Lagotto Romagnolo

A Lagotto’s coat tells its origin story as a duck hunter’s retriever. Waterproof and insulating curls cover their athletic body. However, the marshlands of the Romagne district in Italy were drained at some point in history, so the dogs found new work locating truffles. These furry foragers replaced pigs as truffle hunters as they were far easier to train, to house, to transport, and, perhaps most importantly, to convince not to eat the truffles. They are relatively new to America, having only been recognized as a breed here in the last 20 to 30 years.

Suit up Italian style for a day outdoors to make your Lagotto as happy as they can be. They do well with owners who are dedicated to obedience and tricks. If you’re ok with dog grooming, boundless energy, and endless snuggles, then the Lagatto is an ideal companion breed.

Lagottos still have working instincts. They love training, playing games, and catching zoomies around the yard. If you can satisfy all three in a day, your Lagotto Romagnolo dog will be very happy and fulfilled—and ready to couch potato with you at the end of the day. They love to dig, swim, and sniff out scents, so it’s important to provide them with a variety of walks and routes, especially off-leash play if they have good recall. Variety is the spice of the Lagotto’s life.

While they aren’t overly demanding with space, they might find city life too fast-paced and overwhelming unless they have access to endless opportunities to run, swim, and sniff. They will do well in suburban and rural areas where they can run free and would love nothing better than a hike in the mountains or a romp on the beach. Besides sniffing instincts, they have watchdog ones, too, so homes with lots of visitors coming in and out or passing by might result in an extra noisy Lagotto who is only trying to do his job.

The Lagotto dog breed is considered hypoallergenic because it does not shed, but that really only applies to those who are allergic to fur and not dander or saliva. They need to be brushed frequently and checked for knots and matting. Some prefer to clip a Lagotto’s coat short, especially in warmer places, and their eyes should be kept hair-free. They have particularly sensitive and hairy ears and a build-up inside can cause them discomfort.

Lagotto Romangnolo dogs are eager beavers who love to please but don’t respond to anything other than positive reinforcement in training, particularly with food and toys. Additional motivation can be shown through trips outside to dig, swim, nose around, and engage in family activities.

Active families who love nothing more than heading out to the lake or on a hike on the weekends will do well with Lagottos. Ideally, families have no children or older ones who enjoy dog training. If your house is like the neighborhood’s Grand Central Station, prepare yourself for lots of barking as your Lagotto fulfills its duty as a watchdog.

The cost of a Lagotto Romagnolo from a breeder is significantly more than the cost of adopting one from a local shelter or rescue. The adoption fee usually covers additional items such as spaying or neutering, vaccines, and microchipping.