History of the Club and the Bergamasco in the US
The Bergamasco Sheepdog Club of America was established by Donna and Stephen DeFalcis. The Defalcis, working closely with Dr. Maria Andreoli, an expert Bergamasco breeder in Italy as well as arenoun geneticist, imported the first Bergamascos to the US in the mid-1990s, and have been the persons responsible for the introduction of the breed in the US.
Since acquiring their first Bergamasco the Defalcis have travelled extensively around the country, showing their Bergamascos at Rare Breed shows and began a careful breeding program, selecting the best available dogs from Italy, Sweden, Switzerland and England; and thus creating and extensive gene pool for an healthy American population.
Other breeders and owners of Bergmasco in the US have become enthusiastic supporters of the breed and the club, and have extended the breeding program accross the country. Many have become accomplished in the show ring, and have developed an impressive number of champions. Others have become involved with herding, agility, and other types of training.
The numbers of Bergamascos have risen, through careful breeding and placement, from the original dogs who came from Italy in the mid- 1990s, to nearly 600 Bergamascos in the US today.
Currently the Bergamasco Sheepdog Club of America is a full fonctioning club with a bord of directors and over 100 members.
