Bergamasco Sheepdog vs Puli

A Bergamasco Sheepdog
Photo: Luigi Guidobono Cavalchini (Josephine06)
A Puli
Photo: Anita Ritenour

Side by side

Bergamasco Sheepdog
Puli
Adult weight
Males 32–38 kg (71–84 lb); females 26–32 kg (57–71 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 13–15 kg (29–33 lb); females 10–13 kg (22–29 lb)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 39–45 cm; females 36–42 cm2
Lifespan
No sourced figure
Median 13.3 years3
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes4
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Sheepdogs & cattledogs5
Sheepdogs & cattledogs2
Coat
Long coat5
Corded coat2
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
Daily brushing
No brushing
Exercise
Plenty
Class
Working
Working

Which suits you

Size
The Bergamasco Sheepdog is far larger: about 32 kg (71 lb) as an adult, against 13 kg (28 lb) for the Puli.
Grooming
The Bergamasco Sheepdog needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Puli needs no brushing.
Temperament
They differ most on intelligence (Bergamasco Sheepdog: learns readily, likes games; Puli: needs daily brain work) and on handler demand (Bergamasco Sheepdog: needs steady training; Puli: needs an experienced owner).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: decides for itself.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Bergamasco Sheepdog
Sheepdogs & cattledogs · Medium

The Bergamasco is calm, watchful and steady, forming close bonds with its household and tending to be reserved rather than hostile with strangers.

Puli
Sheepdogs & cattledogs · Medium

In temperament the Puli is lively, alert and attentive, closely attached to its own people and wary of strangers.

The Bergamasco Sheepdog page →The Puli page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Bergamasco Sheepdog
Puli
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Bergamasco Sheepdog
Puli
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
Bergamasco Sheepdog
Puli
Sensitivity
Differs
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Average
Voice
Differs
Barks to alert, then settles
Very vocal
Prey drive
Differs
Usually fine with small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour6. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home7,8.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Bergamasco Sheepdog grows to the heavier adult, about 32 kg against the Puli's 13 kg.
Bergamasco Sheepdog
Puli
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More comparisons

Compare the Bergamasco Sheepdog with
Komondor vs PuliPuli vs PumiAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·