You want to buy a Lagotto Romagnolo or you already have one. And you are curious about the Lagotto Romagnolo character. Then read on and find out more about this breed.
The Lagotto Romagnolo is an ancient Italian breed that was originally used as a hunting dog and water retriever.
The origin of this breed lie in the Romagna area of Italy, referred to in the second half of their name. The first part of their name “Lagotto” means “duck dog” in the dialect of the local area.
Dogs of this breed were originally bred as hunting companions to help retrieve waterfowl in the marshlands of Romagna. However, towards the late 1800s, much of the marshlands in the region were drained, and these dogs may have been left without a job if it weren’t for the fact that their super noses made them excellent truffle hunters.
They are the only breed in modern times that is specifically bred for the job of truffle hunting.
Their size, agility, eagerness to please, and water-resistant coat meant they were perfectly suited to this task.
Pros
- The dog is a hypoallergenic breed, which means it is suitable for an allergic patient.
- They make a wonderful family dog because of their sweet and friendly temperament.
- This breed is a great watchdog.
- They are low droolers and shedders.
- This dog has a surprisingly sharp sense of smell, is attentive to the owner, smart, gentle and disciplined.
- They are natural water lovers, so if you are planning any water-related activity, this breed will be more than happy to join you.
- Overall, the Lagotto is a playful, energetic, and intelligent breed that is highly trainable.
- Sociable and friendly with everyone: friendly attitude towards other animals.
- If you’re a family with older children, who live an active, outdoor life, this breed will suit you down to the ground.
Cons
- They need a decent-sized fenced yard and frequent sessions of vigorous physical activity plus challenging mental stimulation.
- Moderate to high grooming requirement, which will include clipping and trimming roughly every two months.
- Not the best breed for gardeners, as the Lagotto loves to dig, especially in damp soil.
- Some individuals are hyper-sensitive (even fearful) of strangers or unfamiliar sights, sounds, or situations.
- They are not suitable for lazy owners who follow sedentary lifestyle.
- The dog lacks aggression and fierceness to be effective guard dogs.
- Not a mindless yapper, but does like to vocalize.
- Also, the curly, wooly coat attracts dirt, leaves, pollen, and other debris, which can end up on your floor and furniture.
Interesting Facts
- There are numerous paintings from the Renaissance era that depict the Lagotto Romagnolo: Pittore Lombardo, Guercino, and Andrea Mantegna are three artists who have depicted the Lagotto in their work.
- The world’s largest white truffle, weighing 1.8 kilo, was discovered in Italy by a Lagotto in 2014. The Prized fungi sold for $61.250 during an auction.
- Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby named her Netflix project “Douglas” after her own Lagotto.
- The plural of Lagotto is Lagotti.
Appearance of a Lagotto Romagnolo
Their undercoat is soft and dense, which keeps them warm. Topcoat is curly, wooly which helps the dog to shed water easily.
The male Lagotto stands at between 43 and 48 centimeters high, with the female slightly smaller at 41 – 46 centimeters. Males weigh in at 13 – 16 kilos and females 11 – 14 kilos.
They come in a wide range of colors, brown, brown roan, off-white, orange, white and brown, and white and orange. In terms of markings, a brown mask is acceptable. Some dogs may also have tan markings.
Usually, a healthy Lagotto dog has a life expectancy of about 15 – 17 years.
Grooming
Their coat needs clipping on a regular basis, to prevent matting. Once this is done though, they only need the occasional brush between clips.
Some dog’s hair will tangle more easily than others, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on this when you give them a brush. They also don’t shed that much, as any hair that falls out tends to get caught in their curls.
Wash your Lagotto’s ear weekly with a gentle, dog-friendly cleanser to prevent dirt buildup that can cause infections.
Do Lagotti moult a lot?
Lagotti have double coats that are water-resistant and are made up of hair, rather than fur. This means that their hair grows more slowly, doesn’t shed as much.
Cost
The price of Lagotto typically ranges from 2000 to 5000 euros and the average price is 2500 euro.
Price range can vary based on the dog’s quality, lineage, location and quality of the breeder.
Exercise & trainability
A Lagotto Romagnolo needs plenty of exercise. This breed is active and definitely needs regular, daily walks. If you have a large yard, your dog can expend its energy in it and daily walks are not necessary.
Mental stimulation is almost as important as physical activity for this breed. Advanced training can help tremendously. Consider training them for obedience, agility, conformation, tracking or another dog sport.
Agility classes, Dock Diving, truffle searching and scent work are all ways to keep your dog’s body and mind active.
He is independent: however, with perseverance, patience and kindness, you can achieve good results.
They like mental challenges, but should not be faced with tasks so difficult that they become frustrated. Make sure that training sessions have the right balance between challenge and fun.
They do best with reward-based training, and may choose to avoid or ignore your training if you resort to correction-based training.
The Lagotto likes to dig, especially in damp soil, and will need patience and training to get them to stop digging.
Socialization at an early age will help your pup grow up to be a confident and well-behaved dog in a variety of situations.
Do they like to swim?
Lagotti are known as water dogs and are usually exceptional and eager swimmers. However, every dog has unique likes and dislikes, so if you have the rare Lagotto who doesn’t enjoy water, don’t force the issue.
Do they bark a lot?
They do bark, but they are known as a quiet breed and will bark to alert the house to visitors.
If a quiet dog is at the top of your list, the Lagotto is a good choice, especially when you give them plenty of activity and attention.
The Lagotto Romagnolo character: Friendliness
Lagotti will welcome kids with wagging tails if they’re raised with them from puppyhood. They tend to prefer children they know well and are not usually aggressive with strangers.
If Lagotti is accustomed to being in the company of cats and dogs from an early age, they can be patient and get along with their furry family members. When it comes to smaller pets such as hamsters and Guinea pigs, It may not be advisable to keep them together with your Lagotto. But with enough socialization from a young age, the dog can peacefully live with cats.
They can be somewhat aloof around strangers, so it’s important to teach them that strangers are trustworthy from a young age.
The Lagotto Romagnolo character: his adaptability
This breed can do well in apartments with an active family and adequate exercise. Where you live doesn’t matter, as long as you can walk the dog and keep it active.
Is a Lagotto Romagnolo a good guard dog?
The Lagotto is not only an excellent family pet, but also a great watchdog. They will be protective of their territory. However, they tend to ward off intruders with barks instead of aggression.
They will alert you to animals or people on your property. However, this breed will not generally attack; they are not guard dogs.
With time, they can even learn to trust people they often see, offering them a warm welcome into your home.
Health issues
- These dogs can be prone to hip dysplasia, a genetic condition which can lead to the degeneration of the hip joint.
- This breed can also suffer from a number of eye diseases, including juvenile cataracts and distichiasis.
- Benign familial juvenile epilepsy (BFJE) can affect this breed. Seizures usually begin at around the age of 5 – 9 weeks, and often these seizures stop around 13 weeks.
- Lysosomal storage disease is a neurodegenerative disease with severe symptoms. Affected dogs will show signs of clumsiness, abnormal eye movements, cerebellar ataxia and behavioral changes.
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