Last Updated: March 31, 2023
The Carino in Italian or Layman’s term ‘cute’ and that’s the exact word to describe the Lagotto Romagnolo dog.
They are small to medium-sized Italian water retrievers known for their excellent sense of smell in sniffing out truffles, an expensive delicacy.
This breed perfectly fits the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” as many often consider them as lap dogs because of their size, forgetting about their impressive work history as a skilled water retriever.
Yes, these athletic dogs are more than just show dogs and are born to play, hunt, and get along with their welcoming human pack.
In this article, you will find everything you need to know about this breed from Lagotto Romagnolo’s puppy cost, grooming, temperament, lifespan, hunting, daily exercise to common diseases they might get as they grow old.
Let’s get started.
How much does a Lagotto Romagnolo puppy cost?
It’s obvious for a breed to be a bit pricey that effortlessly trace down the truffles.
But besides this, other factors to determine the cost of Lagotto Romagnolo puppies are the breeder’s reputation, location, the pup’s bloodline, and the breed’s popularity.
Before making your much-awaited move, you must know that a healthy purebred can cost you a whopping $4,750 with the basic price starting from $800.
Now, we cannot root for the lowest bar as that can be compromising the pup’s health.
So, as we always suggest, seal the final deal with an AKC certified breeder or from authorized Lagotto Romagnolo kennel clubs.
How to select Lagotto Romagnolo breeders?
The only trick to obtaining a healthy Lagotto Romagnolo puppy is to reach out to ethical Lagotto Romagnolo breeders.
Here are some handy tips to get a healthy pup and save yourself from fraudsters.
- Check with the breeder or business if they are approved by the AKC, LRCA (Lagotto Romagnolo Club of America), or any other reputed kennel clubs.
- Closely observe the pet parents, litter, and how they are being fed and looked after to make an informed decision.
- Ask the breeder about your pup’s health and vaccination updates and check the health certificate to see if the pup you are planning to buy is healthy.
- Chat with the breeder to know their in-depth knowledge about dogs.
All this will help you bring home a happy and healthy Lagotto Romagnolo puppy.
When does a Lagotto Romagnolo get full size?
With early pet grooming at home and vet-recommended daily nutrition, a Lagotto Romagnolo gets full size in its 6th month but it takes around 2 – 3 years for its adult coat to develop.
The males of these medium-sized fluffy water retrievers can grow up to 17 – 19 inches at shoulders, while the females will measure 16 – 18 inches tall, and that stature doesn’t make them small but medium-sized truffle hunters.
If your’s one is purebred, you can surely expect the male to be weighing around 28 – 35 pounds, with the females just a few pounds less weighing between 24 – 31 pounds.
Remember, though they are comparatively smaller than the large breeds but were bred to retrieve and need high-calorie daily nutrition to meet their energy level to grow as healthy active dogs.
A high-quality diet and daily activity is the only key to raising these incredible truffle sniffers into healthy adults with perfect body mass.
How to care for your Lagotto Romagnolo puppy?
Caring for Lagotto Romagnolo when they are puppies
All this family-friendly puppy needs is some time to get along with you and your surroundings once you bring it home.
Lagotto Romagnolo puppies must be gently handled with immense care till they are 1 when you can consider starting their formal training.
By that time, the only thing you need is to feed them timely and alter the proportions as they grow a week older.
Feed your 8 – 12 weeks puppy 4 times a day and take it to 2 lighter meals a day when it turns 1.
Besides petting it on your lap, buy your pup a comfy cushion, pillows, and a blanket to make them feel at home so that they can have their own space to rest.
Apart from this, stick to teaching your intelligent pup basic obedience commands and initial socialization skills when it turns a year old.
Caring for Lagotto Romagnolo when they grow up
Routine care for a full-grown Lagotto Romagnolo involves a lot of physical activities besides a balanced nutrition-packed diet.
Once your dog is 1 year old, take it out every day to the nearby dog parks and for jogging.
Such outdoor activities will help to shape up your dog into a well-behaved adult and decipher destructive behavior like chewing, untamed prey drive, and incessant barking.
Lagotto Romagnolo is basically a family dog and loves staying with its human pack.
