The Lagotto Romagnolo is one of the oldest breeds of water retrieving dogs. He has an excellent sense of smell and a great passion for work. He is dedicated, very obedient and easy to train. Its cheerful, friendly and very affectionate character makes it an excellent companion dog and is currently becoming more and more popular as a family dog.
Lagotto romagnolo comes from Italy, more precisely from the lowlands of Comacchio and the swampy surroundings of Ravenna. In his homeland he was used as a water retriever. Due to its high level of vigilance and dedication, the lagotto romagnolo's next task was to protect the owner's home and belongings. After the wetlands were drained and transformed into farmland, the role of this four-legged friend changed. Due to its excellent sense of smell, the breed was used to search for truffles on the plains and hills of the Emilia Romagna region in northern Italy. Already at the beginning of the 20th century. century, lagotto romagnolo was well known in the Apennine valleys: Senio, Lamone and especially in Santerno.
It was only in the 70s that targeted, pure breeding of lagotto romagnolo began. The main focus was on restoring the original type. With the establishment of the Italiano Lagotto Club in Imola in 1988 (currently with over 300 members around the world), conditions were created for the official recognition of the breed by ENCI and FCI. After years of biometric measurements on hundreds of individuals, ENCI recognized the breed in 1992 and adopted the morphological standard developed by Dr. Antonio Morsiani. Thanks to the club's diligent efforts and work, in 1995 the FCI granted temporary international recognition to the Lagotto Romagnolo breed. The breed was officially recognized by the FCI relatively late - on July 6, 2005 and according to the classification it belongs to group 8 - retrievers, skitters, water dogs, section 3 - water dogs.
Here are the suggested sizes for adult dogs of this breed. They were selected on the basis of many years of experience in sewing accessories and the most common choices of other dog owners of this breed. Remember, only measuring will give you 100% certainty - every dog is different.
The Lagotto Romagnolo has a compact, harmonious and strong figure, with a wide and deep chest. The head is medium-sized, trapezoidal in shape, with a slightly rounded skull and a rather short muzzle. The ears are triangular in shape and hang close to the cheek. The medium-length tail is usually carried high. The front and hind limbs are shapely and straight. This breed is a medium-sized dog. The female's height ranges between 41 and 46 cm. Males are slightly larger and reach 43 to 48 cm in height at the withers. Weight ranges from 11 to 16 kg in males and from 10 to 14 kg in females.
The most distinctive feature of the Lagotto Romagnolo's appearance is its curly, dense, woolly fur, which gives it a very special appearance. The coat consists of uncurled outer hair and a waterproof undercoat. The fur on the entire body is twisted into tight rings, only on the head the fur is less dense and forms a distinct beard, mustache and eyebrows. The color is: solid off-white or various shades of brown, off-white with chocolate or orange patches, chocolate and orange with white patches. Some dogs have a light or dark brown mask. The standard excludes black color as well as fur with black patches or pigmentation.
The Lagotto Romagnolo is a very nice, friendly and intelligent dog. He has an excellent sense of smell, is very obedient and willing to work. Water is his element. To be able to fulfill his hard-working nature, he needs a lot of exercise. He loves physical activity and challenges, especially those involving water. Properly loaded, it has a calm and balanced character, without a hint of aggression. He is a dog full of vigor, enthusiasm and life, with whom there is never a dull moment. All Lagotto Romagnolo owners agree that their pet is a reliable companion, sensitive, caring and loving friend.
Why is the Lagotto Romagnolo the perfect family dog?
Lagotto Romagnolo has a friendly, cheerful disposition. Because he likes children, gets along well with other animals and loves to participate in household activities, he is an ideal family dog. He protects his loved ones with great commitment and devotion. It shows loyalty to its owner and forms a close bond with him. In addition, the Lagotto Romagnolo is very eager to learn, which also makes it an excellent dog for a beginner owner.
Lagotto Romagnolo puppies are extremely eager to learn and easy to train. Because they have a sensitive temperament, harsh, especially harsh, training methods should be strongly rejected. Learning requires understanding, love, patience and consistency on the part of the guardian.
Like any dog, the Lagotto Romagnolo requires early socialization. Because he is very open and friendly, the socialization process takes a short time. A sharp mind makes learning basic and advanced commands easy, even for a novice caregiver. It is worth accustoming your pet to grooming treatments and getting used to visits to the vet from an early age.
