Bordoodle is originated from United States but Bergamasco is originated from Italy. Bordoodle may grow 7 cm / 2 inches shorter than Bergamasco. Bordoodle may weigh 11 kg / 24 pounds lesser than Bergamasco. Both Bordoodle and Bergamasco has same life span. Bordoodle may have less litter size than Bergamasco. Bordoodle requires Low maintenance. But Bergamasco requires Moderate maintenance
Known also as a Borderpoo or Borderdoodle, the Bordoodle is a designer- or hybrid breed which hails from the United States of America.
Both the dogs used in the development of this cross-breed are the Poodle and the Border Collie, and both these dog breeds have their own lengthy histories.
The history of the Bordoodle is short, as it is a modern crossbreed which has been purposefully bred by breeders to bring about a dog with certain looks and temperament.
The Bergamasco comes from northern Italy. This medium sized sheepdog is of ancient origin. Known as an Italian sheep herding breed, his name actually comes from the town where he comes from - Bergamo.
It was after World War II that there was danger that this breed would disappear as the need for herding and shepherding was diminishing. An Italian breeder, however, Dr. Maria Andreoli, stepped in to save the breed.
It was in 2015 that the American Kennel Club also changed the breed’s status from Miscellaneous to the Herding Group.
The Bordoodle isn’t a purebred dog but is a cross between a Poodle and a Border Collie.
He has a soft, medium length coat which is inclined to be wavy. Colors are essentially black and white but chocolate, cream, fawn, merle and grey are also seen.
He is a medium sized dog standing at between 38cm and 55cm and weighing between 13kg and 27kg. The long tail is feathery, the ears floppy or semi-erect and the brown eyes are bright and intelligent. The muzzle is medium to long.
As with any mixed breed dog, the Bordoodle can take after either parent dog but generally the Borderdoodle will be a medium sized dog.
With the Bordoodle you can expect nothing less than a highly intelligent dog. That is because both the Poodle and the Border Collie are super intelligent dogs so the Bordoodle is guaranteed to have got a good portion of this intelligence from both breeds.
It makes training and socialization easy for the dog. It is important for your Bordoodle to be trained and socialized if you want him to be obedient and relaxed around strangers and other pets. As it is, his amicable nature makes the hybrid dog of yours a great family pet – getting on well with other pets in the home as well as with children.
Apart from being such a smart dog, the Bordoodle is active, playful, loving and devoted – everything a serious dog owner wants in a pet. This is a dog that doesn’t really know the meaning of the word aggressive.
This medium sized sheepdog stands 54 – 62cm in height and weighs up to 38 kg as an adult. It is his coat which draws the most attention. It is of a coarse texture and actually greasy to the touch. It actually forms into strands or almost like dreadlocks from the top of the body, so that people agree he is one of shaggiest dog breeds there are.
From age 1 on the coat starts to become woolly, and then the flocks start to form. As these clumps of hair appear, it will become necessary to separate them into smaller cords by hand to ensure attractive formation Brushing isn’t necessary but a big toothed comb can keep their hair ‘groomed’.
The colour of the coat is solid grey with patches of shades of grey and sometimes black. His dense, heavy coat makes it that he is suited to cooler climates. Because he is a herding dog, he wouldn’t do well in an apartment but would suit a home with a large garden.
He is intelligent and social but will need firm handling as he is a boisterous dog. He has a muscular yet compact body with a large head, long tail, high-set semi-drooping ears and large, gentle looking brown eyes. Although not instinctively aggressive, he makes an excellent watch dog with strong protective instincts to protect his human family.
He views new people into his circle with suspicion and wariness. He is good with kids and pets in the home and is playful and energetic.
Bordoodles have two great dog breeds to thank for the way they turn out. When you think of the Border Collie and Poodle, you know you’re going to get a dog that is friendly, social, playful, loving and devoted – the ideal family pet.
Intelligent, he is easy to train too, and with excellent care, you’re going to have a most wonderful family pet and companion, full of fun and life.
This is a working dog so they are naturally alert. He is also intelligent and independent and this independence is seen with training as he doesn’t take easily to following instructions, becoming stubborn. You’ll certainly want to have your Bergamasco socialized and trained as he can be a boisterous dog, bounding with energy.
This is a dog that will need to be kept busy and provided with plenty of activities so that he remains happy, playful and relaxed.
Lively and intelligent, these dogs also form strong bonds with their owners and get on well with the children in the home. He will take well to country life as opposed to living in the city.
Bordoodles, when well cared for, can live to be 12-15 years of age. There aren’t going to be many health issues to contend with with your Bordoodle as there are no known health problems in this robust breed.
Nonetheless there are some common dog illnesses that you need to be aware of such as progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism.
With hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland in the neck of your pet produces a hormone known as thyroxine that controls metabolism, but the disease hypothyroidism makes it that the gland doesn’t make enough thyroxine. Signs that your dog has this illness includes a dull coat, inflamed skin and even hair loss.
Get him to the vet immediately who will do blood tests and provide treatment. Mercifully it isn’t something that is life-threatening.
Your Bergamasco can live to be 13 to 15 years of age and he is considered to be a healthy breed. Nonetheless you want to be aware of health issues that are common to this breed
he is vulnerable to heat. He can die of heat exhaustion quicker than other breeds
keep an eye on him for hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and skin allergies
The Bordoodle is a dog which doesn’t shed that much so his grooming requirements are low and he is considered as a hypoallergenic dog.
He will need to have his coat brushed at least twice a week to keep it shiny, soft and smooth. Depending on how your Bordoodle turns out, he may even require trimming at a professional groomer.
Make time to check his ears inside and out and learn how to clean the inside of his ears to avoid infection and wax build-up.
Dental hygiene is also imperative in dogs, and neglecting to do this will mean food particles and bacteria accumulating along your pet’s gumline, resulting in gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Every dog will require regular exercise and you can get your Bordoodle to join you in your walks. He is the kind of dog that can happily adjust to city or country life, but he will still need to have some ball games and other activities to keep him busy and happy.
He isn’t a dog that can be left alone day after day in the backyard. He is social and playful and loves the companionship of his human family.
If you feed your Bordoodle kibble from some of the top quality commercially produced foods, always research the dog food and take a good look at the ingredients.
The pet food you choose plays an important role in the longevity of your pet. There are commercially manufactured foods that have such poor ingredients that they can actually shorten your pet’s lifespan and cause stress to the kidneys and liver.
If in any doubt about what to feed your Bordoodle, speak to your vet. Cooked brown rice, cooked vegetables and cooked chicken can sometimes be mixed into your pet’s kibble. Raw meat should also occasionally be added in to ward off skin allergies.
The Bergamasco isn’t a shedder but his coat will need to be combed once a week just to keep it in order. You don’t want to bath him too often, especially during the Winter as his coat takes a long time to dry. It isn’t recommended to shave a Bergamasco as the coat regulates the dogs temperature – keeping him warm and cold as the weather demands.
They thrive on a blend of kibble (dry) mixed with raw and-or moist food once or twice a day. Remember to include quality chicken, turkey, etc. mixed with some vegetables and rice into your dog’s diet. Ensure a constant supply of fresh water in an easily-cleanable bowl.
Balls and ropes are important for building muscle strength and burning energy. Remember your Bergamasco is a working breed and will need plenty of games and exercise.