Shorter Coats for Senior Bergamascos
If I could give only one piece of advice to owners of an aging Bergamasco, it would be this: Clip your dog back or shorten the flocks to a length of 2-3 inches.
There are so many benefits to taking the load off your senior dog. Some signs that your dog is aging or should have the coat trimmed back are:
Your dog has hip dysplasia- This could occur at any age, but if your dog is having trouble getting up, doing stairs, or is not as active as they once were, it could be time to lighten the coat.
Your dog has become less active- Not only can this cause some weight gain which puts more stress on joints, but it also may be a sign that the coat is in the way. If your dog has a heavy coat it can impede movement which can lead to a more sedentary life. It is important that older dogs remain active just like people for maintaining good muscle tone, strength and flexibility.
Your dog is over the age of 9- This is very dog dependent. Some dogs are still very active at 9 but others may show more signs of aging. You will have to determine when your dog appears to be “getting old”, but 9 is average.
You can not maintain the coat in a sanitary and presentable way-If your dog is dirty all the time, head and face is matted with slimy dirt or food particles in the hair or if your dog smells, cut the coat to a short maintainable length. Not everyone has the time to ensure that this type of coat is publicly presentable every day. If that is the case, there is nothing wrong with keeping your dog in a short and easily maintained coat. This can mean a nicely maintained head and face with short body flocks or it can mean a total clip down maintained as a “doodle cut”. What is important is that your dog is presentable in public and not fodder for animal rights groups or animal control. If you do not have the means of washing the coat as needed, this is another example of when a short coat may fit your lifestyle better. This does not just pertain to older dogs, but also to any Bergamasco that is active, working, likes to swim, etc.
Dolce. Photo by Rahel Koller
Some of the ways a shorter coat can benefit an older dog
More frequent and easier baths
You can feel any lumps and bumps you would miss otherwise which can indicate cancer
You can assess skin integrity
Your dog will remain cleaner if they suffer incontinence
Less weight on aging joints which can lead to increased movement and less pain
Better vision for dogs with cataracts or aging vision changes
Easier nail clipping which is so important for aging dogs
Less stress on your own back during bathing
Less drying time after a bath and ability to quickly air dry without fear of mildew
Easier monitoring of weight gain or weight loss
For females, less urinary tract infections from soiled hair in the genital area
If you are concerned about having flocks clipped and leaving your dogs with a near bald coat, the good news is that this is temporary and the coat will grow in quickly. An ideal length of 2 to 3 inches of hair can provide warmth and protect your dog from sunburn also. Once the coat is this length it is easy to maintain.