So never house this breed out in the kennel, instead, offer your dog its own comfort corner inside by placing a comfy cushion, clean food, and water bowl.
These medium-sized athletic retrievers do best in open space, preferably a lawn to run, play, and retrieve without limitations.
How to groom a Lagotto Romagnolo dog?
Grooming a Lagotto Romagnolo requires some effort besides professional service. As soon as you bring home this adorable pup, keep trimming or clipping their soft curls that eventually turn coarser in 2 – 3 years.
You must often clip or grind your pup’s nails to make them used to this routine and get rid of drama every time you hold the grinder.
Lagotto Romagnolo is non-shedder and its double-layered curly coat must be brushed regularly with a soft-bristled comb to remove teaks, dander, and dirt.
Bathing your pet once a month with a gentle dog shampoo is enough to keep its coat soft, and lustrous besides daily brushing to stop its curly coat from matting.
To give your dog a showy look, considering professional grooming is the best idea for the makeover rather than trying your amateur hands at home.
Clipping the coat of a Lagotto Romagnolo requires precision and is not a child’s play.
How much exercise does a Lagotto Romagnolo need?
Miniature but quite a daredevil, these water retrievers thrive on adequate exercise to stay physically fit and mentally happy.
The breed was formed to chase waterfowls and ducks, making them natural-born hunters with a gentle soul that help them get along with their human pack and other pets.
If you want your priced pet to grow well-behaved and lead a healthy life, take them out on regular long walks and include a lot of vigorous physical training and brainstorming games to stimulate their natural intelligence.
The breed must not be left alone as loneliness will make them gloomy and destructive in a few days.
These natural retrievers love water so, if you have any nearby swamps or water bodies, a weekly visit would be enough to give them a natural feel, swimming and retrieving as they once used to be.
Believe us, offering swimming is the best-recommended exercise for them.
Do Lagotto Romagnolo shed a lot?
Is pet hair getting on your nerves?
Not only you, but most dog lovers with a high-shedding dog keep struggling to keep their homes and cars clean off these rolling fur balls.
But sensibly getting a minimal shedder like a Lagotto Romagnolo can solve this concern without making you regret your adoption.
This Roman water breed has a striking double-layered coat that needs to be brushed regularly to prevent matting responsible for shedding.
With regular pet grooming at home, this minimal shedder solves all your pet hair removing stress, unless your dog is suffering from any internal condition that can cause severe shedding.
Are Lagotto Romagnolo hypoallergenic?
Though no breed is 100% hypoallergenic, Lagotto Romagnolo is an exception in the dogdom for its low to no shedding qualities.
This dog is not only a boon for owners with pet hair sensitivity but is a perfect choice to keep your car and home sparkling clean.
Despite their double-coated curls, these dogs hardly shed with no rolling and latching hairs everywhere.
But they do develop flakes which is mainly the cause behind an allergy trigger than the fur itself. You can use dog shampoo for their dry or itchy skin to keep the coat healthy and shiny.
So considering all these qualities, Lagotto Romagnolo surely stays ahead in the spree of buying a hypoallergenic dog.
Understanding Lagotto Romagnolo Temperament
Lagotto Romagnolo’s temperament is family-friendly with a soul of a compassionate companion and a watchdog.
You can expect the best from this medium-sized dog, only when raised close to its human pack with compassion and care.
If you are on the hunt for children and a pet-friendly furry companion, Lagotto Romagnolo is the dog for you.
But start training them to socialize early to shape them and be comfortable around strangers and other pets.
Remember not to belittle their ability by judging their size, as they were once trusted water retrievers ruling the marshes for their skilled hunting quality and now as truffle hunters.
This Italian retriever alerts you in no time when they sense any intrusion making them an excellent watchdog besides being a loving pet.
You can have the best parenting moments with this active retriever if raised in a friendly ambiance and the worst when confined or with no introduction to its surroundings.
Isolating this friendly dog for long with no interaction and lack of enough physical and mental stimulation can turn them aggressive and they will certainly start barking frequently to get your attention.
How intelligent are Lagotto Romagnolo?
Busting all your doubts about how smart are these truffle hunters, Lagotto Romagnolo is an intelligent dog breed and is always keen to learn.
