Lagotto Romagnolo – Gundog
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Classic Hunting Dog
The curly-coated Lagotto Romagnolo is a rather striking animal and for the more outdoor orientate person are a great choice of dog. Originating from Italy, they were originally bred for hunting waterfowl in the marshlands where their thick waterproof coat was ideal protection from the harsh working conditions. They have been around a while and can possibly be traced back as far as the Italian Renaissance (14th century) as dogs resembling Lagotto's appear in hunting scene paintings dating from this period. Despite their history, it has taken until July 2015 for them to be accepted into the sporting dog category by the American Kennel Club.
A Dog closely resembling a Lagotto Romagnolo appears in the 1474 painting "The Meeting" by Andrea Mantegna.
Today
Although originally designated as hunting dogs, nowadays a working Lagotto Romagnolo is more likely to be a truffle hunter and to date, they remain the only breed specifically bred for this purpose.
They make great pets being intelligent and fairly easy to train, and although their exercise and grooming needs may be too much for some, they do have the advantage of being quite hypoallergenic. This is a boon for allergy sufferers plus they don’t shed much which is also a blessing for the person cleaning up after them. We would not suggest them as a first dog, but for an owner with some experience, they are a good choice.
Personality Is Everything
A Lagotto Romagnolo loves human company so won't be happy cooped up all day in an apartment, and if left to their own devices too long expect some undesirable behaviour (Chewing, Digging, Barking etc.). They are an ideal family dog, being loyal and loving, and they are generally good with children, providing the normal precautions are taken. They make pretty good watchdogs because of this and will bark when strangers are around. They will interact with and tolerate other pets fairly well, although if its a mixed pet household it is probably better to get a puppy than a grown dog. Being hunting dogs small pets such as Rabbits & Guinea Pigs would be best kept safely penned up when the dog is around though.
Grooming & Excercise
OK, no dog is perfect, and this is where your Lagotto Romagnolo becomes a bit higher maintenance. They are energetic, fond of a splash around in the water and their thick curly coats need plenty of grooming if you don't want to have a matted dog. A decent daily walk should be viewed as the bare minimum exercise-wise while adding a game of chase the ball and or a dip in the local river should be included in the routine. Brushing every day or so will keep their coats spick and span, and as stated they seem to be pretty hypoallergenic so this shouldn't be too much of a chore. They don't cast too much either so hoovering up after them is not on the agenda. On a more general note, they will need their ears checked regularly as the abundance of hair can lead to debris building up around them and their coats will need trimming from time to time. They need a bath every month to six weeks but afterwards and towel drying. Resist the temptation to blow dry them unless you want a big furball for a pet for a couple of days.
Health
Generally speaking, Lagotto Romagnolo's are healthy and largely devoid of the genetic ailments often associated with pedigree breeds. One troubling ailment is Lagotto Storage Disease a neurological affliction which seems to be confined to the breed hence its name (it was previously known as Lysosomal Storage Disease but as it rarely appears in any other breed the name was changed). Fortunately, there is a test available for it and responsible breeders are taking steps to avoid this becoming more widespread. A dog affected will most likely have a shorter lifespan, but they will still make good pets.
