Lagotto Romagnolo

The Lagotto Romagnolo is a very ancient Italian breed from the Romagna region in northern Italy. Historically it was used as a waterfowl hunting dog in the wetlands of the Po delta, hence its name meaning literally «water dog from Romagna».

As the marshes were drained in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Lagotto found a new and extremely valuable purpose: truffle hunting. Thanks to its extraordinary sense of smell, it became the quintessential truffle dog. The breed was recognized by the FCI in 1995.

The Lagotto Romagnolo is a medium-sized dog with a robust build and characteristic curly coat. Its most outstanding trait is its prodigious sense of smell.

In temperament it is very intelligent, curious and hardworking, with great motivation for scent work and searching. At the same time it is affectionate and balanced at home, adapting well to family life as long as it receives sufficient physical and mental stimulation.

The Lagotto Romagnolo needs daily exercise and especially olfactory stimulation: nosework, object searching or tracking are ideal to channel its natural instincts. Its curly coat requires regular brushing and professional grooming every 2-3 months.

Veterinary visits should include genetic testing for LSD and thyroid monitoring.

The Lagotto Romagnolo may be prone to some hereditary conditions worth knowing about:

• Benign juvenile epilepsy: seizures in young puppies that generally resolve on their own without continued treatment.
• Hip dysplasia: hereditary joint malformation that can cause pain and lameness; detectable via X-ray.
• Lagotto storage disease (LSD): breed-specific progressive neurological disorder; genetic test available for breeders.
• Hypothyroidism: insufficient thyroid hormone production causing lethargy, weight gain and skin problems; manageable with daily medication.

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