Dog breed · Sporting / Gundog
Lagotto Romagnolo
The world's specialist truffle dog — a former water retriever repurposed for scent work. Low-shedding, trainable and happiest with its nose busy.
Medium12–15 yearsRomagna, ItalyCan suit apartments
Representative breed photography. Appearance varies within every breed.
Breed characteristics
- Group
- Sporting / Gundog
- Origin
- Romagna, Italy
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 11–16 kg
- Height
- 41–48 cm
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Dense, woolly, waterproof curls
- Temperament
- KeenAffectionateFocusedGentle
History
A Romagna marshland retriever since at least the 16th century; as marshes were drained it became the truffle-hunting breed.
Appearance
Rustic, square, woolly dog in off-white, brown or orange, with a teddy-bear face.
Exercise and activity
An hour-plus daily with scent games; truffle-style hide-and-seek is perfect enrichment.
Care and grooming
Curls need regular clipping and combing to the skin to prevent matting; beard stays wet and needs rinsing.
Health considerations
- Generally healthy
- Hip dysplasia
- Benign familial juvenile epilepsy (tested)
- Lagotto storage disease (tested)