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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a Bergamasco

The Bergamasco is a sturdy alpine herding dog under that famous felted coat — a working build that needs real, animal-based fuel and a portion plan that keeps a slow-moving giant from quietly gaining weight.

Here is exactly how to feed a Bergamasco on freeze-dried raw: by weight and life stage, with the nutrition that protects their joints, skin and steady working energy.

  • Adult weight57–84 lb
  • SizeLarge
  • EnergyModerate
  • Lifespan13–15 years
  • CoatTriple coat of felted mats — very low shedding
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A healthy Bergamasco
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a Bergamasco's body needs

Every Bergamasco trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Large, muscular herding build

    Needs: High-quality animal protein

    83% meat, organs and ground bone fuels lean muscle and the steady, all-day stamina a mountain herder is built for — without carb fillers that spike and crash.

  • Big-breed frame & joints

    Needs: Joint support + lean weight

    Real meat, cartilage and ground bone supply natural glucosamine and chondroitin, while omega-3s calm joint inflammation and a lean body keeps load off the hips and elbows.

  • Dense triple coat of felted mats

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier hidden beneath those mats from the inside, keeping the skin healthy where you cannot easily reach it.

  • Skin sealed under heavy mats

    Needs: Low-inflammation whole-food diet

    Minimally processed raw skips the starchy fillers that can feed skin irritation — important for a coat that traps warmth and moisture against the skin.

  • Calm, deliberate worker

    Needs: Precise portions, lean protein

    This is not a high-burn breed, so calories add up fast. Measured freeze-dried raw fed by weight keeps a Bergamasco lean, the single biggest lever for a longer, healthier life.

How much to feed a Bergamasco

Quick answer: a healthy adult Bergamasco (57–84 lb) needs about 8.6–12.6 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
57 lb 8.6 oz 4.3 oz
64 lb 9.6 oz 4.8 oz
71 lb typical Bergamasco 10.7 oz 5.3 oz
78 lb 11.7 oz 5.9 oz
84 lb 12.6 oz 6.3 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a Bergamasco

For a Bergamasco we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition from kibble.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit weight-watchers and sensitive dogs, while richer Beef suits hard-working or underweight dogs. Salmon adds extra omega-3 for skin under the coat. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for Bergamascos

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Daily support for Bergamascos

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Treats Bergamascos love

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Feeding a Bergamasco by life stage

  • Puppy: Bergamasco puppies are a large, slow-maturing breed, so grow them slowly to protect developing joints. Feed roughly 5–8% of current body weight across 3–4 meals and avoid overfeeding — fast growth raises the risk of hip and elbow problems later.
  • Adult: Feed to a lean body condition you can feel beneath the coat, split across two meals. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to the dog in front of you, not to the bag.
  • Senior: Bergamascos are long-lived, so senior nutrition matters. Activity drops while appetite holds, so trim portions, keep protein high to preserve lean muscle, and lean into joint-supporting nutrition.

Common Bergamasco concerns — and the diet connection

  • Weight gainA calm, food-efficient large breed gains weight quietly under that coat. Measured raw feeding and a lean body condition support nearly every other aspect of long-term health.
  • Joint comfort (large-breed frame)As with any big dog, lean weight plus joint nutrients — natural glucosamine from bone and cartilage, plus omega-3 — supports day-to-day comfort and mobility into the senior years.
  • Skin beneath the coatSkin sealed under dense felted mats benefits from a whole-food, omega-rich, low-filler diet that supports the skin barrier from the inside, where topical care cannot easily reach.
  • Working energy & lean muscleA herding dog runs best on clean animal protein and fat for sustained energy and muscle maintenance, not on carbohydrate fillers.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a Bergamasco: what to know

The Bergamasco is calm and economical with its energy, so it is easy to overfeed one without noticing. Feed to body condition, not to the bowl: you should be able to feel the ribs through the coat and see a waist when you part the mats from above.

Because that heavy coat hides weight gain, weigh portions instead of eyeballing them, run a hands-on check every few weeks, and trim the amount after any drop in activity or a long winter indoors.

Bergamasco feeding questions

How much should I feed my Bergamasco?
A healthy adult Bergamasco (about 57–84 lb) needs roughly 9–13 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean waistline you can feel under the coat and adjust every few weeks.
Does the Bergamasco's coat affect how I feed it?
Indirectly, yes. The skin is sealed beneath heavy felted mats, so a diet rich in whole-food omega-3 fats supports skin health from the inside. Recipes like Salmon or Wild-Caught Cod are an easy way to add those fats to daily meals.
How do I switch my Bergamasco to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Because the breed is calm and prone to gaining weight, start at the lower end of the range and watch the body condition.
Is the Bergamasco prone to weight gain?
It can be. Bergamascos are deliberate, energy-efficient workers rather than high-burn athletes, so calories add up fast. Weigh each meal, feed to body condition rather than appetite, and trim portions when activity drops.
Does a Bergamasco need joint support?
As a large breed it benefits from it. Freeze-dried raw with real bone and organ provides natural glucosamine and omega-3, and keeping your Bergamasco lean is the most effective joint protection there is.

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  • Vet-formulated
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  • Pathogen-tested every batch

  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.