Not to forget, Lagotto Romagnolo was bred to hunt and chase in the marshes that naturally makes them smart in quickly learning commands, following instructions, and now they are used as a trusted truffle sniffer.
This medium-sized rustic working dog is always eager to please and can master complex commands faster than other breeds making you a proud parent.
Though they are born smart, you also need to invest some effort in stimulating their intelligence by introducing brainstorming games in their daily routine.
Keep them indoors as they prefer your companion more than staying alone in a kennel outside.
The more you accompany your dog, take it out on regular walks, and include brainstorming activities in its daily regime, the best it will be for their brain development.
As an owner, it’s natural for you to expect your dog to act smart that also decreases the stress of training, and Lagotto Romagnolo proudly qualifies every parameter.
How easy is it to train Lagotto Romagnolo?
Intelligent, fast learners, and hard-working, what do you think training them will be?
Training a Lagotto Romagnolo is a complete stress-free affair, only if you start the process early in its 3rd week with simple obedience commands.
But before you think of hiring a trainer to start training a Lagotto Romagnolo, drop the idea now.
This loving Italian retriever does best when trained under your supervision and can learn complex commands faster.
However, the same friendly dog can shy away from strangers and display destructive actions like chewing and biting due to a lack of early socialization.
Also, remember to put on the leash during training as they have a natural prey drive to sense and chase after small hunts in the garden or parks.
Because of their higher intelligence and eagerness to please, these dogs are easy to train and require no excess effort and stress from the owner.
To get the best out of these hard-working affectionate dogs, never leave them alone for long as that can turn them into destructive and annoying barkers putting your and your neighbor’s peace at stake.
What type of hunting is best for Lagotto Romagnolo?
Typically a Lagotto Romagnolo hunting nowadays involves sniffing out the world’s costliest delicacy truffles and no other breed or researched formula can beat them in this department.
But as a born retriever, Lagotto Romagnolo loves and enjoy chasing and hunting waterfowls, pheasants, and duck in the swamps.
These born hunters not only enjoy retrieving in the marshlands, but such activity is also a great addition to their vigorous daily routine.
Sometimes, you may also find them chasing cats and other smaller hunts like birds and squirrels in the yard.
This ancient Italian breed loves swimming and posses all the qualities to accompany you hunting and fishing that are also a great mental stimulation for them and help hone their preying skills.
Remember, they were originally bred to hunt so, freeing them in the swamps once in a month or weekly, works the best in supporting and promoting their physical strength.
Lagotto Romagnolo Lifespan
The refined sniffer and waterfowl retriever can form a lasting bond with you for 15 – 17 years.
Such an impressive life expectancy can make any pet parent happy as no one wants to lose their dog early.
Bred to retrieve waterfowls, these dogs are hailed as super sniffers for their excellent truffle hunting skills. (Truffles are exotic fungi sold at a whopping price.)
As a sport dog, Lagotto Romagnolo possesses a rugged built with stronger legs and incredible sniffing ability which requires plenty of daily mental and physical activities to live a healthy long life.
Common Health Issues Associated With Lagotto Romagnolo Dogs
With proper pet grooming at home and recommended nutrition, you can surely expect your Lagotto Romagnolo to live a disease-free life.
But still, certain risks exist, and your dog becomes vulnerable when obtained from an unethical breeder.
To get a healthy pup with details on their ancestry and health, we recommend connecting with authorized breeders or clubs preserving this breed.
One common disease that can affect the Lagotto Romagnolo like other breed is hip dysplasia.
Besides this, other health issues that can bother these dogs are Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy (BFJE), Lagotto Storage Disease, a neurodegenerative disorder, and vision issues.
Final Thoughts
Lagotto Romagnolo can be your dream mate if you are looking for an adorable lap dog with a soul of a brave heart.
This family-loving breed possesses all the qualities of an ideal dog to make you go awestruck.
With an impressive lifespan of up to 15 years, this Italian dog is a perfect choice for anyone who fears losing their adorable pets sooner.
Buying a Lagotto Romagnolo might dent your pocket, but believe us, that one investment is worth every penny considering their unmatched qualities in pleasing its owner to act as an alert dog in protecting its family.
