Lagotto Romagnolo

Lagotto Romagnolo is an ancient dog that originated in the lowlands and marshlands of Comacchio and Ravenna, Italy. Bred as a retriever and water dog, it was often included in paintings that date back as early as the 1400s. As a very old breed, the Lagotto is considered to be the predecessor of a lot of water dog breeds.

It was recognised by the Italian Kennel Club in 1991 and is currently registered with The Kennel Club under the Gundog Group. It remains a highly prized retriever and gundog, as well as a family companion in its home country but its numbers remain low elsewhere in the world, including the UK.

The Kennel Club describes the Lagotto Romagnolo as a squarely built, small to medium-sized dog of rustic appearance. The breed’s average weight is 24 to 35 pounds and height is 41 to 48 centimetres with males noticeable bigger than females. It has a moderately broad head and slightly convex skull, having the widest point at the zymogatic arch when viewed from above. It also has a strong muzzle, fairly large and nearly round eyes, moderately big and triangular ears, a large nose with open nostrils, powerful and wide jaws, and tight lips that are covered with long whiskers.

The Lagotto has a woolly and waterproof double coat, which is slightly rough on the surface that forms very thick ring-shaped curls. It has less tight curls on the head while the curls are evenly distributed all over its body. It also has well-furnished eyebrows, whiskers and beard. The Lagotto starts with a very soft coat as a puppy and develops its curls very slowly as it matures (fully grown coat when dog is 2 to 3 years old). According to KC standards, the acceptable colours are solid off-white, white with brown or orange markings, solid brown in various shades, brown roan, and solid orange.

The Lagotto is an intelligent breed but can be a bit stubborn. It is not suited for first-time owners because it often proves to be too much given its high energy and high prey drive. It needs to be trained by experienced owners that are familiar with this type of dogs. Since it has a high prey drive and strong sense of smell, trainings should be focused on making use of these characteristics such as interactive games and hunting activities.

Dogs may have certain predisposed characteristics but you need to remember that owners play a role in shaping its temperament.  The environment it is raised, as well as training and socialisation will influence its overall personality.

• Senior and less active: up to 795 calories daily
• Typical adults: up to 890 calories daily
• Physically active/working dogs: up to 990 calories daily

Buying a well-bred pedigree Lagotto Romagnolo puppy in the UK can be a challenge since only a small number of puppies are bred each year and the price is quite high. Interested parties would need to register on a wait list. Buying one will cost you £1,000 to £1,500 or higher. Insuring this breed will be around £25 to £50 for basic and lifetime pet insurance coverage, respectively.

Food costs will be around £40 to £50, while initial costs for basic equipment is £200. Professional grooming can cost from £20 per appointment, depending on your location and services you will avail. Probably the most expensive expenditure is veterinary care, which can reach £1,000 in a month especially when your dog will to be neutered or spayed. Regular check-ups, vaccinations and other preventive treatments are extremely important in responsible pet ownership. They may be expensive but they should not be overlooked.

As a rough estimate, raising a Lagotto will cost you around £80 to £120, depending on the insurance premium you choose. This estimate does not include the cost of buying the puppy.