Where the Lagotto Romagnolo came from
The Lagotto Romagnolo comes from the marshes and lagoons of the Po River delta in the Romagna region of Italy. The breed was used as a water retriever for hunters. It has been known since the 1500s, but did not become widespread until the 1800s.
After the wetlands were drained, the Lagotto was used more often to hunt for truffles, the prized underground fungi. By the 1970s the breed had nearly died out. Breeders worked to save the traditional type, and the Club Italiano Lagotto was founded in Imola in 1988.
The Italian kennel club approved a breed standard in 1992. The FCI fully accepted the breed in 2005, and the AKC recognized the Lagotto Romagnolo in 2015. Many are still used to find truffles, while others are family dogs.
- 1465 to 1474 Andrea Mantegna paints a fresco in Mantua with a small dog that looks somewhat like a Lagotto
- 1988 The Club Italiano Lagotto is founded in Imola
- 1992 The Italian kennel club approves a breed standard
- 2005 The FCI gives the breed full acceptance
- 2015 AKC recognizes the Lagotto Romagnolo
The job a Lagotto Romagnolo was bred for
Lagotti retrieved birds from water and later searched the ground for truffles with their noses. That is why many Lagotti dig, sniff the ground nonstop and love water. They need daily nose work.
What you may see at home
Digs, sniffs the ground nonstop, clingy, loves water, needs a daily job.
Give them: Scent work, dig box, swimming, and short daily training.
Sports that fit a Lagotto Romagnolo
- Scent work. Their best skill: a nose trained for truffles
- Dock diving. Water retrieving is part of their past
- Agility. Quick, sturdy and thoughtful
- Rally. Builds teamwork
- Tracking. Follows the ground scent with focus
Training tips for a Lagotto Romagnolo
- Give daily ground sniffing games and scent work.
- Provide a dig spot and reward digging there.
- Teach calm greetings and a settle, since they are busy.
- Start grooming practice early and pay for patience.
Body and health
Small to medium with a thick, curly, wool-like coat that does not shed much but needs regular clipping and brushing. Ear care matters. Some neurological conditions are known in the breed.
Fun fact. The Lagotto is known as a truffle hunting dog, and their thick curly coat is made of tight ringlets.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Lagotto Romagnolo is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.