Lagotto Romagnolo
Temperament:
The Lagotto Romagnolo is probably the oldest water dog ever. Its keen sense of smell makes it the ideal truffle dog. Characteristics such as obedience, intelligence and loyalty characterize this reliable companion and guard dog. Friendly, affectionate and always in a good mood, he is the ideal family dog. The fact that he does not shed, the allergy sufferer is pleased.
Characteristics
The Lagotto Romagnolo originates from Italy. It is recognized by FCI in group 8. He is of medium size. His stature is strong and rustic, yet he is considered well-proportioned.
The coat of the Lagotto Romagnolo is dense, curly and has a woolly texture. It feels somewhat rougher on the surface due to the ring-shaped curls. The undercoat is visible. Its eyebrows, upper lips, cheeks and chin are luxuriantly hairy. Of absolute advantage for a Water Dog is the fact that the topcoat and undercoat are absolutely impervious to water.
Hair colors range from impure white to brown mold to solid brown. Variants are different colored patches or masks.
As a truffle dog, the Lagotto Romagnolo has an excellent sense of smell. In terms of character, he is characterized by obedience and frugality. He is a friendly, alert and vigilant dog, loyal to his human. Perfect conditions for a reliable companion and watchdog.
In dangerous situations, he announces himself. However, a well-socialized Lagotto Romagnolo never reacts aggressively or sharply.
The Lagotto Romagnolo needs a lot of exercise. He needs to run at least two hours a day and his mind wants to be challenged as well. As a water dog, he loves to swim. You should keep this in mind. Not everyone likes a dog in the home that has just bathed in mud puddles and garden ponds.
A great advantage of these dogs is that they can easily adapt to their environment. An elderly lady will get along well with her cozy Lagotto Romagnolo. Joggers and cyclists will find in him a persevering companion. As an always good-humored and strongly people-oriented dog, he is also ideal for families. He loves to be near his people and is very happy to receive praise. He is cuddly and enjoys extensive petting.
The education of a Lagotto Romagnolo should be consistent and sensitive. Never, however, characterized by severity or harshness. With other dogs he gets along very well.
In general, it can be said about the Lagotto Romagnolo that it is endowed with robust health. Serious breeders with pedigree also exclude all genetic diseases in advance as much as possible. Consequently, the risk of a corresponding disease (eg epilepsy) is very low.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
Regarding the food, the Lagotto Romagnolo does not have special requirements. Its food should be balanced and of high quality. Pay attention to a high meat portion. Find out together with him what he likes best.
The trade offers a huge selection of canned food, dry food or frozen meat. Ask your local butcher for a variety of dog packages. If you choose dry food, your dog must always have enough fresh water available.
Of course, you can also pay attention to the nutrients it contains. Dogs have different needs for proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and trace elements depending on their character and age. Your Lagotto Romagnolo is a very active and active dog and therefore burns a lot of energy.
Be critical when it comes to additives. Does dog food really need sensory additives that color the food and make it smell delicious? Or technological additives that keep the food in the right shape? Your dog almost certainly doesn't care about the shape.
You should definitely avoid sweets or food from the table. Small rewards should consist of meat and be absolutely sugar-free.
As for any dog, dental care snacks are ideal. Longer keep him busy chewing bones made of cowhide or dried beef ears.
Fresh water must always be available. If you are on the road for a longer time, you can take a practical travel drinking bowl with you.
Lagotto Romagnolo care
The effort for the care is relatively high with the Lagotto Romagnolo, because the correct care of the hair is absolutely important with this dog. He does not shed and is therefore well suited for allergy sufferers.
On the other hand, this means that his hair must be shortened. To protect it from matting, the coat should be completely shorn at least once or twice a year. If you discover matting in the top coat and undercoat, you must always remove it immediately.
When clipping, the natural silhouette of the dog should be preserved. It's best to have this done by a professional, because the coat must not be shaped or brushed under any circumstances. But beware. If the coat is too short, it loses its curls and thus its breed-specific structure.
In addition, brush several times a week. After each outing, you should briefly check to see if anything has gotten caught in the fur.
If hair grows into the inner ear or eyes, you must remove it. They can cause irritation and inflammation there. Please do not pluck them out! Otherwise fine injuries can occur, into which bacteria can penetrate. If you have any questions, your veterinarian is the right person to contact.
In winter you should remember to shorten the fur on your feet. This will prevent the formation of annoying and possibly painful snow clumps.
Suitable accessories
If you decide to get a Lagotto Romagnolo, you will be outside for at least two hours a day in wind and weather. He is a very active dog, so a sturdy leash is essential. Make sure it is long enough.
A fetch ball or a tug rope are good ways to keep him busy and tired outside. Dog slingshots are inexpensive and have the advantage that you don't have to touch the wet ball directly when retrieving it.
Indoors, you can also encourage your clever dog with so-called intelligence toys. Here he must cleverly figure out how to get his treat. Lids, drawers, discs and buttons block the way and challenge his intelligence.
Coat care also plays an important role for your dog. Comb and brush are therefore important parts of your grooming equipment. Since the coat of the Lagotto Romagnolo has a strong tendency to mat, appropriate sprays and shampoos can facilitate the coat care.
Origin & History
The Lagotto Romagnolo originally comes from Romagna in northern Italy. There, from the 16th century, he supported the hunters who were hunting coots in the marshes. The dogs could stay in the water for hours and were not very susceptible to disease. They also retrieved the prey reliably.
When they were not hunting, they faithfully and reliably guarded the houses and boats of their masters. With the draining of the marshes at the end of the 19th century, the demand for valuable truffle mushrooms increased. Here, too, the Lagotto Romagnolo successfully led his master to his destination. Especially in the mountains, his dense coat turned out to be an absolute advantage. The thorny vegetation could absolutely not harm him.
For a long time, in order to refine the sense of smell, crossed breeds known for their good noses (eg, setters or poodles). Only at the end of the last century, fanciers decided to reconstruct the original Lagotto.
Meanwhile, the purebreds are recognized by the FCI. Breeding goal was also to reduce the hunting instinct. Thus, the dogs are not distracted by anything and can search over long distances very concentrated for the valuable mushrooms. When they have found truffles, they wait patiently until their human arrives. In Italy, entire families live off the exceptionally good nose of their Lagotto Romagnolo.
