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Lagotto Romagnolo Dog Breed Introduction
Lagotto Romagnolo ( plural: Lagotti Romagnoli ) is a medium-sized working dog from Romagna, Italy that was originally developed for retrieving waterfowls. Currently, they are used for truffle hunting due to their acute scenting powers. A Lagotto has a double-layered water proof coat that sheds at low to non levels hence considered hypoallergenic. The coat of Lagotto is more like human hair than fur. They make great pets for City dwellers if they are properly exercised and get enough companionship. Although, if not properly stimulated, Lagotti will engage in undesirable behaviors such as digging, destructive chewing, and excessive barking.
Lagotto Romagnolo History
Lagotto Romagnolo originated in the Romagna region in Northeast Italy more than 1000 years ago. The name of the breed was derived from the local Italian dialect word, Lagotto meaning a curly coated duck retriever and Romagna, a district in Northern Italy. Lagotti were used by the locals for the hunting of waterfowls in the vast marshlands that covered much of the Romagna.
A Lagotto had a water-resistant coat which made it suitable for this role. In the 19th century, there was large-scale reclamation of the marshlands in the region. Therefore, Lagotti were no longer required for duck hunting. Fortunately, they had acute scenting powers that were used for truffle hunting.
During this period, Lagotti were often crossed with other breeds known for scenting and hunting skills. This meant that the population of the purebred Lagotto greatly reduced to the extend of almost becoming extinct in the 70s’. However, the breed enthusiasts worked hard to increase their numbers while also honing their skills as truffle hunters.
In the recent years, Lagotti have become popular as a relatively-laid back and versatile companion breed. Since then, their popularity has spread to other parts of the world. The American Kennel Club recognized Lagotto in 2015 under the sporting dog category.
Lagotto Romagnolo Lifespan
Lagotti have a lifespan of 15 to 17 years according to the AKC.
Lagotto Romagnolo Grooming
A Lagotto has a waterproof double coat that forms thick light curls that cover the entire body except for the head. The Coat is made up of hair rather than fur. This is a working dog used for hunting truffles. Therefore, Lagotti love to keep their noses to the ground, the tails up to follow the noses, running in the forest, and sniffing in the shrubs. For this reason, this breed is groomed in a special way that protects the coat. If not properly groomed, the coat no longer offers the natural protection making the dog more prone to injury.
When correctly groomed, the coat is longer on the head, legs, and the hair around the eyes and the bridge of the nose is not trimmed. Although, slight trimming may be necessary to clear the vision pathway. The ears should blend in with the head by trimming to the leather and keeping the hair longer at the front. This protects the ears against the branches. The tail is groomed like a carrot so that it does not get hung up in the branches or shrubs as this dog carries the tail raised.
Parents should avoid using a brush to groom the coat. Brushing strips the undercoat hence ruining the coat. The undercoat offers a Lagotto with protection, insulation from heat and cold as well as waterproofing. A Lagotto is still a rare breed in the USA. Therefore, purpose to remind your groomer not to brush the coat when it is dry since it will remove the undercoat increasing the likelihood of matting. Use a shampoo for bathing the pet and a conditioner to moisturize the coat every 4 weeks.
After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the grooming products from the coat using lukewarm water to prevent skin irritation. While the coat is wet, use a mat cutter to remove mats as it is easier when wet and it will less damage the coat. Puppies should be combed on the paws, beard, and ears. However, adult Lagotti should never be combed to avoid ruining the coat. Due to the thick undercoat, use of scissors is preferred rather than using a clipper while trimming the coat. Coat trimming is required 4 or 5 times a year to reduce chances of matting.
Trim the nails fortnightly using nail clippers to prevent overgrowth, cracking, and splitting. Overly grown nails are painful for your dog while walking and running. Brush the teeth of a Lagotto at least twice a week if not daily to prevent tartar buildup using a dog formulated toothpaste and toothbrush. Clean the ears on a weekly basis using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove debris or wax. While cleaning the ears, checkout for any signs of infection such as redness, odor, and a dark discharge. Owners should regularly pluck the hair from the ear canal gently to prevent build-up of dirt and wax.
Lagotto Romagnolo Haircut
A Lagotto needs a haircut 4 or 5 times a year to prevent matting. The coat should be scissored instead of clipping due to the thick undercoat. Some of the haircuts that are suitable for Lagotti include:
Puppy Cut – The hair on the legs and body is scissored to a length of anywhere between 1/8 to 1/4 inches long. The hair on the head is kept a little longer with no trimming between the eyes like the Poodle or Bichon. The tail should be trimmed in a carrot shape. Wide at the base and narrow at the tip.
Classic show cut – For this haircut, the hair on the head is scissored to appear round with the appearance of short ears. The hair on the body is scissored to a length of about 1 to 1/2 inches.
Teddy bear cut – To achieve this grooming style, the hair on the face is trimmed in a circular manner to give the impression of a teddy bear look.
Lagotto Romagnolo Shedding
A Lagotto has a low to non-shedding coat. However, they may leave little tufts of hair once in a while.
