Lagotto Romagnolo
About the Lagotto Romagnolo
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Medium (25-50 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 16-19" |
| Weight | 24-35 lbs |
| Coat Type | Curly |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $2,500-$4,000 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,300/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Lagotto Romagnolos may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Apartment Living
- First-Time Owners
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Lagotto Romagnolo
The story behind the Lagotto Romagnolo
The Lagotto Romagnolo comes from the Romagna region of northeastern Italy, where curly-coated water dogs were used to retrieve waterfowl from the marshes and lagoons of the Po delta, a role reflected in the name. As those wetlands were drained through the nineteenth century the retrieving work disappeared, and owners redirected the dogs to hunting truffles in the hills and woodlands, where a fine nose and biddable nature suited the task. This transition is unusual in that a gundog was successfully repurposed for a completely different scenting job. Italian enthusiasts formalised the breed in the later twentieth century and secured FCI recognition, and the AKC admitted it more recently. The Lagotto is often described as the only breed specifically dedicated to truffle searching, and it now serves both as a working dog and a companion.
Originally bred for: Water retrieving, Truffle searching, Companion. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Lagotto Romagnolo
A medium, moderately active dog under a woolly coat does best on a balanced everyday food split into two servings, containing enough quality fat to keep curls supple. Because scent work is tiring but not calorie-heavy, portions should reflect real activity rather than perceived busyness.
Watch for: No confirmed breed-wide food allergy exists, though itching and ear inflammation are frequent owner complaints, and moisture trapped in a dense curly coat is often the underlying cause. Where food is genuinely suspected, a vet-supervised elimination trial gives a clearer answer than guesswork.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Lagotto Romagnolo
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.