Curly coat, alert eyes and a nose that misses almost nothing: the Lagotto Romagnolo is one of Italy's most charming dog breeds. Originally bred as a water retrieving dog, it developed over the centuries into probably the world's best known truffle hunting dog. Today it lives mainly as a family dog with us, but still brings its love of work and its keen sense of smell into the living room. Anyone interested in a Lagotto Romagnolo should know what makes this special dog tick, how much activity it needs and what matters in its diet. That is exactly what this guide covers.
Breed profile and temperament
The Lagotto Romagnolo is a medium sized dog with a compact, muscular build. Males reach a shoulder height of about 43 to 48 centimetres, while females are slightly smaller at 41 to 46 centimetres. Depending on sex, weight ranges from 11 to 16 kilograms. Its most striking feature is undoubtedly the dense, woolly curled coat, which makes it look like a small sheep while also offering excellent protection against wet and cold.
In character, the Lagotto is an attentive, intelligent and eager to learn companion. It is considered very people oriented, affectionate and remarkably adaptable, which makes it a popular family dog. Towards strangers it is usually friendly to reserved, never aggressive. Its high level of comprehension makes training pleasant, but in return it also demands mental stimulation, because this alert mind does not care for boredom at all.
Another plus point for many families: the Lagotto Romagnolo sheds very little. Its coat grows continuously, similar to a poodle, instead of renewing itself seasonally. This makes it interesting for people with mild dog hair allergies, although of course any individual reaction should be checked in advance with an allergist.
Origin and history
The roots of the Lagotto Romagnolo reach far back into the marshes of Romagna, a region in what is now northeastern Italy. There it was originally used as a water dog to retrieve downed waterfowl from the wetlands. Its water repellent curly coat and pronounced swimming instinct made it ideally suited for this.
When large parts of the marshes were drained in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Lagotto lost its original task. The farmers of the region, however, quickly recognised its exceptional sense of smell and began to use it specifically for truffle hunting. Over generations this ability was further refined, until the Lagotto Romagnolo was finally recognised as the first, and to this day the only, dog breed officially bred for truffle hunting. The Italian breed association ENCI and later the FCI confirmed the breed standard, which sets the fine nose as a central breeding goal.
This history explains why the Lagotto still has such a pronounced need for scent work today. Even though many representatives of the breed have never actually searched for a real truffle, the passion for sniffing runs deep in their genes.
Exercise and training
Anyone taking in a Lagotto Romagnolo should be aware that plain walks will not satisfy this dog in the long run. As a former working dog, it needs a task where it can put its nose and its mind to use. Scent work such as mantrailing, tracking or classic truffle search training is particularly well suited, but dummy training, trick dog training or agility are also well received by this clever dog.
Training is usually straightforward, as the Lagotto very much enjoys working together with its people and quickly grasps what is expected of it. Consistency and clarity are still important, however, because an underchallenged Lagotto otherwise quickly finds its own, less desirable occupations, such as digging in the garden. Positive reinforcement works particularly well with this breed: small successes, immediate praise and the targeted use of treats as motivation noticeably speed up the learning process.
As a family dog, the Lagotto Romagnolo is usually patient and sociable, including with children and other pets, provided it has been socialised accordingly. It is important to accustom it to different environments, sounds and people from an early age, so that the attentive puppy grows into a confident, balanced adult dog.
The right diet for the Lagotto Romagnolo
When feeding a Lagotto Romagnolo, one thing matters above all: a well digestible, high quality composition that supports this breed's medium sized, active build. Since the Lagotto is naturally lean and muscular, it reacts sensitively to low quality fillers that put unnecessary strain on the stomach and can lead to excess weight over the long term. A food with a high meat content, clearly declared ingredients and without unnecessary additives is the better choice here.
