Lagotto Romagnolo
lah-GOT-toh roh-mahn-YOH-loh
Italy· Romagna, north-east Italy
The Lagotto Romagnolo is a curly-coated Italian breed originally used to retrieve waterfowl from the marshes of Romagna, and now best known as the dog of choice for hunting truffles.
At a glance
Quick facts
Size
Medium
Exercise needs
1-1.5 hours daily plus mental work
Home size suited to
Small to medium home
Grooming frequency
Brush every other day, clip regularly
Coat length
Curly
Sheds
Very little
Lifespan
15-17 years
Town or country
Either, with enough exercise
Garden size needed
Small to medium
Where it comes from
Origins of the Lagotto Romagnolo
Developed in the wetlands around the Comacchio valleys of Romagna, where dense marsh vegetation demanded a compact, curly-coated retriever able to work cold water for hours.
- Region
- Romagna, north-east Italy
- Climate it was bred for
- Marshy wetlands and river deltas
- Original job
- Retrieving waterfowl from marshland
The long read
About the breed
The breed takes its name from the Comacchio valleys of Romagna, a network of coastal marshes on the Adriatic where hunters needed a compact, curly-coated dog able to swim through cold reed beds for hours retrieving shot ducks. When those marshes were drained for farmland in the 19th and early 20th centuries, waterfowling work largely disappeared, but locals noticed the breed's exceptional nose and began using it instead to locate truffles buried under oak and hazel woodland, a role it still performs professionally in Italy today.
At home the Lagotto is affectionate, biddable and highly food-motivated, traits that make it easy to train but also prone to weight gain if treats are not managed carefully. It bonds closely with its family and can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone too often. The dense, curly, wool-like coat does not shed in the way most breeds do, which suits allergy sufferers reasonably well, but it mats quickly without regular brushing and needs clipping every six to eight weeks.
Today the Lagotto Romagnolo is popular well beyond Italy as a family companion and as a working truffle dog for hobbyists, thanks to its scenting ability, manageable size and low-shedding coat. It needs proper daily exercise and, ideally, some scent-based games or training to keep its keen nose occupied, since a bored Lagotto will often find its own, less welcome, things to sniff out.
Living with one
Temperament & needs
Our own ratings, based on the breed standard and how these dogs behave in ordinary homes.
Friendliness
4/5
How openly the Lagotto Romagnolo greets people it does not know.
Trainability
5/5
Highly food and scent motivated, excels at nose work.
Energy
4/5
Bred for hours of marsh work; needs real daily exercise and scent games.
Barking
3/5
Can alert bark; benefits from training to settle.
Grooming
4/5
Curly, non-shedding coat needs clipping every 6-8 weeks.
Suits a first-time owner
4/5
How forgiving the Lagotto Romagnolo is for someone taking on their first dog.
Sociability
4/5
Affectionate with family, generally good with visitors once settled.
Independence
2/5
Bonds closely and does not thrive left alone for long periods.
Illustrated breed standard
The points of the breed
Hover or tap a numbered point to read what the standard asks for.
Point 1
Skull
The Lagotto Romagnolo's skull is judged on balance rather than size — proportionate to the body, with a clean cheek and a stop typical of the breed. Coarseness or an over-refined head are both faulted.
Colours & patterns
Recognised coats
Which coats the standard accepts — and which are simply popular.
Off-white
Standard colour
A classic and common Lagotto colour, sometimes with patches.
Solid brown
Standard colour
Ranges from light chestnut to dark brown.
Orange
Standard colour
A warm tan shade, accepted in the modern standard.
Brown roan
Standard colour
Brown and white hairs intermingled, giving a mottled effect.
Timeline
History & development
1500s
Marshland retriever
Curly-coated water dogs were already established in the Romagna marshes, used to retrieve ducks shot over the wetlands.
1800s
Marshes drained
As the Comacchio marshes were drained for agriculture, the breed's waterfowling role declined and locals repurposed the dogs for truffle hunting.
1970s-80s
Breed club formed
Italian enthusiasts, concerned about dwindling numbers, formed a club to document and preserve the true Lagotto type.
1995
FCI recognition
The Federation Cynologique Internationale formally recognised the Lagotto Romagnolo as a distinct breed.
2015
UK Kennel Club recognition
The breed gained UK Kennel Club recognition in the Gundog group.
Reference
Breed standard summary
- body
- Compact and square, with a broad, muscular back.
- coat
- Dense, curly rings covering the whole body, including the head.
- ears
- Triangular, hanging, set slightly above eye level, covered in curls.
- eyes
- Large, round, ochre to dark brown depending on coat colour.
- gait
- Light and effective with good reach, suited to sustained work.
- head
- Broad skull, roughly as long as it is wide, with a well-defined stop.
- size
- 41-48cm at the withers.
- tail
- Thick at the base, carried in a sabre curve, never curled over the back.
- colour
- Off-white, Solid brown, Orange, Brown roan. Colours outside this list are seen but are not accepted by the kennel clubs.
- temperament
- Typical of the breed: strongest in trainability, energy, sociability. Nervousness or aggression are serious faults in the show ring and in the home.
- general appearance
- A medium-sized, robust dog with a dense curly coat and a rustic, square outline.
Health
What to screen for
Green means little to worry about, amber means ask the breeder for test results, red means manage it actively.
Lagotto storage disease (juvenile epilepsy)
Watch closely
A DNA test exists; ask breeders for clear or carrier results on both parents.
Hip dysplasia
Screen for it
Request hip scores under an official scheme before buying a puppy.
Patellar luxation
Screen for it
Ask whether breeding stock has had a vet knee check.
Progressive retinal atrophy
Low concern
A DNA test is available and used routinely by responsible breeders.
General information only — always speak to your vet about your own dog.
From real owners
Dogs like this
Lagotto Romagnolos added by PawPoint members through their pet passports. Share yours to appear here.
Loading the wall…
Made for the Lagotto Romagnolo
The book, plus prints, hoodies and mugs using our own Lagotto Romagnolo illustration — and one everyday accessory that suits any dog.
The book
Pawpoint: The Complete Dog Breed Book
Every officially recognised breed plus the unofficial ones nobody else documents. 400+ pages, hardback, printed and shipped from the UK.
Own stock — shipped by us
Framed poster
Lagotto Romagnolo Framed Poster
Museum-weight print of our Lagotto Romagnolo illustration, framed or unframed.
Printed to order
Hoodie
Lagotto Romagnolo Hoodie
Heavyweight hoodie carrying the Lagotto Romagnolo illustration on the chest.
Printed to order
Mug
Lagotto Romagnolo Mug
Ceramic mug with the Lagotto Romagnolo illustration wrapped around it.
Printed to order
Accessory
Waste Bag Dispenser
Clips to the lead, holds one standard roll.
Fits any dog
Pawpoint on YouTube
Watch the full Lagotto Romagnolo video
Breed deep-dives, history and honest ownership talk. New film every week.
Watch now