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Breed Characteristics
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Lagotto Romagnolo
| Other Names | Romagna Water Dog. Water Dog of Romagna |
| Nicknames | Lagotto |
| Country of Origin | Italy |
| Weight | Males: 28 - 35 lbs. (13 - 16 kg) Females: 24 - 31 lbs. (11 - 14 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 17 - 19 in. (43 - 49 cm) Females: 14 - 16 in. (36 - 41 cm) |
| Coat | The Lagotto's woolly coat is dense and curly. This dense hair protects him from thorns he can find in the bushes while searching for truffles. |
| Colour | The coat can be off-white, solid white, white with brown or rust patches, different shades of brown, or rust solid colour; a brown mask is acceptable. |
| Litter Size | 4 - 8 puppies, average 6 |
| Life Span | 14 - 16 years |
| Origin & History | The Lagotto is an ancient breed of water retriever from the lowlands of Comacchio and marshlands of Ravenna, Italy. All modern water retrieving dog breeds are believed to have descended in part from the Lagotto Ramagnolo. The Lagotto has been selected for the search for truffles on all kinds of ground: it’s the only breed recognized for this purpose. The Lagotto is an ancient breed for water retrieving known in Italy since the 16th century in the lowlands of Comacchio and the marshlands of Ravenna. Over the centuries, the great marshlands were drained and turned into arable land. Since the 19th century this intelligent breed has been utilized as an excellent dog for searching truffles in the flat open country and the hills of Romagna, thanks to his very developed sense of smell and high ability to concentrate on the search. Andrea Mantegna in the 1474 work titled "The Meeting" depicts a small dog in the lower left corner that is the perfect image of today's Lagotto. |
| Personality | The Lagotto is a working dog. It has a natural gift for searching and its very good nose has made this breed very efficient in searching for truffles. While on the search he is not usually distracted by the scent of wild animals or other dogs. The Lagotto is loyal, keen, affectionate, very attached to his owner and easy to train. It gets on well with other dogs and other pets if sufficiently socialized. It is an excellent family companion and a very good warning dog. The Lagotto is a good pet and loves people, but in addition to needing plenty of exercise, it needs to use its brain. This intelligent dog needs a job to do, something to keep its mind occupied. Tracking, games of searching for people in the woods or searching for mushrooms are some ideas. Obedience is also something they like and are good at, and agility is a favorite! If you’re not interested in competition, you can always play hide-and-seek at home. As long as you let the dog use its brain, it won't have to find things to do on its own (that’s never anything good!) In Sweden the breed is very popular. For some this breed is perfect because of its allergy friendly, non-shedding coat, its medium size, its happy disposition, its intelligence and its willingness to work. Make sure you are this dog's firm, but calm, consistent pack leader. Proper human to canine communication is essential to ensure it gets along with other dogs and listens to human commands. |
Care Requirements
| Health | Some health issues are associated with this breed however these are mostly attributable to poor breeding. These issues include: Hip dysplasia choose your Breeder- this is only a condition of poor breeding, be sure your Breeder has GD Hip Lineage. Benign Juvenile Epilepsy Choose your Breeder - be sure your Breeder, breeds JE clear. Cerebral Anomaly. (Could be the same as BJE above) Good Breeders breed clear. Lagotto puppies have been crucial in research into epilepsy. In July 2011, researchers in Finland reported the discovery of a mutation in a gene called Lgi2 that may be a new candidate gene for human benign childhood epilepsy. Lgi2 is the first gene that can be linked directly to the remission that sufferers experience after the age of ten. Lagotto breeders are now using a genetic test to screen for this mutation. Through thousands of years of adaptation and survival in the Romagnolo Mountains of Italy, the Lagotto Romagnolo Breed of Dog has survived by eliminating health issues by natural selection. The onus is now on Breeders to ensure this pure ancient breed retains these naturally surviving good health standards. Globally, Lagotto Romagnolo has begun its revival as a pure, ancient, gentle, non-shedding waterdog. |
| Grooming | Its dense, curly coat needs regular care. When you buy a Lagotto you hear different stories from different people about how to care for the coat. Some say that you should only clip it down with clippers twice a year and nothing else. Some say you have to brush it sometimes. One owner says, "Well, I have learned the hard way that it is more difficult that it seems. The coat easily gets matted, and to prevent that, you have to comb through it on a regular basis." You should not show a brushed Lagotto (like a Poodle) in show ring. It’s not a fur ball, it’s a working dog, and should be showed that way. This breed sheds little to no hair. |
| Exercise | The Lagotto needs plenty of exercise. It loves to search for things and it has a natural instinct for retrieving. This breed loves to walk next to its owner and needs to be taken on a daily long walk. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. The Lagotto loves to swim. Some are even known to make the kitchen floor into a puddle by tipping the water bowl over. They also love mud and other gooey stuff. |
| Other Considerations | Thanks to its small size, the Lagotto would do fine in an apartment if properly exercised. Where you live doesn’t matter, as long as you can walk the dog and keep it active, at least 3-4 times a day. If you do have a yard, and like your flowers…well, then you have to fence in your flowers. In the Lagotto’s nature lies a desire to dig. It loves to dig big holes and then stick its head in the hole. These dogs can dig a big hole in matter of seconds! |
