Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common health conditions of Lagotto Romagnolo?

One common issue is hip dysplasia, a genetic condition that leads to improper formation of the hip joint, causing pain and mobility problems. All breeding dogs undergo hip dysplasia testing where breeding dogs have imaging done on their hips. These images are sent to veterinarians to evaluate and rate their hips based on structural analysis. Breeding dogs must have a score of fair, good, or excellent to be considered for breeding programs.

Additionally, they can suffer from ear infections due to their curly coat, which may trap moisture and debris. Owners of Lagotti Romagnoli should check their ears, pluck excess hair, and clean the ears with ear clears regularly to prevent infections.

Lagotti Romagnoli is also known for dental issues as well. Owners should consult with their veterinarian to come up with the best preventative practices for these various health conditions.

Do Lagotto Romagnolo have a good sense of smell?

In our experience, Lagotto Romagnolo has an amazing sense of smell. They seem to find many things with their sense of smell; sometimes they find something they need, and sometimes they are able to smell things you don't want them too when you are out on a walk.

What are some genetic issues common in the breed?

One notable condition is Lagotto Storage Disease, a lysosomal storage disorder that leads to neurological issues and progressive deterioration. Affected dogs may exhibit symptoms such as poor coordination, seizures, and other behavioral changes.

Additionally, the breed is susceptible to Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy, a condition that typically presents in young puppies and may cause seizures that can be alarming but generally resolve as the dog matures.

Cataracts and cancer are common genetic disorders that are common in many breeds. Cancer risks are hard to detect because environmental factors play a role as when as genetics. Cataracts affect the eyes, and responsible breeders have their breeding dogs go through eye examinations by ophthalmologists to test for cataracts.

Responsible breeders conduct genetic tests from nationally recognized programs. Also, breeders provide future owners with copies of the tests from the sire and dame. The purpose of the tests is to eliminate common genetic disorders that are linked to the lagotto romagnolo breed.

Are Lagotto Romagnolo good at truffle hunting?

Any dog can be trained to truffle hunt. All of it depends on the temperament of the dog and its motivation to perform the truffle hunting job.

After environmental changes in the Romagna region centuries ago, breeders bred Lagotto Romagnolo for their keen sense of smell to find the prized culinary fungus. Lagotto Romagnolo are working dogs. They are driven to complete tasks and learn new skills. All you need to do is find out if they are motivated to do the nosework and what is the best way to pay them: praise, food/treats, toy playtime, etc.

In our experience, Lagotto Romagnolo is a good truffle hunting dog. We have taught our Lagotto Romagnolo how to do the basics of truffle hunting. It is our goal to do some wild foraging for truffles in Oregon and Washington and work on truffoire in California. We can provide you with some resources and people to contact to learn the art of truffle hunting.

How often do you groom your Lagotto Romagnolo?

This answer depends on several factors. A lot of this depends on the activities they do during the week and the type of fur the dog has. For the most part, we do a long brushing session once a week and will brush our dogs when needed throughout the week. We give them baths about every three to four weeks unless they get really dirty from swimming at the lake, beach or playing in a muddy forest in the winter and rainy months. We try to find a balance to not only preserve their oils and natural curls but also prevent the felting of their hair. We cut our dogs hair ourselves, because it can be difficult to find a groomer who has cut a Lagotto Romagnolo hair before, especially to breed-specific styles. We cut our dogs hair about every two months because we like to maintain a specific look, but a lot of people get it done around 4 times a year. If you are looking for instruments to groom your dog, shampoos, and conditioners to use to wash your dog, or resources on how to groom your dog yourself, we can provide that information to you, share our you tips and provide you lots of resources and references to learn and educate yourself about Lagotto grooming.

Are your breeding dogs health checked?

Yes, our dogs go through all the required health tests outlined by the Lagotto Club of America. Our dogs go through the hip dysplasia test, patella luxation test, and CAER eye examination test. We use the Wisdom Panel genetic test to test for LSD and BFJE, which are breed-specific genetic disorders as well as over 200 other genetic disorders.

Do the puppies get genetically tested?

No, the parents of the puppies get genetically tested. We use the Wisdom Panel genetic test to test for LSD and BFJE, which are breed-specific genetic disorders, as well as over 200 other genetic disorders. We can provide a copy of our dogs' genetic tests to ensure that our dogs are not passing down inheritable genetic issues.

LSD and BFJE are heritable disorders that, to display the disorder, parents need to be carriers of the genetic disorder. Carriers for the genetic disorder do not have the disorder but have 1/2 of the gene to pass on to their offspring. Both the dam and sire need to pass on the affected gene to the puppies for the puppies to have the disorder. Responsible breeders track the genetics and make sure carriers breed with other dogs who are clear of the genetic disorder.

Is Lagotto Romagnolo really hypoallergenic?

There is no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic dog, but breeds that have hair are low shedding causing less of reactions. Lagotto Romagnolo is one of these breeds. Because they have hair rather than fur like other dogs, they tend to not shed much at all.

How long do Lagotto Romagnolo live?

Lagotto Romagnolo dogs live about 14 - 16 years on average. This differs from dog to dog based on several factors including genetics, environment, lifestyle, and preventative care.

How do you pronounce Lagotto Romagnolo?

La - Go -Toe (Tow) Roman-yo-low

What are some common English names for Lagotto Romagnolo

Some common English nicknames for the Lagotto Romagnolo include: Italian Duck Dog, Italian Water Dog, Italian Truffle Dog, Lake Dog of Romagna, or Italian Lake Dog