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.
We also would like to recommend a great training book: "How to get your dog to do what you want" from Trainer Warren Weckstein, his gentle and intelligent approach is most suited to the Bergamasco (for info on his book click here)
Like all other breeds Bergamascos should be socialized and introduced to various type of situations that will allow them to go through our modern lifestyles in harmony. But do not expect them to be obedient except on their own terms.
They will never blindly execute a given order and it is impossible to make a robot out of him. Instead he is friendly, affectionate and obedient on a spontaneous level - make him a member of the family and he will be a relaxed and easily trained dog. The Bergamasco is a friend, never a follower. He does not submit, but obeys to demonstrate affection and will not do this under menace. He always needs to understand "why" he has to do something.
A Bergamasco needs to be treated as the intelligent being which it is; only if you can make it understand rationally what you want of him, will comply with pleasure, but in its own way. He will never see you as a master but as a friend. Attentive and reserved, it participates constantly in everything which goes on around it and, even when it appears to be asleep, it eyes will be following you, because it always wants to know where you are and what you are up to.
