The Lagotto Romagnolo, Italy's adorable "truffle dog," sports a curly coat and lavish facial furnishings. Despite their plush-toy looks, Lagotti are durable workers of excellent nose who root out truffles — a dainty and pricey delicacy.
An ancient breed of retrieving water dogs from the lowlands of Comacchio and marshlands of Ravenna in Italy, the Lagotto is a small to medium-sized dog, well proportioned, powerfully built, and of rustic appearance, with a dense, curly coat of woolly texture.
From Marshland Retriever to Truffle Hunter
The Lagotto originated in the once-extensive marshlands and lagoons of the Delta del Po, in areas such as Comacchio and Ravenna, in the eastern part of the historical Romagna region of Italy. It has been known since the sixteenth century, but did not become widespread until the nineteenth. Its traditional function was as a gun dog — specifically a water retriever, bringing shot game back to dry land or to punts on the water.
As large areas of wetland habitat were drained and turned into arable land in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the Lagotto lost its original job. But it wasn't long before it found a new occupation, changing from a water dog to an excellent truffle dog in the flat open country and hills of Romagna. A natural gift for searching and a very good nose made the breed very efficient in truffle searching. The former hunting instinct was modified by genetic selection, so the dog's work is not distracted by the scent of game.
In the 1970s the number of the dogs fell heavily, and the breed came close to extinction. A small group of breeders formed and began selective breeding to preserve the traditional type, and the Club Italiano Lagotto was established in Imola in 1988. In 1992 a breed standard was approved and the Lagotto was recognized by the Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana. Today the breed enjoys a second career as the world's foremost truffle-hunting dog.
A Rustic, Curly-Coated Worker
The Lagotto is of small to medium size, rarely over 50 cm at the withers, powerfully built and of rustic appearance, roughly square in outline with body length more or less equal to height. The ideal height is 18 in (46 cm) for males and 17 in (43 cm) for females, weighing 28–35 lb and 24–30 lb respectively.
The coat is thick, wool-like, and tightly curled into ringlets, distributed evenly all over the body except the head, where the curls are less tight and form abundant eyebrows, whiskers, and beard. Both the outer coat and undercoat are waterproof. The coat may be completely off-white, or off-white with orange or brown patches or roaning, or solid orange or brown with or without white markings. The rustic, curly coat that once protected the dog from freezing water now keeps him safe from thorns and brambles as he searches the forest for truffles.
Keen, Affectionate, and Easy to Train
The Lagotto is highly intelligent, tractable, undemanding, adaptable, keen, affectionate, and very attached to its owner, and is easy to train. It is a very good companion and also an excellent watchdog, and should never be aggressive or overly shy. Agile in both mind and body, it has the endurance to work all day in challenging terrain and weather.
The Lagotto is sociable, outgoing, playful, and smart. It is well behaved in the home but requires a fair amount of outdoor exercise to work off its excess energy. Many words describe the Lagotto — smart, loving, happy, adaptable, loyal, easy to train, athletic, affectionate, and sensitive.
Exercise and Activity
The Lagotto is an energetic working breed that needs a fair amount of daily outdoor exercise to work off excess energy. Its tireless work ethic and keen scenting ability shine in truffle hunting, but active families can channel its energy through agility, nose work, and other dog sports. Despite its high energy outdoors, it is calm and well behaved in the home.
| Dog | Daily exercise | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy | 3–4 short play sessions of 10–15 minutes | Keep walks gentle; avoid hard surfaces while growing |
| Adult | 45–60 minutes total walk or play | Split into two shorter sessions if preferred |
| Senior | 30–40 minutes of gentle walking | Slow the pace and shorten distance with age |
The Daily Exercise Guide offers ideas for this keen scent worker.
Training a Lagotto
The Lagotto is easy to train, keen, and eager to work with its owner. Its intelligence and tireless work ethic make it highly trainable for scent work, truffle hunting, and obedience. Consistent, positive training builds on its natural willingness to please. Its adaptable, affectionate nature makes training a pleasure.
The Dog Training Guide and Puppy Care Guide offer a solid foundation.
