Lagotto Romagnolo temperament
In a nutshell: lively, athletic, agile, fast, enthusiastic, smart, sensitive, quick learner, fond of water, fond of mud, fond of digging, loves to run and jump and swim and fetch.
Wondering how to pronounce the breed’s name? It’s Lagotto Roman-YO-lo. Which refers to the “water dog from the Romanga region of Italy.”
The official plural is Lagotti Romagnoli, swapping the final o for an i, which is pronounced like a long e. Like so: Lagottee Roman-YO-lee.
Temperament and behaviour stem from what a breed was designed for
To understand a breed’s temperament and behaviour, ask, “What was he developed to do?” Whichever traits help him accomplish his intended work have likely been “hard-wired” into his genes – not perfectly, not as reliably as programming a computer, but generally speaking.
The Lagotto Romagnolo is a mid-sized (larger than small, smaller than medium) breed developed in medieval Italy as a water retriever. When the hunter shot down ducks over water, the Lagotto dove in and fetched the downed duck back to the hunter.
So what sort of traits might you need in such a dog?
Athleticism… endurance… toughness… willingness to follow directions… water-resistant, tightly-curled wooly coat to protect against the elements…
When the marshlands were converted to farmland, the Lagotto Romagnolo found a new specialty in the Italian countryside: hunting truffles.
Because truffles grow underground and cannot be seen ripening, they are best found by detecting the strong aroma of the mature truffle. This is where the Lagotto comes in, with its great nose and keen work ethic. Growers plant truffle orchards and use their Lagotto to sniff out the first sign of maturing truffles.
What traits might you expect from successful truffle hunters?
Boundless energy, a keen desire to search, persistence, determination, and an exquisite sense of smell.
Lagotto have also been trained as Service Dogs able to detect medical conditions such as an imminent seizure or a dangerous blood-sugar drop. In Search & Rescue, Lagottos use their powerful nose to find people trapped under rubble after natural disasters.
So looking at the work a breed was designed for, or is currently being used for, gives us a realistic idea of what that breed is going to be like.
Don’t make the mistake of acquiring a Lagotto because you think it’s a convenient size for your flat or because it looks cute and cuddly.
The Lagotto has been bred for working purposes since the 1400s. For centuries, in other words. These dogs have a lot of energy and they need a purpose in their lives.
But don’t get the impression that the breed runs wildly around your house all day and needs to be doing something every single hour.
You do need to commit to exercise and mental stimulation each day, even for just 30 minutes at a time. Then the Lagotto will be happy to chill with you in front of the TV the rest of the time. This affectionate dog craves ongoing companionship with his family.
Pros and cons of the Lagotto Romagnolo
The Good
• Convenient size (larger than small, smaller than medium)
• Natural, rustic appearance
• Doesn’t shed much
• Athletic, fast, and agile
• Lively, loves to run and jump and swim and fetch
• Good with other animals
• Bright, learns quickly
• Loyal to their own family
The Bad
• Needs a decent-sized fenced garden and physical activity (not just walks on a leash) plus challenging mental stimulation
• Needs moderate to significant grooming, including trimming/clipping every couple of months
• Not the best breed for fastidious housekeepers, as the Lagotto likes to splash in water and mud, making a mess and tracking it through the house
• Also the curly, woolly coat attracts dirt, leaves, pollen, and other debris, which can end up on your floor and furniture
• Not the best breed for gardeners, as the Lagotto loves to dig, especially in damp soil
• Some can be hyper-sensitive (even fearful) of strangers or unfamiliar sights, sounds, or situations
• Not a mindless yapper, but does like to vocalize
• Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training.
How big is the Lagotto Romagnolo?
The Lagotto is not a small breed. Nor is it a medium breed, which would be more like a Border Collie or Springer Spaniel.
The Lagotto Romagnolo is a mid-sized breed:
Height: males 43-48 cms (17-19 ins), ideal height 46 cms (18 ins).
Females 41-46 cms (16-18 ins), ideal height 43 cms (17 ins).
Tolerance of one centimetre over or under.
Weight: males 13-16 kgs (28½ – 35 lbs); females 11-14 kgs (24-31 lbs).
So the Lagotto is about the same weight as a Cocker Spaniel… but the Lagotto stands several inches taller. His build should be square and robust. What it shouldn’t be is elegant or fragile.
How much exercise does a Lagotto Romagnolo need?
More than you might think!
It’s always a concern when a casual pet owner gets a breed with a sporting/working ancestry often doesn’t realize that these breeds require an active lifestyle if you expect their behavior to be calm and content.
In the case of the Lagotto, he doesn’t need miles/hours of running exercise but he definitely wants and needs a decent-sized fenced garden or, open space in a park or countryside, AND frequent sessions of vigorous physical activity (not just walks on a leash) plus challenging mental stimulation. After which a Lagotto will happily snooze in his dog bed.
Mental stimulation means an activity that keeps the dog’s intelligent mind occupied – some sort of puzzle to solve. Even owners who diligently provide enough physical exercise often fail to provide the mental aspect.
And what happens if you don’t provide a sufficiently active lifestyle? Then your Lagotto, with his needs not met, will vent his frustrations via barking, jumping, chewing, and hyperactivity.
What kinds of physical exercise and mental stimulation should you provide a Lagotto?
You probably don’t have a lot of truffles in your neck of the woods, but you can substitute some fun nose work activities for your would-be truffle hunter. Nose work means teaching your Lagotto how to alert you when he sniffs out a particular scent.
Another excellent activity for these super-fast athletes is the sport of Agility, an obstacle course for canines. Also Rally obedience, frisbee, fly ball, musical freestyle, complex trick routines…. all wonderful activities for a Lagotto. Don’t forget, as a water dog, most love to swim.
