months or older.

The leg bones grow from areas located near their ends. These soft areas of immature bone are called growth plates (also epiphyseal plates or the epiphysis). At about 12 to 16 months, the growth plates “close” as calcium and minerals harden the soft area. When the hardening process is complete, most growth stops and the growth plates are said to be closed. Before they close, the growth plates can be injured or fractured more easily than mature bone. An injury to the growth plate can cause the bone to stop growing or to grow incorrectly.
To protect your pup against damage to the growth plates, postpone high-impact and leg-twisting activities until you're sure the growth plates are closed. Leaping after flying disks or over jumps, jogging (especially on hard surfaces), and similar activities should be avoided until the pup matures. Your puppy is going into a medium to large dog (45 to 80 pounds) so wait until she's at least 14 months old to 18 months old. If you're really impatient, you can have your puppy x-rayed to determine whether the growth plates are open or closed. Whether you do that or not, it's better to err on the side of safety—a few months of patience could make a lifetime of difference for your dog’s lifetime.

Feeding
Our puppy are currently fed on a Abady puppy can food (for large breed) and Abady Granular food for puppies.
Those are all high quality foods that will optimize the health of your puppy and later adult dog.
If you prefer to change to another type of food, ensure the change is gradual. Bergamasco can be fussy eaters and your puppy might go on a hunger strike for several days, which can be detrimental to her health.
Whichever food you choose, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Always make sure there is a constant supply of clean fresh water available to your puppy at all times.
Your puppy is on three meals a day. Keep this schedule up until six months of age, you can put her on twice a day then with adult food.
Recommended Diets:

Granular:

Abady: www.therobertabadydogfoodcoltd.com (available in many pet stores or on line in many stores:  www.alpha-nutrition.stores.yahoo.net , www.waggintails.com … )

Kibble:

Abady: Abady Raw food: www.therobertabadydogfoodcoltd.com (available in many pet stores or on line in many stores:  www.alpha-nutrition.stores.yahoo.net , www.waggintails.com … )
Timberwolf Kibble : www.petfooddirect.com

Raw food diets (as we understand it is not suited for everybody’s lifestyle, it is often considered to be the best):

Bravo Raw food: www.bravorawdiet.com
Abady Raw food: www.therobertabadydogfoodcoltd.com (available in many pet stores or on line in many stores:  www.alpha-nutrition.stores.yahoo.net , www.waggintails.com … )
Oma’s : www.omaspride.com
Barf: www.barfworld.com

Can food:

Abady (any)
Merrick
Granular food: Abady
Supplements:
Green beef trip from:
Tripett : www.petfoodiret.com
Abady

Immunization
Your puppy has been given the appropriate vaccination for her age. Enclosed in your package you will find her health records from our veterinarian as well as health schedule. It is important that you have a veterinarian that you trust. He will advise you on any required shots during your puppy’s first year based on your location. Also as your puppy matures, ask your vet about heartworm medication (Interceptor) and parasites (we use FrontLine Plus for Flees and ticks).

Worming
In addition to vaccination, your puppy has been treated for worms and other internal parasites. Make sure to share all this information with your vet on your first visit not to over medicate your puppy. You will need to continue her worming at 6 and 12 months of age, then every six months. Preparation should be obtained from your vet.

Training
An obedient dog is a happy dog and a pleasure to own. Keep your comments short and consistent. Always use the same words over again. Bergamascos are very intuitive and understand intent very well. Praise her when she does well, ignore her when she doesn’t. Never reprimand her using her name. Her name should mean something positive so when she hears you have a full attention.
Remember commands like “sit down” have two meanings: “sit” and “down”, so just use one. Others are “come”, “heel”, “wait”, “stay”, and “off” (for no jumping).
Training can start at meal time by telling your puppy to wait until allowed to take it.
Consider taking a puppy “kindergarten” class or puppy training class, not only will you be taught how to teach your dog the basics of obedience, but he will also be able to socialize with other dogs. This is very important!

Grooming
Groom your puppy regularly about once or twice a month. A pin brush will do. See separate pamphlet for coat care.

For female
If you plan spaying, it is not recommended before the second heat cycle, when we are sure the bone growth plates are close.
Until then, never leave your female outside unsupervised! The heat cycle can last from a few days to up to 21 days, every 6 months on an average. Make sure you keep her protected from any male dogs. When there is a will there is a way.

Traveling
Get your puppy used to the car gradually (although the first real journey may well be a long one, try to have a few brakes). Avoid traveling shortly after meal times. Ensure ventilation while in motion or in hot weather. Even with the windows open, a car can turn into an oven in minutes in hot weather. Dogs die every year due to thoughtless of ignorant owners.

DO’S AND DON’TS
Do ensure your puppy has adequate rest throughout the day
Do be consistent, fair and firm in your commands, training and treatment of your puppy. Discipline is necessary, but most of all respect your animal as the being that he is. Do not impose unnecessary commands if your puppy is not willing to act with happy willingness.
Do check your garden fences for holes or gaps. Puppy proof!
Do be prepared to clean up if your puppy messes in a public place.
Do train your dog. An obedient dog is a happy dog and a pleasure to own.
Don’t throw small balls or sticks that are too small for your puppy to catch, these could get lodged in the throat.
Don’t allow small toys, which could choke your puppy.
Don’t over exercise your puppy. You would not take a one-year-old child on a mile walk, so why take a small puppy.
Don’t leave a choke chain on your dog. It can get caught up in things with disastrous consequences.
Don’t leave your dog attached anywhere unattended; there is unfortunately a market for stolen dogs.
Never leave your dog or a cat in warm or hot weather. This can be a killer. Do not over exercise your dog in the hot summer months.

LASTLY:
If you ever need advice or have any problems with your dog, please contact us at ciruj@aim.com .
Do not hesitate to contact us, we are here to help you in any way for the well being of your dog and your relationship with your dog. Anybody makes mistakes, we sure have through the years, so do not worry to ask us for help.
There is a strong support group out there for our beloved breed, and if we don’t have an immediate answer for you, we will make sure that you get one from our fellow breeders/owners or vets within our network.
We wish you well with your puppy, may you have as much pleasure in the years to come as we have found from this magnificent breed.
Juan-Manuel Olivera-Silvera & Erik Rothman
Artos Bergamascos