Lagotto Romagnolo: temperament, size, care and health

About the Lagotto Romagnolo

The Lagotto Romagnolo is a small to medium, sturdy dog with a thick, woolly coat of tight curls. The rounded head, bushy eyebrows and beard give it a teddy-bear look, and the colors range from off-white through orange and brown to roan patterns. It is compact and athletic, with a strong back and a well-feathered tail.

The word lagotto means a little lake dog, and the breed first retrieved waterfowl in the marshes of Romagna in northern Italy. After the wetlands were drained the dog took up a new job: finding truffles. It is now the breed most closely linked with the task. Many owners enjoy its nose by playing scent games and entering trials.

Temperament and family life

The Lagotto is affectionate, loyal and eager to join in with the family. It tends to be friendly with children and with other pets when raised with them, and it is generally alert without being aggressive. It may bark at unfamiliar sounds and at visitors. Some are wary with strangers until introduced.

The breed is highly attached to its people and is prone to separation anxiety. Its mind is busy and it likes to dig, since the original work involved digging up truffles. A Lagotto left bored in a garden may tunnel under the fence and rearrange the plants. Early training and social exposure produce a more balanced adult.

Exercise and training

The Lagotto needs a good walk each day plus some mental tasks. Swimming, hiking and nosework are well suited. It is an enthusiastic worker and has staying power, so an owner needs to give it outlets beyond a stroll around the block. Scent games and trick training help channel its curiosity.

Lagottos are intelligent and trainable, and they respond well to reward-based sessions. They can be stubborn at times, and their sensitive nature means harsh methods backfire. Truffle hunting classes and nose trials are fun for the dog and owner, though a dog does not need truffles to enjoy the work. Teach a solid recall and a way of switching off.

Grooming and shedding

The Lagotto sheds very little, which appeals to people with mild allergies, though no dog is allergen free. The price is care of the coat. It needs brushing and combing every week or two, and many owners clip the whole body to a short even length every couple of months. The coat should never be brushed out into a fluffy halo, because curls need to be left in their natural texture.

A matted coat can trap moisture and cause skin trouble. Check and clean the ears often, as hair grows inside the canals and the dog likes water. Trim around the eyes and feet, and keep nails short. Bathing every month or so is usual.

Health

Lagottos tend to live long lives for their size. Known conditions include hip dysplasia, juvenile epilepsy, hypothyroidism and ear infections. A genetic neurological disorder called lagotto storage disease has a DNA test, and so does benign familial juvenile epilepsy. Breeders should test hips, eyes, thyroid and the available DNA conditions. This summary is general, and a veterinarian is the person to consult about a particular dog.

History

The breed is traced to the Romagna region of Italy, where it retrieved game from the lagoons and marshes. As the wetlands were drained for farming in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the dogs were increasingly used to find truffles in the countryside. By the 1970s the breed had nearly vanished, and Italian fanciers revived it. The American Kennel Club recognized the Lagotto Romagnolo in 2015.

Is the Lagotto Romagnolo right for you?

A Lagotto suits a household that wants a low-shedding, medium-small dog with a lively mind, and that is prepared to groom and train it. It does well with nosework, swimming and active outings.

It is less suited to anyone who dislikes digging, who is gone for most of the day or who wants a lap dog. For a similar curly water dog look at the Barbet, which is larger. The Spanish Water Dog shares a curly coat and a working past, and the Irish Water Spaniel is a bigger and more clownish option.