Lagotto Romagnolo Coat
A Lagotto has a double-layered coat that is waterproof consisting of a topcoat that is quite thick and a visible undercoat.
Lagotto Romagnolo Hypoallergenic
A Lagotto is considered a hypoallergenic dog breed. It has a curly waterproof coat that sheds at low to non-levels all-year round. Even though, they occasionally leave little tufts of hair once in a while. However, there is no 100% truly hypoallergenic breed. Pet owners should spend lots of time with a Lagotto before adopting to ensure the dog does not aggravate their allergies.
Lagotto Romagnolo Training
Lagotti are intelligent and loyal dogs that are easily trainable. They need extensive socialization and puppy classes to ensure they mature into well-adjusted, well-mannered, and friendly dogs. The crucial period of socialization is between the age of 3 weeks while the puppy is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after the puppy has already settled in its new home. Normally, Lagotti owners take their pet home from the age of 8 weeks. However, even after the age of 16 weeks, this training should continue since it is a long-life process.
To socialize a Lagotto, expose it to a wide variety of people, surfaces, smell, sights, experiences, situations, medical equipment such as crutches and wheelchairs, and sounds such as baby crying sounds, sirens, vacuum cleaners, doorbells, washing machine, lawn mowers, and whistles. Enrolling a Lagotto in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes deliberately create a controlled environment where puppies can interact. A Puppy class is also beneficial to parents. It not only enable the pet parents to identify and correct bad habits such as resource guarding food and toys but also have access to training information and assistance. A well-socialized Lagotto gets along well with other small pets, dogs, and children.
Lagotti thrives on positive training methods such as the use of toys, treats, play time, petting, and verbal praise. However, they are sensitive and will shut down during training if harsh corrections methods such as yelling, shoving, kicking, beating, or use of choke and prong collars are used on them. Keep the training sessions short, challenging, and fun for a period of 5 minutes distributed throughout the day to avoid distraction and boredom. Start teaching basic commands words like come, lie down, stay, sit, wait, heel, leave it, etc. one at a time until the dog is well-acquainted before proceeding to the next command word.
Parents are cautioned against issuing a command word to a Lagotto when too frustrated or excited since the command word will not sound the same for their pets. Effectively housebreak Lagotti by creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training. Over the years, a crate has proven to be an indispensable device while house training. This device enables the Lagotto owner to monitor the fur baby for signs that it wants to eliminate such as whining, squatting, sniffing, circling, trying to lift a leg against the crate wall, and restlessness.
To get positive results while potty training, take a Lagotto to the designated toilet area immediately it wakes, every 2 to 3 hours, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, after naptime, following an exciting activity such as car ride and playtime, and before bedtime. The bladder and bowel muscles of a dog strengthens as the puppy matures. Therefore, from the age of 8 months, a Lagotto will go for potty breaks every 6 to 8 hours.
Lagotto Romagnolo Temperament | Personality | Traits
- Sensitive.
- Affectionate.
- Smart.
- Adaptable.
- Easy to train.
- Athletic.
- Happy.
- Loving.
- Loyal.
- Sociable.
- Eager to learn.
- Tractable.
- Alert.
Lagotto Romagnolo Exercise
A Lagotto is an energetic breed that requires an engaged and active lifestyle to keep him happy. Although, they are not hyper dogs and only require a moderate amount of exercise to be stimulated mentally and physically. They may also participate in canine events and competitions such as obedience, agility, dock diving, search-and-rescue, scent work, and detection of medical conditions.
Lagotto Romagnolo Barking
A Lagotto is an alert breed that will bark to alert the owner of approaching people and any unusual sounds. However, it is crucial to teach them the Quiet command to avoid nuisance barking.
Lagotto Romagnolo Height
A female Lagotto has a height of 16 to 18 inches ( approx. 41 to 46 cm ) while its male counterpart has a height of 17 to 19 inches ( approx. 43 to 48 cm ).
Lagotto Romagnolo Weight
An adult male Lagotto has a weight of 28.5 to 35 pounds ( approx. 13 to 16 kg ) while a female Lagotto has a weight of 24 to 31 inches ( approx. 11 to 14 kg ).
Lagotto Romagnolo Size
Lagotti are medium-sized working dogs. However, male Lagotti are slightly bigger as compared to female Lagotti in terms of weight and height. A Male Lagotto has a height of 17 to 19 inches ( approx. 43 to 48 cm ) and weight of 28.5 to 35 pounds ( approx. 13 to 16 kg ) while a female Lagotto has a height of 16 to 18 inches ( approx. 41 to 46 cm ) and a weight of 24 to 31 inches ( approx. 11 to 14 kg ).
Lagotto Romagnolo Aggressive
A well-socialized Lagotto is neither overly shy nor aggressive. Lagotti are popular for their affectionate, loving, and sociable nature.
Lagotto Romagnolo Health Issues
A Lagotto is a long-lived and robust breed. However, they are affected by certain health issues such as hip dysplasia, Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy, Lagotto Storage Disease, luxating patella, elbow dysplasia, and cerebellar abiotrophy.
