About the breed

I first saw Lagotto in 2004 when an agility friend of mine had recently got a puppy. I had a bichon frise myself who had done very well at agility but I decided the time was right for another dog and agility was something I wanted to continue with. Although having grown up with different dogs I had a slight allergy so having another non-moulting dog was a priority. I did further research on the Lagotto and this lovely breed seemed to fit the bill. Luckily enough there were two litters available and I finally came home with my Cia in the Autumn of 2004.

History:

The Lagotto Romagnolo (water dog) is a very old breed dating back to Roman and medieval times. A picture of this dog can be seen in an Italian Fresco by Andrea Mantegna  dating back to 1456. This small to medium breed was used for centuries as a water retrieving dog by the Valloroli in the Marshlands of Comacchio and Romagna in Italy. With their owners, the Lagotto were used to beat the hunting grounds of Ravenna diving for hours in to the water retrieving game. With the gradual reclamation of the Marshlands in this part of Italy the breed gradually lost its’ function as a waterdog and evolved as a truffle dog with its unbeatable sense of smell and it’s sharp aptitude for searching. 

By the 1970s the breed was risking extinction and thanks to a small group of  Lagotto enthusiasts this fantastic breed was saved. ‘ The Club Italiano Lagotto’ was finally formed in 1988. 

Today the Lagotto is unique as it is the only pure bred dog in the world recognised as a specialised truffle searcher although they have certainly not lost their ability to retrieve on both land and water.

Temperament:

These dogs may look cute and cuddly and they are, but first and foremost they have had years of breeding to form functional working dogs. They are small to medium size and are very clever with an abundance of energy (you can however get the odd couch potato). They need as much mental stimulation as exercise. Agility, heel work to music and gundog work are just a few of the things they are well suited to. This is not I breed I would recommend for the first time dog owner. They are extremely clever and manipulative. They learn very quickly and you need to be continually one step ahead of them .They can learn bad habbits’ as quickly as they learn good ones! Like most dogs they like routine and consistency.

They are very affectionate dogs and love being with their humans. They can be reserved with strangers but once known to them they won’t forget you and you will receive an extremely enthusiastic greeting. They can be quite vocal, although not yappy like other smaller breeds and make good warning dogs.  They are gentle and sensitive dogs as a breed and extremely loyal to their humans. If you are prescious about your garden then this breed is perhaps not for you however if you would enjoy some help in the garden then they are ideal! Being truffle hunters they like to dig but they like to dig for anything! They love to swim and you will have your own personal water dowser. Unfortunately this can also include mud! 
Lagotto come in different colours. Generally there is off white, orange, brown, brown roan and brown and white.

Coats:

The Lagotto require clipping around 3-4 times a year coat if you require low maintenance. As they are a non-moulting breed the coat matts really close to the skin aka felting, so the clip can appear quite extreme. I clip my own dogs approximately once or twice a year as I regularly scissor which keeps the coat neat and tidy. The coat texture can also be different due to the colour of a dog.

Many puppy people are reluctant to clip the lovely fluffy coats off their babies but it really does improve the texture of the adult coat therefore making it easier to manage. Getting youngsters habituated to clipping early also makes for a dog content to be clipped rather than it being stressful for all! If you intend to use a professional groomer rather than DIY get recommendations, word of mouth and get the pup there at about 14weeks when everything should be fun!

Generally the Lagotto are a healthy and robust breed. If breeding from Lagotto eye testing and hip scoring is advisable. Although we seem fortunate to have only had one case in the UK, hereditary cataract is found in mainland Europe. BVA and JE testing is required before mating.

Dog grooming
I have been grooming Lagotto for the show ring ever since I entered the dog show world in 2005. As well as grooming my own dogs for the past 13 years I also groom other Lagottos for individuals who show or who want to learn how to groom a Lagotto correctly. Having shown abroad I have had the opportunity to learn different methods of grooming from other successful European Lagotto breeders.
I hold grooming workshops for the Lagotto Romagnolo Association for people who want to know how to groom their own Lagottos or inform their own groomers on how best to trim and care for the Lagotto coat. 
If you are interested in attending one of these workshops please contact the Lagotto Romagnolo Association club secretary to attend one of the workshops. If numbers permit workshops can be held in different locations throughout the UK.
Professional groomers are welcome.

Website links
www.lagottoromagnoloassociation.co.uk
www.francobilli.it
http://www.lagottoaz.com/index.html
http://www.cobbys.se/2%20Illustrated_breedstandard%20for%20Lagotto_en_2010.pdf

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