Lagotto Romagnolo

A distinctive and endearing dog breed, the Lagotto Romagnolo is renowned for its playful nature and curly coat. Thanks to its sharp sense of smell and intelligence, this breed, which was originally bred in Italy as a water retriever, has developed into an expert truffle hunter.

These medium-sized dogs make excellent family pets because they are devoted, loving, and simple to train. They are an excellent option for those with allergies due to their curly, hypoallergenic coat, and they get along well with kids and other pets thanks to their amiable disposition.

Beyond their adorable exterior, Lagotto Romagnolos are vivacious creatures that require both physical and mental challenge to flourish. They enjoy being active and involved with their owners, whether it’s going on outdoor adventures or learning new tricks.

General characteristics of the breed

Another name for Lagotto Romagnolo is the Italian water dog. The name means "Romagna lake dog" when translated. The breed’s members are rather gracefully built and average in height, but they possess universal working qualities. They were employed as waterfowl hunters and ship guards. They dive and swim well, staying afloat even in frigid water because of their thick waterproof coat and the webbing on their fingers.

Eventually, truffle hunting was one of the uses for these dogs. They can detect mushrooms up to 50 cm below the surface thanks to their excellent sense of smell. These days, Lagotto Romagnolo are employed as companions, family dogs, and mushroom pickers. They work in customs and the police in Italy, and experts say they are the best at spotting drugs. They could be canine therapists, fit for flyball, agility, and freestyle sports.

Pros

Lagotto Romagnolo is a calm, submissive dog that makes a great companion. It is modest and requires little maintenance because of its small size, making it suitable for living in a city apartment. Breed representatives are good choices for first pets. Owners observe the following benefits in their upkeep and character:

• cheerful, playful;
• sociable;
• good-natured, do not show aggression;
• smart, easy to train;
• obedient, loyal;
• love children;
• peace-loving, get along well with other pets;
• easily adapt to different conditions of keeping and the character of the owner;
• their coat almost does not shed, does not smell like a dog and does not cause allergies;
• strong health, long life.

Cons

Dogs Lagotto Romagnolo are used for hunting. They require long walks because they are active. As a result, they are inappropriate for homebodies or extremely busy people who cannot give their pets enough attention. Members of the breed are not exempt from the following drawbacks:

• do not tolerate loneliness;
• bark loudly;
• love to dig holes;
• require complex grooming and regular haircuts.

Differences between different breeds of water dogs

Water dog breeds are similar to one another. Their height, color, and occasionally behavior set them apart. Disparities in appearance are frequently only noticed by experts.

The images illustrate the variations amongst other Lagotto Romagnolo breeds:

• the Portuguese Water Dog or Wasserhund is taller, the coat is not as curly;

• the Barbet, unlike the Lagotto, has longer ears, the color can be black, and the height reaches 65 cm;

• the Spanish Water Spaniel is the same in height and color, but the coat is softer, wavy at a young age, then twists into cords;

• Irish Water Spaniel with long wide ears and a hairless muzzle is more like a poodle.

History of the origin of the breed

These little dogs with curly hair were first mentioned in Italy in the sixteenth century. However, a number of researchers assert that this breed is ancient. It naturally evolved from ash or peat dogs, which were widespread a few millennia BC.

These canines assisted sailors during the Middle Ages by protecting ships and bringing messages from the ship to the shore. They could swim well and had no fear of the frigid water. Hunters have been aware of them since the 17th century. They started using them to locate injured birds in the water and retrieve them. Researchers claim that at that point, they started to be specifically bred in Italy. The name was later changed to reflect their particular popularity in the Romagna region.

Farmers, city people, and aristocrats all started to own these intelligent, obedient dogs over time. Truffles were discovered to be found by them at extremely deep depths. In this, they are still without equal. They are sometimes referred to as truffle dogs for this reason.

Breeders only began to take notice of the Lagotto Romagnolo toward the end of the 20th century, despite the breed’s popularity and antiquity. Their resemblance to French and Spanish water dogs was striking. Italy saw the founding of its first breed club in 1988, and a standard was created. In 2005, the International Cynological Federation granted the breed official recognition.

