Lagotto Romagnolo

Coat and looks how to spot one

woolly, tightly curled double coat

A dense, woolly coat that forms tight ringlet curls all over the body, with a visible undercoat and a slightly rough surface. On the head the curls loosen into bushy eyebrows, whiskers and a beard. The coat repels water well and sheds very little. It is kept clipped to a short, natural outline (the AKC standard caps body length at about 1.5 inches, roughly 4 cm), never corded or sculpted.1346

Personality what they are like

A lively, alert and very loving dog that attaches strongly to its people. The Lagotto is smart and cooperative, picks up training quickly and makes a good watchdog without being aggressive. Selective breeding for truffle work has toned down its interest in game, so it can concentrate on a scent trail without getting sidetracked.136

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. The Royal Kennel Club suggests more than two hours of exercise a day, and a plain walk rarely tires one out. Swimming, scent work, nose games, retrieving and hikes suit the breed very well.451

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Brush and comb through the curls more than once a week to stop them matting and to pick out burrs and debris. The coat needs clipping regularly, and the FCI standard notes at least a yearly full clip to prevent felting. Check the hairy ears often and keep the nails trimmed.4156

Home where they are happiest

Happiest in a home with some outdoor space, though it can live in a flat if it gets plenty of time outdoors every day. A secure garden is useful, since a Lagotto loves to dig and search.56

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A good-quality complete dog food, commercial or vet-guided home-prepared, in portions suited to its size and activity level. Keep an eye on treats, especially during training.5

Company who they like around

Very family-focused and does not like being left out. With consistent socialisation it gets along well with children and other pets. Responds best to positive, reward-based training, which can start from puppyhood.53

The story where it all began

The Lagotto is one of Italy's oldest working dogs. Written records place it in the marshes of Romagna around 1600, and Renaissance painters such as Guercino and Mantegna painted dogs that look much like it. For centuries it worked in the Po Delta wetlands around Comacchio and Ravenna, fetching shot waterfowl back to shore or to the hunters' boats. When the marshes were drained for farmland in the 1800s and early 1900s, local people turned the dog's keen nose to hunting truffles, and by the 1930s it was the standard truffle dog of Romagna. Mixing with other dogs threatened the original type, so in the 1970s a group of enthusiasts, among them Quintino Toschi, Dr Antonio Morsiani, Lodovico Babini and Prof. Francesco Ballotta, set out to restore it. The Club Italiano Lagotto followed in 1988, ENCI approved a standard in 1992, the FCI accepted the breed provisionally in 1995 and fully in 2005, and the AKC recognised it in 2015.2761

Recognised by the official bits

FCI

Standard no. 298, Group 8 Retrievers, Flushing dogs, Water dogs; Section 3 Water dogs. Utilisation: truffle dog. Provisionally accepted 1995, definitive acceptance 2005; current standard dated 30.09.2019.1

ENCI (Italian Kennel Club)

Breed standard approved by ENCI in 1992 (The Royal Kennel Club gives 1991 as the Italian recognition date). The Club Italiano Lagotto was founded in Imola in 1988.2

The Royal Kennel Club

Listed in the Gundog group; a relative newcomer to the UK, where it has competed in gundog working tests.4

AKC

Entered the Foundation Stock Service in 2001 and gained full recognition in 2015. Current standard approved 14 Jan 2020, effective 31 Mar 2020.9

Popularity Ranked 77th of AKC-registered breeds in 2025.8