Lagotto RomagnoloCharacteristics, history, training and care

The FCI standard says the Lagotto is an ancient breed of water retrieving dog from the lowlands of Comacchio and the marshes around Ravenna. Over the centuries, the marshes were drained and turned into farmland.

As a result, the Lagotto changed from a water dog into a truffle-searching dog on the plains and hills of Romagna. Wikipedia says the FCI accepted it provisionally in 1995 and definitively in 2005, and that about 3,500 puppies are registered in Italy each year on average.

How the breed developed

• Centuries ago – A retrieving dog in the marshes of Comacchio and Ravenna.
• 19th–20th centuries – The marshes are drained; it becomes a truffle dog.
• 1995 – The FCI provisionally accepts the breed.
• 6 July 2005 – The FCI definitively recognises the breed.

Indicative rating: 5 stars means the highest level. It is based on the ratings the American Kennel Club gives the breed and on the FCI standard.

The standard describes it as a small to medium-sized, well-proportioned, powerful dog with a rustic appearance and a square body. It should give the impression that it has the strength and stamina to work all day on difficult ground.

General appearance

The coat has a woolly texture, with tight, ring-shaped curls evenly spread over the body and tail. On the head, the curls are looser and form abundant eyebrows, whiskers and a beard.

The accepted colours are solid off-white, white with brown or orange patches, orange roan, brown roan, brown (in various shades), with or without white, and orange, with or without white. Some dogs have a brown mask.

The standard says that, thanks to its natural searching ability and very good nose, it is very efficient at finding truffles. Its hunting instinct has been reduced through selection, so that the scent of game does not distract it. It is biddable, undemanding, keen, affectionate, very attached to its owner and easy to train.

The AKC says it loves to learn and to please its owner and excels at agility, obedience and dock diving. Its excellent nose makes it well suited to search, rescue and detection work.

Tips for effective training

• Use its nose. Search games are ideal.
• Socialise it from an early age. The AKC recommends early socialisation.
• Use rewards. It likes to please you.
• Try dog sports. It excels at agility and obedience.

The AKC says it is not hyperactive and does not need a great deal of exercise, but it needs both mental and physical activity. It does not do well if it lives outdoors, away from the family.

Tips for a balanced life

• Keep it indoors, with the family.
• Give it something to search for every day.
• Let it swim whenever possible.

Coat and skin care

The AKC says the waterproof, tightly curled coat sheds very little but needs regular clipping. Some coats mat more than others, so they should be checked and the knots worked out.

Common health problems

The sources used do not mention any breed-specific diseases. The AKC gives it a long life expectancy, 15–17 years. As with any active dog, the joints and eyes are worth checking at regular vet visits.

Other care

• Check the ears, especially after swimming.
• Work out the knots in the coat.
• Go for regular check-ups.

The AKC says some dogs gain weight easily, so calories and weight should be watched.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual. The first two calorie columns show the calories per day for a healthy adult dog. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram.

• Give it its food in two meals a day.
• Treats used in search work should be subtracted from the daily ration.
• A dog is at the right weight when you can feel its ribs under the coat without pressing hard.

Foods to avoid

Some human foods are dangerous for dogs: chocolate, coffee, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, xylitol (a sweetener used in chewing gum), macadamia nuts and alcohol.

Physical and emotional maturity

In dogs, sexual maturity usually comes between 6 and 12 months. Most breeds become adults at around 13–15 months.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy lasts about 63 days, counted from ovulation. Mating a female on her first heat is not recommended. The FCI standard requires that only healthy dogs of typical breed appearance are used for breeding.

Caring for the puppies

In dogs, a litter has 5–6 puppies on average, and the number rises with the size of the breed. Socialisation starts in the first weeks: gentle handling, everyday noises and new people.

• A truffle specialist. The AKC says it is the only breed recognised as a specialist truffle finder.
• Game does not distract it. Its hunting instinct has been reduced through selection.
• A former water dog. It retrieved game from the marshes around Ravenna.
• “Carino”. The AKC says Italians describe it with this word, meaning “cute”.
• It lives a long time. The AKC gives a life expectancy of 15–17 years.

Does it really search for truffles?

Yes. The standard describes it as a truffle dog.

Does it shed?

Very little, but the coat needs regular clipping.

How big does it get?

Males measure 43–48 cm and weigh 13–16 kg; females measure 41–46 cm and weigh 11–14 kg.

How long does it live?

The AKC gives 15–17 years.