In Italy, the Lagotto Romagnolo has a reputation as a reliable working dog and is still used to find truffles. Due to the fact that the original hunting instinct has been eliminated through breeding selection, the Lagotto Romagnolo does not pay attention to game tracks while working and can focus entirely on its task. This working four-legged friend has great endurance and loves any activity. In addition to long walks in nature, jogging with a guardian, running on a bike, swimming and sniffing games, the Lagotto Romagnolo can practice almost any type of dog sport. A great choice for your pet may be mantrailing, i.e. a type of olfactory work, or other forms of recreational or sports tracking. Olfactory skills and predispositions combined with a balanced, gentle disposition and friendly personality make the Lagotto Romagnolo ideal for training as a rescue or therapy dog.
The Lagotto Romagnolo is a very strong, weather-resistant dog that does not mind cold, snow and rain. However, there are breed-specific diseases, including in particular: Lagotto storage disease and juvenile Lagotto epilepsy. Lagotto storage disease, known as LSD, is a neurodegradative disease manifested primarily by impaired motor coordination (unsteady, uncoordinated gait), involuntary eye movements (so-called nystagmus), and behavioral changes (increased aggression). It is an incurable disease of genetic origin. Therefore, before purchasing a dog, it is worth checking whether the breeding farm performs DNA tests for hereditary diseases typical of the breed.
A mutation has also been discovered in Lagotto Romagnolo dogs, causing idiopathic epilepsy, which most often manifests itself in a mild form, usually disappearing after the fourth month of life. Symptoms include tremors and unsteady gait, and in rare cases, partial or complete paralysis of the limbs. The therapy mainly uses anticonvulsants. Fortunately, there are genetic tests available on our market that enable the detection of the defective gene.
In addition, lagotto romagnolo has a predisposition to dislocation or prolapse of the patella, as well as hip and elbow dysplasia. Damage to the joints caused by inflammation impairs motor function and leads to changes that make movement difficult. In addition to genetic factors, environmental and nutritional factors, as well as maintaining normal body weight, also influence the development of the disease. Treatment begins with the introduction of a proper diet, an optimal dose of physical activity and supplementation that promotes the reconstruction of joint cartilage. Only in the next step are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used.
Although the Lagotto Romagnolo does not shed, its fur requires careful care. Very often, while hiking, twigs and dirt get stuck in its thick fur. What's more, each puddle is pure joy for your water-loving pet. Therefore, after each walk, it is worth combing the fur, wiping it with a wet cloth, and adjusting the frequency of bathing to the condition of the fur. Moreover, to prevent the coat from becoming dull, it should be trimmed several times a year.
A very important issue is the care of the ears, which, according to the breed standard, should be hairy on the inside. However, over time, hair grows into the ear canal and clogs the ear. As a consequence, an ear that is not properly ventilated is easily susceptible to painful inflammatory processes. For this reason, hair should be removed from the ear canal regularly (preferably every 2-3 weeks). Hair-pulling tongs and special ear powder may be helpful for this treatment.
Additionally, the condition of the claws should be checked regularly and, if necessary, shortened using clippers, clippers or special claw scissors. Routine care treatments should also include care for the oral cavity. As part of anti-caries prevention, it is recommended to brush your teeth daily and use appropriate teethers and treats.
Photos used in the entry:
It is not unusual for dogs to crave grass. Most of them like to stop on the side of the road or on the lawn to taste the green blades. However, the question arises why dogs eat grass and, most importantly, when does it become a problem? In this article, you will learn what lies behind dogs' tendency to snack on grass and when it may be a cause for concern and a basis for intervention.
Dogs are not exclusively carnivores, they also enjoy plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables. However, remember to never approach feeding your four-legged friend carelessly. Although we know that fruits are a valuable source of vitamins and minerals for your pet, not all plant raw materials are safe for them. So, can a dog eat apples? In this article, we have collected the most important information about the dog-apple connection.
The proud and intelligent Toy Poodle is second only to its larger cousins in height. In addition, the fluffy four-legged friend has all the features that make a great family dog. He is friendly, faithful, sociable and cheerful. He has an incredible learning capacity and exceptional adaptability.