Appearance standards

The Lagotto Romagnolo has a powerful, muscular physique and is of medium height. Because of its light skeleton, the dog appears graceful and athletic. Males should be roughly 46 cm tall at the withers, and females should be 43 cm tall. Their weight range is 11–16 kg. The standard states that a dog’s appearance must satisfy the following criteria:

• the head is proportional to the body, the skull is wide and rounded;
• the muzzle has the shape of a truncated triangle, the superciliary arches are clearly visible, the stop is weakly expressed;
• the earlobe is wide, mobile, usually brown;
• the jaws are powerful, the teeth are strong, the lips are tightly fitting, covered with stiff whiskers;
• the eyes are round, large, wide-set, the color of the iris from light to dark brown depending on the color;
• the ears are small, in the form of a triangle with rounded tips, hanging down on the sides of the head, covered with soft wavy hair inside and out;
• the neck is of medium length, graceful, muscular;
• the back is straight, the loin is slightly arched;
• the tail is set low, not thick, saber-shaped;
• the chest is deep, rather narrow, the belly is slightly tucked up;
• the limbs are straight, set parallel, the joints are moderately pronounced;
• the paws are compact, the toes are arched, with well-developed membranes;
• the coat is double, with a dense undercoat, has water-repellent properties;
• the coat is of medium length, semi-hard, thick, forms small, elastic, well-defined curls;
• curls densely cover the entire body, on the head the hairs are softer, form a cap, eyebrows, mustache and beard;
• according to the standard, the color should be solid or two-color with spots, white, brown, chocolate, chestnut, red shades are allowed, there may be a darker mask on the head.

The description of the appearance is enhanced by photos:

A wonderful family companion, the Lagotto Romagnolo is a gregarious, curly-coated dog breed renowned for its extraordinary truffle-hunting abilities and loving disposition. Because of its bright, trainable, and vivacious nature, it also does well in busy homes with lots of mental and physical activity.

Character and training

The Lagotto Romagnolo breed of dogs is outgoing, cordial, and emotionally steady. They have a strong bond with their owner. They attempt to be close by all the time, crave attention, and take part in all family activities. Because it is people-oriented, this dog is obedient and simple to train. dislikes being by themselves. She is loving and able to communicate with all of her family members. She can be a nanny, has patience, and provides good care for kids.

Lagotto Romagnolo stands out for having exceptional working abilities. They are able to fully immerse themselves in the task, are energetic, and diligent. They are great mushroom pickers, hunters, and searchers. These canines can defend their owners and watch over the home. Though controlled, their fear of strangers is non-aggressive. Although the dog appears uninterested from the outside, he is constantly alert.

Italian water dogs are highly intelligent, perceptive, and inquisitive. They work hard, enjoy learning, and can recall instructions after hearing them two or three times. All you have to do is figure out the best strategy. This dog values affection, praise, and a respectful demeanor. He’s willing to follow instructions and pull pranks for this.

During training, it is not appropriate to use physical punishment or rudeness. You don’t even need to be strict to communicate with this dog. She can read the owner’s emotions and responds to gestures and looks.

Lagotto Romagnolo is content living in an apartment or a private home. The dog is modest, doesn’t take up much room, and doesn’t chew objects. However, you must walk him two or three times a day. Long walks that include jogging, cerebral activities, and active games are ideal. These dogs enjoy swimming and looking for and bringing objects. Going outside and using dog playgrounds with exercise equipment is advised more frequently.

The dog’s coat requires close attention on your part. Regular haircuts are necessary for Lagotto Romagnolo, at least once or twice a year. The coat grows continuously and gets in the way, matting, obstructing vision, and getting into the mouth if left untrimmed. For show people in particular, this is crucial. A distinctive haircut helps the dog develop a recognizable appearance. Many owners give their pets summertime haircuts that leave them nearly bald.

Otherwise, the maintenance is easy:

• comb 1-2 times a week;
• bathe once every 2-3 months;
• examine and wipe the eyes every other day;
• periodically trim the hair on the paws and muzzle to make it easier to maintain cleanliness;
• clean the ears weekly;
• wash the paws after walks, and the muzzle after eating;
• As they grow, trim their claws.

When given proper care, Lagotto Romagnolo can live for 15–17 years and are in good health. They occasionally suffer from inherited conditions like joint dysplasia, cataracts, and epilepsy. They don’t have dietary preferences or a tendency toward allergies. However, they have the potential to put on weight, so it’s critical to watch how much they eat and how active they are.

A healthy diet is essential for sustaining good health. Natural products or extremely premium dry food can be used for this. Since the diet in the first instance is balanced, extra vitamin supplementation is not necessary. Lean meat, offal, cereals, and vegetables should all be included in the diet when using natural feeding. You can offer eggs, greens, cottage cheese, and kefir.

The Lagotto Romagnolo is a distinctive and adaptable breed that is renowned for its exceptional aptitude for truffle hunting as well as its kind disposition. It stands out as a loving companion in addition to being a working dog because of its curly coat and playful demeanor. This breed does best in households with lots of attention and exercise opportunities.

Even though it has a working dog background, the Lagotto enjoys lounging around with family members. They are a wonderful option for both seasoned pet owners and first-time dog owners due to their affection, intelligence, and ease of training. To be content and healthy, they do need regular mental and physical stimulation, though.

All things considered, the Lagotto Romagnolo is a devoted and flexible breed that works well in a variety of settings. The Lagotto is a wonderful choice for anyone seeking a dedicated companion or a fun-loving family dog because of their exceptional charm and commitment.

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