Whether dry food or wet food suits your own dog better depends on individual preferences, drinking behaviour and any digestive sensitivities. Anyone who relies on practical, long lasting food will find suitable recipes with a high meat content in the dry dog food category. For dogs that should take in more moisture through their food, or that are generally pickier, it is worth taking a look at the wet dog food category.
Since every Lagotto Romagnolo has a different activity level and individual needs, the food finder helps you find the right recipe for age, weight and activity level in just a few steps. Especially with such a hardworking breed, needs based feeding pays off, because too much energy in the bowl can quickly lead to excess weight if there is not enough exercise, while too little energy slows down mental and physical performance.
Chew snacks and chews
For the Lagotto Romagnolo, chewing is not just about well being, it also helps burn off excess energy sensibly and occupies the mind. Since this breed reacts sensitively to the digestibility of its food, chew snacks should be as natural and gentle on the stomach as possible. In the natural chew snacks category you will find a selection that meets exactly these requirements, without artificial additives and with clearly recognisable ingredients.
For in between, during training or as a small reward after a successful scent work session, natural treats are particularly well suited. They can easily be broken into small portions, which is helpful especially when learning new commands, without throwing the daily ration off balance.
How long and how intensively a Lagotto Romagnolo should chew depends strongly on its size, age and teeth. The chew finder helps you find the right chew for exactly these individual conditions, so that chewing fun and tolerability go hand in hand.
Coat care and health
The curly, woolly coat of the Lagotto Romagnolo sheds very little, but is more maintenance intensive than that of many other breeds. Without regular brushing it tends to mat, especially behind the ears, in the armpits and on the legs. Two to three brushings per week with a suitable comb are recommended to detect and loosen matting early.
In addition, the Lagotto needs a professional coat trim every six to eight weeks. Unlike natural shedding, its hair keeps growing continuously, which is why regular trimming is not optional but a fixed part of keeping this breed. Many owners have this done by a dog groomer, while some take it on themselves with a bit of practice.
In terms of health, the Lagotto Romagnolo is considered a robust breed, although hip dysplasia and a hereditary form of epilepsy in puppies (cerebellar ataxia / benign familial juvenile epilepsy) occur more frequently as breed typical conditions. A reputable breeder examines the parent animals accordingly before using them for breeding. In addition to veterinary preventive care, a needs based, well digestible diet helps relieve the joints and digestion on a lasting basis.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lagotto Romagnolo suitable as a beginner's dog?
Basically yes, provided you are willing to offer it enough mental stimulation. Its eagerness to learn makes training pleasant, but its love of work demands active exercise, for example through scent work or targeted training. Anyone who plans for this time will find in it a loyal and uncomplicated companion.
How much exercise does a Lagotto Romagnolo need daily?
Besides extensive walks totalling about one to two hours a day, the Lagotto especially benefits from mental stimulation. A combination of movement and mental work, such as search games or training sessions, suits this breed better than plain walks alone.
Does the Lagotto Romagnolo really shed hardly at all?
Yes, its coat grows continuously instead of changing seasonally, similar to a poodle. This makes it more interesting for allergy sufferers than many other breeds, but it does not replace the regular grooming effort of brushing and professional trimming.
Which food suits the Lagotto Romagnolo best?
A well digestible food with a high meat content and without unnecessary additives, adapted to the dog's activity level and age, is recommended. Anyone unsure which recipe suits best will find an individual recommendation through the food finder. Anyone who generally wants to learn more about the typical needs of different breeds will also find what they are looking for in the breed finder.
Character and who the Lagotto Romagnolo suits
In short, the Lagotto Romagnolo best suits: active families looking for a clever, eager to learn dog.
- Size: medium
- Energy level: active
- With children: very good with children
- Apartment: okay with enough exercise
- For beginners: with some experience
- Coat care: demanding coat care
- Trainability: very eager to learn
- Watchfulness: not a pronounced guard dog
Not sure whether this breed fits your life? Find out with our breed finder "Which dog breed suits me?"
Also worth reading: Which chew suits my dog?
