The Lagotto Romagnolo…
Temperment of Lagotto Romagolos:
All of our girls are fantastic with our entire family. We have made sure to keep those with a temperament that will enhance the breed in the future.
Lagottos are amazing family dogs - especially when introduced to the family dynamic from an early age.
Since Lagotti have been bred for working purposes since the 1400s, they are also very athletic and intelligent. It is important to understand that in addition to exercise, they will also need mental stimulation. On the other side if they are able - “to be dogs” for enough time, they are right next to you and your family on the couch all night.
They truly are amazingly loyal, very bright, and learn quickly. Affectionate can not be said enough - they love to love, and they love to be loved!
The Lagotto Romagolo breed has amazing agility and scent work potential. Their exceptionally powerful nose is being used in many ways. Their mother (Malva di Pinon) was trained as a search and rescue dog. Many others have been trained as service dogs and therapy dogs as well.
Their water dog history means they love being in the water, and their truffle hunting history means they are very skilled and happy diggers. Lagottos do best in a decent-sized fenced yard with additional frequent sessions of vigorous activity and challenging mental stimulation.
A Lagotto Romagnolo Coat?
The first question is always - are Lagottos truly hypoallergenic? The answer is Yes. The Lagotto, hardly sheds, has low dander, and drools very little. The Lagotto coat is thick and waterproof. They are double coated and do have hair and not fur. Trimming every six to eight weeks is ideal, with occasional scissor maintenance as well.
You will notice the puppy coat is very soft and wavy. The adult coat will come in between 2 and 3 years of age, and is much coarser with a tighter curl.
Lagotto Groooming
One of the hardest challenges when owning a Lagotto Romagnolo is finding a groomer who is familiar with this breed. This is a result of both the rarity of the breed and the short amount of time they have been in this country.
I recommend the book, Lagotto Romagnolo Grooming, The Art of Keeping it Rustic, by Katrien van Gemert. (Still shipped from Europe only I believe)
In addition there is a video series from Robin Morehouse, at Fino Lagotto in Santa Fe, NM. This series is very helpful for groomers and new Lagotto owners. The introductory video for the series can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT2YqWha-tc .
You will find that each Lagotto owner, pet or show dog will develop their own unique version of the ideal Lagotto clip / scissor.
As a breeder, I am happy to share my own preferences in grooming tools, scissors, and any other recommendations requested.
What different Coat Colors are there?
Solid off-white, white with brown or orange patches, brown, brown roan, brown with orange or white patches, or occasionally tan markings. There should never be any black on a Lagotto, either in their coat or nose pigmentation.
It is important for new owners to know that many Lagotti carry a fading gene, which some of ours do. This means an owner could or could not expect the color of their dog to change over their lifetime. The most distinct changes are usually found in the first couple of years, with other smaller changes to be expected throughout their lives.
Below are pictures of our three breeding girls … (puppy vs 2 years) This does not mean that your puppy will carry the same gene - but that you should anticipate their might or might not be some fun changes to come!
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