🐕 Medium · Italy
A curly-coated Italian water dog with an exceptional sense of smell, originally bred for truffle hunting, needing plenty of mental work and regular coat care to stay balanced.
The Lagotto Romagnolo is attentive, affectionate, and enjoys working closely with its person. It shows outstanding scenting ability and is usually friendly toward family members.
Beyond daily walks, the Lagotto benefits greatly from scent work such as mantrailing or truffle hunting. Without enough stimulation, it can become restless and destructive.
The curly, woolly coat mats easily and needs regular brushing plus clipping roughly every six to eight weeks. It sheds very little but is not considered fully hypoallergenic.
Beginners should be prepared for scent work and regular clipping, in which case the Lagotto is easy to manage. Without sufficient stimulation, it readily develops behavioural problems.
The breed is associated with benign familial juvenile epilepsy, a breed-specific storage disease affecting puppies. Hip dysplasia and patellar luxation also occur.
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This information is for general guidance and does not replace veterinary or breeder advice. Temperament and health vary individually within every breed.
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