Description. The Lagotto Romagnolo also known as just the Lagotto is a small to medium sized breed being 17-19 inches in height for the male and 14-16 inches for the female, with a weight in the dog of 28-35 pounds and the bitch slightly less at 24-31 pounds. They are a well built and proportional dog that is hardy and muscular. They have a large head that is supported by a thick strong neck. Their teeth meet in a reverse, level, or scissor bite. Their eyes are round in shape and commonly dark in coloration. Their coat is thick and dense, which protects them from brambles etc. the colors can be solid white, white and brown patches, solid white, and shades of brown. The ears are a rounded triangular shape and hang to the side of their head.

History. The Lagotto Romagnolo is the breed of choice to search for truffles and is the only breed specifically known for this ability. However it was originally bred as a water retrieving dog and has a long history, stretching back to the 1500s, within this task. These were commonly used in the lowland areas of Comacchio and Ravennas’ marshlands, but over several hundred years these huge marshlands were drained for the use as farming land. The dogs’ main task, since the early 1900s, has been in the hunting of Truffles upon the flat country regions and hilly areas of Romagna. There extreme concentration and superior sense of smell makes them ideal for this task.

Check Out The Great Ebooks Below!

Temperament. This breed are a working dog and need to be given tasks to perform, this could be as simple as hiding favorite toys and letting them hunt them out. The Lagotto Romagnolo is not easily distracted, whilst on the hunt, but has such a good sense of smell they will probably want to sniff lots of things when out for a walk. As such a dedicated hunting dog, they should be kept on a lead when being walked. They would need a secure area to be allowed to run free, as if they catch a scent they may follow it for long enough to become lost. This breed is loyal and affectionate, to the owner and family. They require good socialization, when young, to avoid shyness with strangers and problems with other pets. They would probably be ok but as a hunting dog you should not leave them unattended with smaller household pets. The Lagotto Romagnolo requires quite a lot of mental stimulus as well as normal exercise. Playing games will help them but an actual job would be better. If allowed to get bored they can suffer behaviour issues and even become destructive. Training needs to be firm and fair ensuring you establish yourself as the pack leader over this breed. If the dogs’ needs are met you will have a happy joyful pet that will provide years of enjoyment.

Health issues. The Lagotto Romagnolo is a generally healthy breed and can live 16 years, and sometimes more.

Grooming. This breed sheds little but does require regular brushing or combing, to reduce tangles. The Lagotto Romagnolo is a working dog and the cut will depend on whether you are working the dog or showing them or just have them as a pet.

Living conditions. They will adapt to apartment life but will need at least an average sized garden or yard, which is fenced. The Lagotto Romagnolo has a tendency to dig so take care of any plants or flowers in the garden. They will require 3-4 walks a day and playtime on top.

If you can't find a local breeder in your area don't worry, many breeders are using the major airlines like American, Delta, Continental and Northwest airlines for shipping their puppies.

At this time the airlines will ship puppies to the following States: Alabama AL - Alaska AK - Arizona AZ - Arkansas AR - California CA - Colorado CO - Connecticut CT - Delaware DE - Florida FL - Georgia GA - Hawaii HI - Idaho ID - Illinois IL - Indiana IN - Iowa IA - Kansas KS - Kentucky KY - Louisiana LA - Maine ME - Maryland MD - Massachusetts MA - Michigan MI - Minnesota MN - Mississippi MS - Missouri MO - Montana MT - Nebraska NE - Nevada NV - New Hampshire NH - New Jersey NJ - New Mexico NM - New York NY - North Carolina NC - North Dakota ND - Ohio OH - Oklahoma OK - Oregon OR - Pennsylvania PA - Rhode Island RI - South Carolina SC - South Dakota SD - Tennessee TN - Texas TX - Utah UT - Vermont VT - Virginia VA - Washington WA - Washington, D.C. - West Virginia WV - Wisconsin WI - Wyoming WY - Hawaii HI.