Grooming a Lagotto
The Lagotto has a dense, woolly, tightly curled coat that is low-shedding but requires regular grooming to keep it mat-free — typically brushing every few days plus professional grooming every few months to maintain the characteristic curly appearance. The coat is waterproof, and the head furnishings of eyebrows, whiskers, and beard need special attention.
| Task | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brushing | 2–3 times a week (daily during shedding season) | Brush in the direction of the coat and check for tangles |
| Bathing | Every 6–8 weeks or as needed | Use a mild dog shampoo |
| Nail trimming | Every 3–4 weeks | Trim when you hear nails clicking on the floor |
| Ear checks | Weekly | Look for wax, redness, or odor |
| Teeth brushing | 2–3 times a week | Dental chews help as a supplement |
The Dog Grooming Guide covers caring for this curly coat.
Feeding a Lagotto
A Lagotto should be fed high-quality food appropriate to its age, size, and activity level, typically in two meals per day. As an active working breed, sound nutrition supports daily exercise and longevity.
| Life stage | Meals per day | Portion per meal (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy (under 6 months) | 3–4 meals | 1/2–1 cup | Use a good-quality puppy formula |
| Adult | 2 meals | 1–1.5 cups | Adjust to activity level and body condition |
| Senior (7+ years) | 2 meals | 1–1.25 cups | Consider a senior or joint-support formula |
Your veterinarian can recommend the right diet and portions.
Health and Veterinary Care
The Lagotto is a healthy and robust dog with a life expectancy of 15 to 17 years. Neurological disorders identified in the breed include cerebellar abiotrophy and idiopathic epilepsy, so responsible breeders screen for these conditions. Regular grooming keeps the skin and coat healthy.
| Check-up | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness exam | Annual | Includes dental and weight check |
| Vaccinations | Annual booster | Follow your veterinarian's schedule |
| Heartworm prevention | Monthly (or as advised) | Year-round in most regions |
| Dental check | Annual cleaning as recommended | Watch for tartar buildup |
| Eye and ear health checks | Discuss with your vet | Part of the annual vet review |
| Senior wellness checks | Start from age 7 | Early detection of age-related conditions |
The Signs of a Healthy Pet guide is a useful home checklist.
Home Environment
The Lagotto is an affectionate family companion that is very attached to its owner — sociable, outgoing, playful, and smart. It is excellent with other dogs and good with strangers, and is a good watchdog. Well behaved in the home, it needs a fair amount of outdoor exercise to work off excess energy, so it suits active families.
If you're weighing whether a Lagotto fits your life, the Choosing the Right Pet guide can help you compare honestly.
Common Ownership Challenges
Owning a Lagotto means committing to an energetic working breed that needs a fair amount of outdoor exercise and regular grooming of its dense, curly, low-shedding coat. Their tireless work ethic demands mental as well as physical stimulation, and their keen scenting drive can lead them off-track on walks. The breed's near-extinction in the 1970s means a limited gene pool.
Yet for the right owner, the Lagotto is a joy — a smart, loving, adaptable companion with a legendary nose and an endearing rustic charm.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Highly intelligent and easy to train
- Low-shedding, curly coat
- Affectionate and attached to owner
- Excellent with other dogs
- Good watchdog
- Long-lived (15–17 years)
Disadvantages
- Requires regular professional grooming
- Needs a fair amount of outdoor exercise
- High energy — needs mental stimulation
- Strong scenting drive
- Rare breed with limited gene pool
- Moderate protectiveness (3/5)
Frequently Asked Questions
How big do Lagotto Romagnolo get? Males 17–19 in; females 16.25–18 in; weight 24–35 lb.
How long do Lagotti live? Typically 15 to 17 years.
Are Lagotto Romagnolo good family dogs? Yes — sociable, affectionate, and adaptable.
Are Lagotto Romagnolo hypoallergenic? Low-shedding curly coat is often better for allergy sufferers.
Are Lagotto Romagnolo easy to train? Yes — highly intelligent and easy to train.
Are Lagotto Romagnolo good truffle hunters? Yes — the world's foremost truffle-hunting dog.
Are Lagotto Romagnolo good with other dogs? Excellent (5/5).
Do Lagotto Romagnolo shed? Very little — low-shedding curly coat.
What were Lagotto Romagnolo originally bred for? Water retrieving in the marshlands of the Po Delta.
Why did Lagotti become truffle hunters? After the marshlands were drained in the 19th century.
Are Lagotto Romagnolo rare? Yes — they nearly went extinct in the 1970s.
What health issues do Lagotto Romagnolo have? Cerebellar abiotrophy and idiopathic epilepsy.