Lagotto Romagnolo

The Lagotto Romagnolo is an Italian water dog with a curly, woolly coat — the breed developed specifically to hunt for truffles.

History

It began as a marsh retriever in the Romagna region of Italy, and as the wetlands were drained it was turned to searching out truffles, the one breed formally recognised for that work. Its dense curls served first against cold water and now against undergrowth.

Temperament

The breed is known for being affectionate, keen and trainable, an energetic dog with a superb nose and a strong bond to its people. Its working focus makes it happiest with a task to solve.

Care and training

It needs regular exercise and, just as much, work for its nose — scent games suit it perfectly. The curly coat sheds little but mats and needs regular clipping, and it takes eagerly to reward-based training.

Health

Known tendencies include hip and elbow dysplasia, a benign juvenile epilepsy that most dogs outgrow, and an inherited storage disease, several with DNA tests. These are patterns for the breed rather than a verdict on one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.