Lagotto Romagnolo

The Lagotto breed is a natural beauty, but don’t expect good hair days without a proper grooming routine. Here are some grooming tips for your Lagotto:

• Hair trimming: These dogs need their thick and curly coats to be trimmed every 10 to 12 weeks.
• Brushing: Surprisingly, their curly hair doesn’t need regular brushing. In fact, doing so will give them a fluffy appearance that isn’t ideal for these working dogs (aka dogs bred for a job), which are intended to have a coarser, more rugged-looking coat. But you still need to get mats out of their hair in between hair cuts so, when it comes time to groom, you can either use your fingers, a pin brush or grooming comb to gently remove tangles without pulling too much on the coat. A dog detangling spray can be useful to make this process easier.
• Ear cleaning: Their ears may need to be groomed on a regular basis (every week), because Lagotti have hair inside that will need to be managed. Clean any build up of dust or debris, which can cause them discomfort and lead to infections. Your vet can show you the best way to manage the ear hair and ear cleaning safely.
• Bathing: Bathe your Lagotto Romagnolo about every four weeks to keep their coats clean without drying out their skin. You can always use a deodorizing spritz to freshen them up in between.
• Dental care: To care for your dog’s teeth, brush them daily, and consult your vet about annual professional cleanings.

A Lagotto Romagnolo puppy is relatively easy to train. With their high intelligence, these dogs have a lot of focus and patience, and as people-loving pups, they live to please.

This isn’t a breed who tends to wander off like Cairn Terriers, but it’s still important to teach them to come, as well as the basic commands, like sit and stay, so they return to you when you need them to. You don’t have to keep your training sessions short, since these dogs don’t tire easily. But you do want to stop and take a break, and maybe a walk, before either of you get too frustrated. Lagotti typically do well on a leash and aren’t likely to bark without good reason.

One behavioral trait to watch out for with your Lagotto Romagnolo is digging. Since these dogs were born to dig up truffles, digging is innate, and discouraging this behavior can be a challenge. The solution? Redirect their attention to a beloved toy—or better yet, give them their own sandbox! They’ll happily spend hours digging for hidden toys in the sand.

However you vary your training, remember that the Lagotto dog breed responds best to positive reinforcement, so line up the words of praise and training treats (within reason) to guarantee a successful, fun and bonding experience for both of you.

A complete and balanced diet is essential for your Lagotto Romagnolo. Look for a high-quality commercial dog food formulated for breeds that respond well to whole grains, like brown rice and oats. An option with single meat proteins and limited ingredients can be a good choice—but always check with your vet to make sure you’re picking the best product for your dog’s unique needs.

Limit “people food,” like meat, veggies and cheese to less than 10 percent of your pup’s daily food intake. The majority of your Lagotto Romagnolo’s nutrition should come from commercial dog food formulated to provide all the vitamins and nutrients they need. Some adult dogs are happy with one meal a day, while others prefer two light meals, so base your feeding schedule on a combination of your Lagotto Romagnolo’s personal preference and your vet’s expert advice.

Take a second to imagine how much work must go into searching acres of forest for tiny fungi hidden underground. The Lagotto Romagnolo can work at hunting truffles all day long with just a few breaks—which should give you a pretty good idea of their level of stamina. These dogs crave activity and need vigorous exercise for up to 60 minutes each day to be happy. And they will relish hiking and dog sports, like agility, dock diving and obedience, as well as a good, long run.

The Lagotti are also water lovers, so if you can, take your furry bestie on trip to a body of water where they can have a good splash.

Something else they need? Mental stimulation. A dog who’s bred to use their sense of smell to track precious truffles won’t be satisfied vegging on the couch every day. Play games with your Lagotto Romagnolo that engage their brains and entertain them, like “find the treat” or hide and seek, and teach them fun tricks, like play dead or shake. Activities like these will keep your dog occupied and out of trouble (and hopefully stop them from going on a truffle hunt in your flowerbeds). When you’re occupied, puzzle toys and games will also exercise their minds.

One of the most important things to know about the Lagotto breed is that they usually prefer people over other dogs. While that doesn’t mean they’d be miserable in a home with other pets, these dogs often prefer to be the focus of their parent’s attention. For this reason, they tend to do well in homes with kids as long as they were introduced at a young age. The more people around to shower these dogs with affection, the better. By the same token, this breed isn’t ideal for a home that sits empty all day. Loving, loyal Lagotti yearn for human companionship.

While it’s best if they have space to speed around, including a fenced yard in which to sniff around, they can make do with an apartment if they get lots of walks and playtime outdoors. Just be mindful that they are diggers and will be prone to tearing up your garden on the hunt for elusive truffles if you don’t keep a close eye on them.

Because they love water so much—remember, these are Italian water dogs—a house with a pond or a pool, or near a large body of water, would be a Lagotto Romagnolo’s dream come true. If this doesn’t describe your home, you can always bring them in the shower with you or start planning more beach vacations!