Lagotto Romagnolo Dog Breed Guide: Info, Pictures, Care & More!

The Lagotto Romagnolo (Luh-go-tow Ro-maan-yolo) is a medium-sized antique working breed from Northern Italy. They are famous for their truffle hunting skills, though they can also make friendly and adoring companions around your home. They are loyal and prefer family members to strangers, but should never be aggressive or shy.

It is easy to fall in love with a Lagotto Romagnolo dog at first glance due to its teddy bear curls and thick coat. Although Lagotto is entirely hypoallergenic, their double-coated hairy curls hardly shed, so they can be an excellent fit for people who are allergic to dogs’ dander.

Their beautiful wavy hairs may come in various colors, such as orange, brown, white, or cream.

Breed Overview

It is often hard to differentiate Lagotto Romagnolo from Labradoodles or Goldendoodles due to their tight curls.

True to its heritage as a working dog, the Lagotto Romagnolo is very energetic. Balancing its high activity level is an affectionate and docile nature. They are often easy to train and alert enough to make an excellent watchdog.

Lagotto Romagnolo Characteristics

Lagotto Romagnolo Puppies

The price of a Lagotto Romagnolo varies greatly and depends on different factors, such as the breeder’s reputation, location, training, litter size, and breed popularity. You can expect to pay less for a puppy without papers, though that is not recommended.

If you are looking for a dog with superior lineage, you should expect to spend a premium for a puppy with breeding rights, show quality, and papers.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Lagotto Romagnolo

Given that the Lagotto Romagnolo was bred to live, hunt, and work together with humans in the past centuries, it was one of the most family-affectionate breeds. The Lagotto Romagnolo is very loyal to its owners, and they have a powerful affection.

Furthermore, since the characteristics that make them ideal canines are still firmly implanted within them, they are more than just Poodles. When you combine that with their enduring love for human friendships, they can be the best watchdog in your home.

In addition, despite their strong urges, Lagottos are incredibly intelligent. Intelligence was their favorite trait among their unique work nature since it helped them master complex commands involved with their job. This is an advantage for you since it means you can teach your Lagotto a broad range of commands without too many issues.

However, the Lagotto requires a lot of mental stimulation. Without sufficient mental enrichment, Lagottos are prone to unwanted behaviors due to boredom. So, when it comes to mental stimulation, tools including puzzle toys, games, or actual jobs are a great idea.

Make sure you give your Lagotto proper care, too. Furthermore, you will notice that Lagottos enjoy digging. That means you should consider getting your Lagotto a sandbox.

Are These Dogs Good For Families? 🧑‍🧑‍🧒

The Lagotto Romagnolo is described as a gentle and loving dog, craving but not demanding human friendship. They are particularly good with kids, although they also get along well with adults. However, to ensure they behave well, give them proper training before introducing them to your family.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Like most dogs, the Lagotto was bred to live close at hand with other retriever breeds. That means they are great with both humans and other dogs. However, 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, these dogs can peacefully leave with cats.

Things to Know When Owning a Lagotto Romagnolo

Owning a pet is not just a privilege; it is a responsibility. At a minimum, pets depend on you for food, shelter, grooming, and much more. When you buy a Lagotto Romagnolo, you must understand the duty entailed in dog ownership.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The Lagotto Romagnolo is not a picky eater. Nevertheless, ensure that your pet’s diet contains premium dog food. Try to vary the diet by feeding your dog both dry and wet food. Furthermore, because these pets are highly active pooches, ensure that their food is rich in calories.

When it comes to feeding frequency, consider giving food to your Lagotto 3–4 times a day rather than once or twice. When you divide their meal into small portions and feed them to your dog at different time intervals, you will give them time to burn consumed calories more efficiently.

However, to be sure of what you need to feed your Lagotto, it is crucial to seek help from your vet. They will help you come up with a diet plan that is specifically tailored to your dog.

Exercise 🐕

Like most sporting breeds, Lagottos require an active, involved lifestyle to keep them happy. They are not hyperactive and don’t need much exercise, but they require physical and mental enrichment. Although Lagottos will enjoy and benefit from time outdoors, the breed may not do well when left to live outside without family interaction.

Lagotto Romagnolos require spending lots of time with their family to be emotionally stable and content.

Training 🎾

The Lagotto Romagnolo is an intelligent, lively, and wary creature. They like to learn and amuse their owners and shine in canine activities, including obedience and agility and other events such as dock diving (they are water lovers). Due to their powerful nose, Lagottos are excellent prospects for search-and-rescue, scent work, and medical conditions detection.

Early training and socialization are essential since they help to ensure that your Lagotto develops into an even-keeled and well-behaved companion.

Grooming ✂️

Lagotto’s hairy, waterproof coat forms hefty, tight tufts that cover the whole body except the head. They have a hairy double coat that doesn’t shed, although they might leave some curls on the hair once in a while. The coat requires regular trimming.

But keep in mind that some Lagotto coat curls more than others. So, to prevent this, it is crucial to groom your Lagottos regularly. Furthermore, be sure to do a weekly check-up for debris and wax buildup or any infection signs.

Health And Conditions 🏥

Although Lagottos are typically a healthy breed, they are still susceptible to some health issues. For instance, hip dysplasia. The signs of hip dysplasia include hip joint malformation leading to arthritis, lameness, or chronic pain.

For this reason, it is advisable to work only with a reputable breeder who provides certification from Animals’ Orthopedic Foundations. Furthermore, Lagotto Romagnolo is susceptible to a few forms of epilepsy. Luckily, you can avoid these issues by buying a Lagotto pup from a reliable breeder.

Male vs. Female

This depends on your preference. But if you are not a professional breeder, it is advisable to spay or neuter your Lagotto. Doing that will prevent the behavior problems that show up during sexual maturity.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Lagotto Romagnolo

1. They Do Not Shed

The Lagotto Romagnolo has a tender, hairy coat that is hypoallergic and does not shed like the other canines. That means Lagotto’s hair grows continuously, and so it requires regular trims. Failure to do so means the coat will become matted and rough.

2. They are Experts at Hunting

In the 18th century, Italian hunters used Lagottos as waterdogs. They were extremely efficient when it came to hunting water animals.

All this transfigured in the 19^th century after hunters saw little use of the dogs. Nevertheless, truffle hunters found the benefits of Lagottos and started using them in their hunt for mushrooms. By the end of World War II, nearly all truffle hunters had begun to use Lagottos in their hunting.

3. They Can Be Excellent Watchdogs

The Lagotto Romagnolo is not only an excellent family pet but also a great watchdog. It has sharp hearing, such that some people believe it can sleep with one year open and can quickly alert you of an intruder.

When it comes to visitors, they will bark and become alert but will not express any aggression. With time, they can even learn to trust people they often see, offering them a warm welcome into your home.

Conclusion

If you are looking for an affectionate, devoted, and active dog that will live with your family for a long time, consider the Lagotto Romagnolo as your next pet. Nevertheless, you must be ready to help them meet their comprehensive requirements since they are working dogs. All in all, the Lagotto Romagnolo is an awesome pet that will add life to your home.

Featured Image Credit: Grapsole79, Shutterstock