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Gundog group · Italy

Lagotto Romagnolo

Also called Romagna Water Dog, Italian Water Dog, Truffle Dog.

Medium dog, moderate energy, quick to learn.

  • Affectionate
  • Keen
  • Undemanding
  • Loyal
  • Trainable
AI-generated illustration of an adult Lagotto Romagnolo
AI-generated illustration
Size
Medium
Weight
11 to 16 kg24 to 35 lb
Lives
15 to 17 years
Energy
Moderate
Trains
High
Barks
Moderate

Training

Training a Lagotto Romagnolo

Gundog breeds. Quick to learn and quick to get over-excited. The work is calm around distractions, not obedience.

  1. Nose Work Natural

    Start here

    Originally truffle hunters, Lagotti excel at scent work. Incorporate nose games for mental satisfaction.

  2. Willing Partners

    Eager to please and trainable, they respond well to positive reinforcement and consistent training.

  3. Digging Instinct

    Bred to dig for truffles, they may excavate gardens. Provide acceptable digging outlets or redirect.

The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.

Add your Lagotto Romagnolo and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, on video with Atlas and Shango.

Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.

At home

Living with one

Bred to find, flush and retrieve game alongside a person. Biddable, busy, and happiest with a job.

Gets on with

  • ChildrenHigh
  • Other dogsHigh
  • StrangersModerate
  • CatsHigh

Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.

Exercise
1 hour daily. Moderate exercise with emphasis on mental stimulation. Scent work is ideal.
Grooming
High. Regular brushing to prevent mats, professional grooming every 6-8 weeks. Hypoallergenic coat.
Drool
Low
Coat
Curly, Woolly, Dense, HypoallergenicOff-white, White, Brown, Orange, Brown Roan, Orange Roan
In a flat
Can work, with enough exercise outside it.

Health

Things to ask a breeder or vet about

  • Hip Dysplasia

    Moderate

    Joint condition requiring health screening

  • Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy

    Moderate

    Genetic seizure condition, puppies usually outgrow it

  • Storage Disease

    Severe

    Neurological condition that can be tested for genetically

Where they come from

History

An ancient Italian water dog from the Romagna region, originally used for retrieving waterfowl. When marshlands were drained, the breed transitioned to truffle hunting, becoming the world's finest truffle-detection dogs. The only breed purpose-bred for truffle hunting.

Similar breeds

All breeds

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