This ancient Italian breed, the Lagotto Romagnolo, is the only breed that has been bred and born to be a truffle hunting dog. The Romagna Water Dog
can be recognised straight away from their curly coat, lovely beard, and stunning character.
The Lagotto is a small to medium-sized dog; the males are between 43 and 48 cm (with an ideal height of 46 cm), whereas females are 41-46 cm tall
(with an ideal height of 43 cm). They look like teddy bears, but don’t be fooled by the look: a Lagotto is a stunning working dog that is always ready to work.
Although the Lagotto Romagnolo is typically considered as a
healthy breed, reputable breeders do comprehensive health screenings
to ensure healthy lagotto puppies. The breed's lifespan may reach up to 14-17 years.
The breed was used as a water retrieval dog in the marshes of Emilia-Romagna. The marshes were drained in the 1800s, though, and the Lagotto lost its main activity. These dogs were retrained to find truffles and became popular for that job. Almost all truffle hunters used the breed for this purpose between the World War I and World War II. It is said that the Lagotto Romagnolo is the ancestor of all water dogs and several other breeds.
Fortunately, the Romagna Water Dog can still work in the activity for which it was born, and many people still train them
as truffle dogs today. Its exceptional nose, endurance, and intelligence worthily make it the number one truffle hunting breed.
Even so, like so many other breeds, it holds its own in a wide range of activities, and is getting more and more popular as a companion dog, too;
the Lagotto is a remarkably versatile breed: it can be just as a good working dog as a loyal partner of the family.
What makes the Lagotto a perfect family dog?
The Romagna Water Dog is neither too big nor too small, which makes it an ideal family companion. High-energy, kind,
and playful breed that is always ready for some action. Excellent with kids, and each and every activity makes it happy,
be it walking, learning, or playing. This breed is highly addicted to water!
The Lagotto Romagnolo learns incredibly fast; they are devoted to their family, so it is important that their living area is shared with their beloved master. Close connection to the owner makes them happy and balanced dogs. They shed notably less than average, making it easier to live together for those who are sensitive to dog fur.
They are easily trainable, and their body composition makes them suitable for sports and work like:
Not to forget about the original breeding purpose of the Italian Water Dog. Their nose is excellent, truffle hunting is in their blood.
Yes, it is a perfect choice even as a first dog. The Romagna Water Dog is highly intelligent, easy to train and motivate. We recommend you search for a good dog school where you can learn together with your future lagotto puppy.
Yes, Lagotto is a Hypoallergenic breed. This breed is supposedly safe for allergic people, and allows them the pleasure of puppy parenthood. However, safety and health come first! Before buying a puppy, visit the breeder and spend a few hours with the dogs.
Lagotto and kids can be a great match! They are super smart and funny dogs, have plenty of energy for playing with kids and are also generally kind and well-mannered whether provided with enough physical and mental training. Ask the breeder's opinion about the puppies. A good breeder has the knowledge and experience to say that which puppy would suit your family the most.
Nope 🙂, they are truffle hunting dogs. However, you can be sure that you'll know immediately if something is happening because it is indicated by barking. But don’t expect it to do a guardian-protective job.
It depends on the style you wish. If you want to keep your future dog in bigger, show type coat, it's recommended to visit the groomer every 4-6 weeks. If you choose the shorter style, it is enough to go every 3-6 months. Of course, you can bath your dog anytime if needed. This requires a shampoo that is for coarse hair and does not soften the curly coat. Its ear hair has to be removed, otherwise its ears may become inflamed.
If you provide it a suitably heated place in the winter, then essentially yes, you can keep it as an outdoor dog. But in this case, you need to pay even more attention to dealing with your dog on a daily basis, even in bad weather conditions. A lagotto is waiting for its master, no matter if it rains or there's a storm! The best if the dog can go into the house too.
Lagottos are ideal sized dogs for apartment living, but keep in mind that they are real working dogs. The Lagotto excels in brain activities. Be sure to train them from a young age in agility, tricks or obedience. The mental training is necessary for this breed if you prefer a calm dog in your apartment.
We believe that color and gender are secondary factors when choosing a puppy that will be a member of your family for the next 10-15 years. It's crucial that the newcomer's character matches the family's everyday life as best as possible. That's why we recommend a puppy to every family at the age of 6 weeks, of course taking into account color and gender preferences as much as possible.