Lagotto Romagnolo Names
A Lagotto owner may decide to get a name before the pet joins them home from the breeder or a few days after the dog joins them home so that they may understand the personality of the dog in question. Lagotti owners may get name inspirations from the Italian heritage of the breed, coat color and texture, personality, movies, books, songs, food, celebrity Lagotti, historical figures, and nature.
Regardless of where they source their inspiration, parents should ensure that the name chosen freely rolls off their tongue and will not make them embarrassed if uttered out loud in the public places. Lagotti and other dog breeds better understand names that have vowels. If a pet has a long name, the parents should ensure they find a cute name for the Lagotto pet.
Owners should avoid giving their pets names that rhymes with the command words to avoid confusion. If a Lagotto shares a name with any family member or guest who frequent your household, it may result to unnecessary confusion. Some of the names that Lagotti owners give to their pets include:
- Cosimo.
- Marina.
- Dante.
- Alma.
- Enzo.
- Sergio.
- Rosalia.
- Armani.
- Febe.
- Angelo.
- Enzo.
- Ale.
- Gaia.
- Isabella.
- Bambi.
- Madonna.
Lagotto Romagnolo Colors
A Lagotto may have any off the coat colors including solid white color, orange roan, brown roan, white with brown or orange patches, sable, orange, or brown. Some colors have the tendency to fade to the extent that the brown areas may appear gray roan or silvery. Different shades of tan markings are allowed.
Lagotto Romagnolo Feeding
The amount of food that a Lagotto feeds on depends on its age, activity level, metabolism, size, and body build. Puppies tend to eat small portions of food 3 or 4 times a day due to high metabolism rates from when they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Lagotti feed on two meals a day.
A Lagotto may feed on dry food, wet food, home made, or a raw diet depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. Regardless of the food type, parents should ensure that the dog feeds on a balanced diet to maintain a good health eventually allowing it to develop cognitively and physically. If a Lagotto parent decides to feed the pet with the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial dog food should neither contain preservatives, chemicals, additives, Meat by-products, generic meat products, nor fillers. The same goes to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for medium sized puppies, adults, and senior depending on the age your Lagotto. Check the physique of your pet to tell whether it is overweight or underweight.
If you can see the ribs, chances are the dog is underweight. Although, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, a Lagotto has an ideal weight. If the ribs can’t be felt, the pet is overweight and should be exercised. Owners who want to switch to another quality food should gradually do this over a period of four weeks by mixing both new food and old food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Lagotto is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
Apart from Lagotti, other dog breeds include:
Pug.
Lagotto Romagnolo Allergies
A lagotto may suffer from various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Skin allergies – This allergy is caused by food, contact, and environmental allergies that manifest on the skin.
Food allergies – Although rare, a Lagotto may suffer from a true food allergy that causes an immune response. Food allergies are normally accompanied with a wide range of symptoms varying from skin issues ( hives, sores, dermatitis, lesions, and pruritus) to gastrointestinal stress such as ( acute vomiting and diarrhea, weight loss, and bloating). Apart from food allergies, a Lagotto may also be affected by food intolerance.
Contact allergies – This allergy causes inflammation to Lagotti after the allergen comes in contact with the skin. Some of the contact allergens that affect Lagotti include plastics, lawn chemicals, carpet cleaning detergents, bed linens, latex, grooming products, and medications.
Environmental allergies – Some of the contact allergens that affect Lagotti include fleas, mites, trees, grass, ragweed, pollen, dust and dust mites, and house molds. Flea’s saliva causes flea allergy dermatisis that normally affects underneath the tail and back legs. This allergy causes intensive scratching and biting until the skin around the bite area is raw. Symptoms of environmental allergies include congestion, sneezing, nasal discharge, and itchiness on various body parts such as ears, paws, muzzle, feet, between the toes, around the eyes, belly sides, groin, and underarms.
Lagotto Romagnolo Eyes
A Lagotto has large rounded eyes that are slightly protruding. The eyes may have a hazel, ochre, or dark brown color.
Are Lagotto Romagnolo Aggressive
No. A Lagotto is neither aggressive nor overly shy. Lagotti are loving, sociable, affectionate, friendly, and loyal dogs.
Are Lagotto Romagnolo Hypoallergenic
Yes. A Lagotto has a low to non-shedding coat which is considered allergy friendly. Although, owners are urged to spent lots of time with a particular Lagotto before adopting to ensure it does not aggravate their allergies.
Do Lagotto Romagnolo Bark A Lot
No. A Lagotto is an alert dog that barks when someone is approaching or to unusual sounds. However, if it is not taught the quiet command, it may easily develop a habit of barking excessively.
Do Lagotto Romagnolo Shed
Yes. Lagotto sheds at low to non-levels all-year round. However, they may sometimes leave little tufts of hair.
Lagotto Romagnolo Quick Facts
- Lagotti have a double curly coat that should never be combed to avoid ruining the undercoat.
- They are healthy, robust, and long-lived dogs that have a lifespan of 15 to 17 years.
- Lagotti are popular for hunting truffles.
