Lagotto Romagnolo Breed Guide - Learn about the Lagotto Romagnolo.

Lagotto Romagnolo – The Truffles Searcher

What makes the Lagotto Romagnolo Unique?

Due to their importance in epilepsy research and their pleasant dispositions, members of this active breed are experiencing a surge in popularity throughout the world.

Breed Groups

SnapShot

Size:	Males – 43 to 48 cm (17 to 19 inches) Females – 41 to 46 cm (16 to 18 inches)
Weight:	Males – 13 to 16 kg (28 to 35 pounds) Females – 11 to 14 kg (24 to 30 pounds)
Origin:	Italy
Life Span:	15 – 17 Years
Colour:	Brown Roan, Off-White, Brown, Orange & White, Orange, Brown & White
Litter Size:	4 to 6 puppies

Is the Lagotto Romagnolo Right For You?

Due to their affectionate and playful personalities, Lagotto Romagnolos make great family pets. These placid dogs are quite good around children and other canines. They will typically get along just fine in households that contain smaller animals. Members of this breed also tend to become especially attached to their human owners.

In 5 Words

Loyal
Companionable
Trainable
Active
Loving

Fun Fact

The name Lagotto Romagnolo derives, then, from its original “career” as a water dog. In the local dialect of the Romagna “Càn Lagòt” is synonymous with “water dog” or “wetland hunting dog with crimped, curly coat”.

Characteristics

Exercise

Friendliness

Trainability

Watchdog

Health Issues

Learn About the Lagotto Romagnolo

Description

General Description

Members of this breed are of a moderate size with square shaped, athletic bodies and level backs. These dogs have large heads and strong necks. Their teeth should have a scissor, reverse scissor, or level bite. Lagotto Romagnolos have large round eyes that range in color from dark yellow to dark brown depending on the color of their coats.. These dogs have triangular drop ears that have round tips. They also have straight legs.

Size

Male dogs typically stand around 17 to 19 inches at their shoulder blades with their female contemporaries being about 1 inch shorter on average. Any male dog that is shorter than 16.5 inches or taller than 19.5 inches in height will be disqualified from the show ring, as is the case with females who measure below 15.5 inches or above 18.5 inches in height. On average, male Lagotto Romagnolos weigh between 28 and 35 pounds with female dogs being somewhat lighter at 24 to 31 pounds in weight.

Coat

Members of this breed have dense, wooly double coats that form tight curls on much of their bodies. Their thick hair protects these truffle hunting dogs from injuries while they are hard at work in the field. The inner layer of their coat is also water repellant. Lagotto Romagnolos come in a variety of colors including white, off white, rust, or brown. White dogs with rust or brown colored patches are also acceptable. Some individuals may even have a brown mask on their faces.

Short History

Short History of the Lagotto Romagnolo

It seems fairly likely that Lagotto Romagnolos are modern day descendants of an Etruscan breed which had been depicted in artworks found in the former Italian city of Spina. Members of this breed were also presumably mentioned by the Swedish naturalist Linnaeus as being a common breed in the Mediterranean region in the 18th century.

Temperament

Lagotto Romagnolos make exceptional watchdogs because they have very good hearing and they will bark if someone enters their domain. However, older individuals tend to be much quieter than the younger ones.

Lagotto Romagnolos are known to be quite intelligent and incredibly active. As a result, they need a great deal of exercise and mental stimulation in order to be content. These dogs additionally have excellent olfactory senses and a fondness for hunting things. Given these facts, members of this breed would be particularly good candidates for dog sports such as tracking.

Caring for Your Lagotto Romagnolo

Health

General Health

Due to their history as working dogs, only the toughest and healthiest members of the breed survived. The result of this natural selection is that their modern descendants are quite hardy individuals. It is typical for Lagotto Romagnolos to live about 16 years. However, as is the case with any breed, there are some problems that may arise from time to time. These issues include hip dysplasia, epilepsy, and cerebral anomalies. Some of these conditions can be partially avoided by choosing a dog from a reputable breeder.

Lagotto Romagnolos have also been helpful in epilepsy research as some individuals have a mutation on the Lgi2 gene which could be used to treat the same disease in human beings. Therefore, maintaining the current standards of good health for the breed is important so that the dogs can be used successfully in future studies.

Care

Daily

These are small dogs that will get along fine in apartments as long as they are given enough exercise. However, Lagotto Romagnolos will need to be walked at least three to four times per day to keep them happy and healthy. It is always a good idea to train your pet to not tug and pull on the leash when they are being walked, but this is an especially important lesson for members of this breed to learn.

Weekly

Brushing your pet’s teeth a few times per week, if not every day, is the best way to keep it in good oral health.

Monthly

All dogs need parasite prevention medications to keep harmful pests at bay and these products are generally administered at least once per month.

Grooming & Bathing

Although Lagotto Romagnolos don’t shed much, members of this breed need to be groomed on a regular basis to keep them looking their best. Dogs with longer fur will need to be brushed often so that their hair doesn’t become matted or seriously tangled. Of course, owners that don’t plan on showing their pets in breed competitions can also have the animal in question’s fur clipped twice a year in order to minimize grooming requirements. Breed standards do call for Lagotto Romagnolos to look like the working dogs that they generally are. Therefore, their coats should be left alone if they are being shown. Even so, if their fur is not regularly brushed it may become felted and the dogs might need to be clipped once a year anyway.

Exercise & Training

Lagotto Romagnolos might be small animals but they are also an incredibly energetic breed. In fact, these dogs were originally used to hunt truffles in their homeland. They remain quite good at retrieving and may subsequently enjoy playing fetch with their human owners. Members of this breed also enjoy playing in the water. Mud puddles in particular may serve as a major attraction for these dogs so they probably are not the best pet choice for pet owners who want an animal who will stay scrupulously clean. Lagotto Romagnolos are additionally known to be enthusiastic diggers that can put giant holes in the yard in mere moments. Even so, these dogs are easy to train and incredibly obedient. As is true of most breeds, Lagotto Romagnolos benefit from consistent rules and an instructor who treats them fairly.