Lagotto Romagnolo

From marshes to truffle hunts

In Italy's Romagna region, the Lagotto once retrieved waterfowl from marshes. As the wetlands were drained, another talent became more useful: its excellent nose. The breed now searches for truffles in its homeland. This history helps explain why a walk with time to sniff may mean more to a Lagotto than simply covering distance quickly.

Breed standards describe a lively, intelligent dog that is affectionate with its people. Many enjoy working alongside someone when the task is clear. Start with a toy the dog can find in the same room, then hide it behind a door or outside in grass. Let the dog search and reward it when it finds the toy. You have a shared activity without needing real truffles.

Day-to-day care

The dense curls keep growing and can mat even though the Lagotto leaves relatively little hair around the home. Moisture, soil and plant debris can lodge behind the ears, along the legs and in the beard. Run your fingers through these areas after a walk and loosen small tangles before they tighten against the skin. Regular trimming keeps the coat manageable; find a groomer familiar with the breed's natural curly texture.

The British standard describes a woolly, water-resistant coat with an undercoat. Hair on the head and brows may be longer but should not cover the eyes. Check the ears for redness, smell or repeated head shaking. Do not reach deep into the ear canal with cotton buds or pluck hair yourself to treat irritation; ask a vet to examine a sore ear.

Health

Two distinct inherited neurological diseases are known in Lagottos. Familial juvenile epilepsy causes seizures in young puppies. In studied dogs, seizures often stopped by four months of age. Every seizure still needs veterinary assessment. Lagotto storage disease, by contrast, is progressive and can increasingly affect coordination.

DNA tests are available for both conditions. Ask to see both parents’ results and have their implications for the litter explained. The juvenile epilepsy test detects one specific genetic change, not every cause of seizures. Seizures have also been observed in a few dogs with just one copy of that change. A blanket promise that testing protects every puppy from all epilepsy would therefore be misleading.

The Royal Kennel Club also recommends hip and elbow X-rays and eye examinations for breeding dogs. Ask for the written reports. If your dog has seizures or an unsteady gait, take any genetic results to the veterinary appointment.

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