Looking for a furry friend that’s as adorable as it is intelligent? Meet the Lagotto Romagnolo (pronounced Lah-GOH-toe Roe-man-YO-lo)! Originally hailing from the picturesque Romagna region of Italy, this charming breed is renowned for its keen sense of smell and affectionate nature. Known as the “truffle dog” for its exceptional ability to sniff out these prized fungi, the Lagotto Romagnolo is a versatile working dog with a heart of gold.
With their distinctive curly coat and expressive eyes, Lagotti are sure to steal your heart. Despite their fluffy appearance, they’re low-shedding, making them a great choice for allergy sufferers. Their coats do need regularly grooming and attention, so be prepared for some baths and trips to the salon!
These dogs thrive on companionship and are known for their loyalty to their families. Whether curling up on the couch for a cozy cuddle session or bounding through the park with unbridled enthusiasm, the Lagotto Romagnolo is always eager to please.
Beyond their endearing character, Lagotti excel in various canine activities, including obedience, agility, and, of course, truffle hunting. Their sharp intellect and eagerness to learn make them highly trainable, and they thrive on mental stimulation and challenges. Whether you’re seeking a dedicated working partner or a loving family pet, the Lagotto Romagnolo is sure to bring joy, laughter, and endless love into your life.
The Lagotto Romagnolo is a sensitive dog with a keen intelligence and desire to please. Lagotti bond deeply with their humans, do not like to be left alone, do not respond well to punishment, and need a lot of mental and physical exercise to be happy. This breed is perfect for people who are active, able to spend most or all of their time with their dog(s), and who combine positive reinforcement training methods with patience and understanding.
Males: 28 – 35+ lbs (~12 - 16kg), Females: 24 – 31 lbs (~10.5 - 14 kg)
Males: 17–19 inches (43–48 cm), Females: 16–18 inches (41–46 cm)
15 - 17 years
The Lagotto Romagnolo dog is a sturdy breed with a wooly coat, a lively disposition, and a reputation for strength and endurance. There are breed-specific health concerns, which is why we test our breeding dogs extensively. Lagotti can be prone to health conditions such as juvenile epilepsy, storage disease, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia*. Links to our dogs’ health test results are available in their profile.
*we do not breed dogs who exhibit or carry these traits
At Raven Meadow Ranch, we feed our dogs a raw diet. We rotate protein sources (chicken, beef, lamb, pork, buffalo, fish, etc.) and make sure that our dogs have access to meaty bones, organ meats in limited quantities, and occasional fruits and vegetables. If you are interested in feeding the best diet for your dog, we recommend that you read about the Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods (BARF) diet.
Our puppies are weaned onto the BARF diet before leaving our home. We first transition them onto goat’s milk, yogurt, ground meat, and chopped bone-in chicken.
Exercise is a MUST for Lagotti! We recommend no less than an hour a day of off-leash running, jumping, digging FUN. A tired Lagotto is a happy Lagotto. As dogs with an incredible sense of smell, Lagotti thrive on scentwork of any kind. This might look like a leisurely stroll, allowing your dog to stop and sniff every new object–or it might look like a scent-based enrichment toy. Nosework stimulates the brain, and allowing your pup to exercise their powerful sense of smell will give you a calmer, happier dog.
The Lagotto Romagnolo is a non-shedding breed, but that doesn’t mean that grooming isn’t an issue! There are many wonderful resources available online to help guide you–here are some places to start.
Owning a Lagotto Romagnolo connects you to a fabulous history and culture. It’s important to learn as much as you can about the breed and its unique characteristics before adding a Lagotto to you life. Here are some resources to help you on your Lagotto journey. Buon viaggio!
The AKC parent club for the Lagotto Romagnolo. The LRCA works to preserve and protect the Lagotto Romagnolo and to provide education, guidance and mentorship to all who are interested in the welfare and advancement of the breed.
The Italian Lagotto Romagnolo club. You can use Google to translate the pages into English if you are not an Italian speaker. Wonderful photos, history, and Italian flavor!
Information about the Lagotto Romagnolo from the American Kennel Club. Our dogs are AKC registered, our litters are AKC registered, and your puppy will come with pre-paid AKC registration!
Dedicated to gathering data on the health, temperament, and behavior of the Lagotto Romagnolo breed.
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