Lagotto Romagnolo

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Lagotto Romagnolo
Other names Romagna Water Dog
Water Dog of Romagna
Nicknames Lagotto
Country of origin Italy
Traits
Notes
The UKC does not have an official breed standard, it currently uses the FCI standard

The Lagotto Romagnolo is a breed of dog that comes from the Romagna sub-region of Italy. The name means "water dog from Romagna," coming from the Italian word lago, lake. Its traditional function is a gundog, specifically a water retriever. However, it is often used to hunt for truffles.

Contents

[edit] Description

[edit] Appearance

Lagotto have large round eyes in any shade color ranging from dark yellow to dark brown. The wooly coat is very thick and curly. Solid colors include off-white, white, or brown. They can also be found white with brown or orange patches or Roan (color). All in all they are a medium sized dog that is hypoallergenic. Lagotto often display white markings that grow out in adulthood.

[edit] Size

  • Males
    • Height: 43-48 cm (17-l9 in)
    • Weight: 13-16 kg (29-35 lb)
  • Females
    • Height: 41-46 cm (16-l8 in).
    • Weight: 11-l4 kg (24-32 lb).

[edit] Temperament

A female Lagotto.

The Lagotto is made to work. They generally have sharp senses, though their eyesight is more sensitive to motion than detail. They are very loyal and loving making them the perfect family companion. They are extremely easy to train. They get along with other animals very easily if socialized from a young age. Lagotto need a lot of exercise and they should always be given a job to keep their intelligent brains occupied. Lagotto have a natural instinct for fetching and typically do not get distracted by game or other wildlife.

In modern times the Lagotto has been bred primarily as a retriever and less as a hunting dog. In Italy they are often trained to locate and retrieve truffles.

Lagotto are excellent swimmers and will retrieve from lakes, streams and other bodies of water without hesitation. Lagotto get along well with children and make excellent domestic companions provided they have sufficient exercise.

[edit] Grooming

There are conflicting ideas on how to groom this breed. Some say they should be brushed regularly and others believe their coat should be allowed to grow naturally into a big fluff. The coat will get matted easily and the mats should carefully be pulled apart without tearing the coat. They must be cut down at least once every year.

If the coat is kept trimmed to approximately 1½ inches all over the body and slightly longer on the head, it will be easier to maintain and look neat. Hair on the ears should be trimmed around the edges to the leather. If the ear shows irritation and buildup of dirt and earwax, the hairs from the ear canal should be gently plucked out regularly. Some coats matt more easily than others. Left untended, the Lagotto's hair will grow to cover the eyes and so the hair around their eyes should be periodically clipped to ensure that they can see.

[edit] Show grooming

In the United States, the coat should be shown in a rustic style with no fluffing or blowing out. The coat should match the lines of the dog and the curls should be evident. The dog should have the appearance of a working dog that it is. If clipped down, the coat will need about 3 months of growth to be ready to show. Otherwise, shaping can be performed before the shows.

[edit] Health

Lagotto live roughly 16 years. Some health issues are:

[edit] History

The Lagotto is an ancient breed of water retriever from the lowlands of Comacchio and marshlands of Ravenna, Italy.

Andrea Mantegna in the 1474 work titled "The Meeting" depicts a small dog in the lower left corner that is the perfect image of today's Lagotto.[1]

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ "The Meeting, detail from west wall of the Camera degli Sposi, Palazzo Ducale at Mantua, Italy.". http://cgfa.sunsite.dk/mantegna/p-manteg15.htm. 

[edit] External links

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Breeds of gundog
Pointers
Versatile gundogs
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Spaniels
Water dogs
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