Summary: Engage your Lagotto’s superb athletic skills and high intelligence with physical and mental activities that channel his natural drive to work.
Are Lagotto Romagnolo easy to train?
In general, a Lagotto whose needs are being met is usually pretty easy to train. Just use a light hand on the leash and establish the right Leader-Follower relationship and the dog will be happy to work with you.
However, some Lagotto are more independent and will use their intelligence to figure out how to do things they want to do. These individuals are too clever/manipulative for a first-time owner.
But most Lagotto learn quickly and respond beautifully to consistent leadership.
How sociable is the Lagotto Romagnolo?
Are they friendly with strangers?
Some Lagotto are friendly and outgoing with everyone. But most are a little reserved until they get to know you.
There is shyness/fearfulness in some lines, so if you want an outgoing, confident Lagotto, make sure both of your pup’s parents (preferably grandparents, too) are outgoing and confident.
Does the Lagotto make a good watchdog?
Yes! Whether a Lagotto is friendly or reserved toward strangers, he has sharp ears, sharp eyes, and a sharp nose and so makes a reliable alarm dog. Not a guard dog, mind you! Just a dog who sounds the alarm.
In fact, some Lagottos are too enthusiastic about sounding the alarm. They must be taught that a few barks are fine, but then the dog must be quiet and let you take over. This is up to the owner to teach.
Is the Lagotto Romagnolo good with children?
If the dog has a confident temperament and has been raised around children… and if said children are well-behaved, things should go well.
However, some Lagotti are very sensitive and may feel stressed around small children who run, scream, wave their hands around, etc.
Also be aware that young Lagottos can be rowdy. Until you teach them that jumping is not allowed, they could easily cause a young toddler (or an infirm adult) to fall over.
Is the Lagotto Romagnolo good with other pets?
Most Lagotto are fine with other dogs and cats.
Grooming: does the Lagotto Romagnolo shed a lot? Are they easy to groom?
Technically they don’t shed much but that’s largely because their shed hairs get caught in the curly coat instead of falling out onto your floor or furniture or clothing. Some people who are allergic to dog hair or dander can live comfortably with a Lagotto. Some people. I really don’t recommend this breed if a family member is allergic to dog hair.
As far as grooming goes, the time and effort required is moderate to significant. You can see the breed’s water dog ancestry in the rustic coat: a thick mass of wooly-textured, tightly-ringed curls atop a dense undercoat. The water-resistant curls feel semi-rough, even harsh to the touch.
A Lagotto puppy’s coat does feel soft and is often wavy rather than curly. The correct coarseness and curl will develop over the first 2-3 years.
From a practical perspective, the wooly curls pick up burrs, thorns, leaves, mud…. On an ongoing basis you’ll need to remove this debris. You also need to brush the curls as necessary to keep them from fusing together into felted mats, which would otherwise create dark, moist hiding places for parasites, bacteria, and fungi.
The Lagotto’s curly hair keeps on growing, so requires regular trimming. I recommend clipping every 6-8 weeks to keep the curls short, no more than an inch (measured with the coat curled, not brushed out straight). The longer the curls are allowed to grow, the easier it is for them to twist together into a tangled mess.
Keep the beard/whiskers short – when a bearded dog drinks, water soaks up into the hair, then drips all over your house.
Also keep the hair short around the dog’s private parts. Otherwise when he goes to the bathroom, faecal matter will adhere to his bottom and end up transferred to your floor and furnishings.
Are Lagotto Romagnolo healthy? How long do they live?
The typical lifespan of a Lagotto is 11-14 years.
Overall, their health is good, but they are vulnerable to a few serious health issues.
Some Lagotto have hip dysplasia, to some degree or other, a malformation of the hip joint that causes pain and lameness and leads to chronic arthritis.
The Lagotto can suffer from forms of epilepsy. One form, juvenile epilepsy (JE), appears in young Lagotto Romagnolo puppies and (thankfully) goes away in just a few months… usually, not always. This is inherited for which there are DNA tests which responsible breeders have their dogs tested. The other form of epilepsy appears in Lagotto adults and requires lifelong medication.
Along with epilepsy, a neurological diseases, Lagotto Storage Desease, LSD, occurs in some Lagotto.
Health Watch
Ask your breeder about dna test results for JE and LSD for both the bitch and the dog. Neither should be affected. One can be a carrier so long as the other is clear. Best if they are both clear. Hip scoring should be low, breed average is around 12/13. Elbows should be 0. It is unusual, at the moment, to have a patella investigation but ask if this has been done.
What colours does the Lagotto Romagnolo come in?
Various shades of brown (with or without white markings)
Various shades of “orange” (with or without white markings)
Off-white (with or without brown or orange patches)
Brown roan: an even mixture of brown and white hairs that creates a finely speckled pattern
Fading colours
To avoid disappointment, prospective buyers should understand how colours work on Lagottos – namely, the colour usually FADES as the dog matures.
For example, a young puppy might be chocolate brown or golden orange, but as he matures, the rich colour fades to a more diluted shade of beige, buff, or cream. (The dog’s head, however, often remains a darker shade than the rest of the coat.)
Owners who are unprepared might find themselves unhappy with the diluted colour. But you might get lucky…. occasionally a dark brown puppy will maintain their dark shade into adulthood.
Lagotto Romagnolo Puppies
If you already have a Lagotto Romagnolo puppy….Congratulations!
If you don’t have a Lagotto Romagnolo puppy, but you want one….
The best source of a Lagotto puppy is a breeder whose goal is sound structure, temperament, and health. Look at the approved breeder lists for the LRCGB and LRA.
Further information
Kennel Club Information
Breed Standard