- Breed name: Lagotto Romagnolo
- Original breed name: Lagotto Romagnolo
- FCI classification: Group 8 – Retrievers and water dogs, section 3
- Origin: Italy, Belgium, France
- Size: Medium dog
- Average life expectancy: 15-17 years
Lagotto Romagnolo is a very ancient breed of water dog. The only breed that specializes in truffle hunting due to its perfect sense of smell. In addition, they can be found as pets more and more often these days. An ideal dog for people prone to allergies, extremely loyal to his family, he gets along well with children.
ORIGIN
Originally used as water dogs, originated in the early 16th century in Italy. This breed originates from the ancient breed of duck hunters and is one of the rare breeds that has remained almost completely unchanged over the centuries. Thanks to the traveling merchants of that time, they quickly spread to the territories of France and Belgium. It is believed that Lagotto is the ancestor of many aquatic breeds such as the Golden Retriever, the Portuguese Water Dog and the Poodle. Due to their specific waterproof fur, they were originally used for hunting aquatic game in wetlands, and today they are almost exclusively used for hunting truffles. In modern times, the Lagotto is the only breed intended for finding truffles, and their natural tendency to dig and their extraordinary sense of hearing makes them inviolable in that business.
APPEARANCE
Recognizable primarily by his specific fur, which is unusually curly and similar to wool. The breed is of medium size, square in appearance and very strong in structure. The average height of males is 43 to 48 cm, and females from 41 to 46 cm. The weight of males ranges from 13 to 16 kg, while females are slightly lighter with a weight of 11 to 14 kg. They appear in various colors and shades, and are most often brownish-gray, orange-white, brown-white as well as orange. The breed does not shed much, its fur is waterproof and hyperallergenic, which makes it a very suitable pet for people with allergies. Their head is trapezoidal and moderately wide. Their skull is slightly convex and becomes flatter at the back. The frontal sinuses are very well developed. The muzzle is quite wide, slightly shorter than the skull. The nose is large with wide open nostrils. Their cheeks are straight and their eyes are large and round. The color of the iris can vary from ocher to hazel and dark brown. The ears are medium in size, proportional to the rest of the body. Lagottos body is very compact and strong, as long as the height of the ridge
CHARACTER
Lagotto is not an overly demanding dog. If you give him enough physical activity and quality company, you can have a great hunter and a real faithful pet. He can also live in an apartment, if he is provided with enough physical and mental stimulation. It is not recommended to leave him alone for a long time, because in the absence of positive stimulation, he can become prone to negative traits such as excessive barking, digging and as well biting things. Although they were originally intended for hunting, nowadays they can be found more and more often in homes as pets. If he is properly socialized, he will get along well with children and other pets. As a pet, he is very dedicated to his human family, caring and gentle. They can also be great keepers if you train them to bark when they are young.
HEALTH AND CARE
Lagotto is considered a generally healthy breed, but may be prone to hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, gangliosidosis, and epilepsy. It is necessary to take special care of the ears and the base of the paws in order to prevent the retention of various remains. Also, it is mandatory to check the ears at least once a week because of its curly hair that grows quickly in and around the ears, which can lead to the accumulation of various bacteria. It is desirable to shorten the part of the hair around the ears so that everything can be cleaned safely.
Statistics
- Energy level: High energy level
- Playfulness level: High energy level
- Attitude towards other dogs: Friendly
- Relationship with other pets: Friendly
- Attitude towards strangers: Mostly distrustful
- Ease of training: Easy to train
- Protection: Medium level of protection
- Required maintenance: Moderate maintenance
- Heat tolerance: High tolerance
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