Lagotto Romagnolo: temperament, price, health, and breeders

The Chien d'eau romagnol, also known as the Lagotto Romagnolo, is an ancient Italian breed originating from the wetlands of Comacchio and Ravenna, in Romagna. Originally used as a water game retriever, it was then converted into a truffle dog as the marshes were drained and transformed into agricultural land. Its provisional recognition by the FCI dates from 1995, then its definitive recognition from 2005.

The Romagnol Water Dog is a medium-sized dog, compact, strong and well proportioned, without heaviness. Its coat is dense, curly, woolly and rather rustic to the touch, with well-marked eyebrows, a moustache and a beard. Its head is broad, its ears are drooping and triangular, its eyes are round with shades ranging from ochre to brown, and its coat can be off-white, brown, orange, or white with brown or orange markings.

The Romagnol Water Dog is an attentive, well-balanced companion and very attached to its owner. It is affectionate, obedient and naturally focused in activities that call on its sense of smell. It has lost a large part of its hunting instincts in favor of a calmer family and working dog temperament.

On a daily basis, the Romagnol Water Dog enjoys long walks, search games and activities that stimulate its sense of smell. It can live in the countryside as well as in the city, including in an apartment, provided it gets regular exercise and real mental stimulation. It is a vigilant dog, capable of raising the alarm, without being made for a life that is too sedentary.

The Chien d'eau romagnol is generally easy to train thanks to its docile temperament and its desire to please. Consistent training, gentle and firm at the same time, with careful socialization and work using positive reinforcement, makes it possible to obtain a pleasant, stable and attentive dog. Scent and search exercises often constitute an excellent learning lever for this breed.

The purchase price of the Chien d'eau romagnol varies depending on the quality of the breeding, the origins, the screenings carried out, the reputation of the line and the puppy’s intended purpose. It is better to favor a breeding program that is transparent about health and socialization rather than an offer that is simply cheaper.

The Romagnol Water Dog is a hardy dog that generally enjoys good robustness when its breeding is serious and its lifestyle is adapted. Like many selected breeds, it nevertheless requires vigilance regarding certain hereditary conditions and regarding the maintenance of the coat and ears.

The Romagnol Water Dog needs a complete, digestible and well-balanced diet, with an appropriate content of quality animal proteins. Its activity level, its age, any sterilization and its tendency to gain weight must guide the choice of the ration.

The Italian name Lagotto Romagnolo recalls both its origins in Romagna and its past as a water dog. Today, it is mainly known as a truffle dog, a discipline in which its very fine sense of smell is particularly appreciated. Its rustic appearance and its curly coat give it a silhouette immediately recognizable among Italian working dogs.