Lagotto Romagnolo
拉戈托羅馬閣挪露犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Lagotto Romagnolo is Italy's curly-coated truffle dog, originally a duck retriever from the marshes of Romagna that switched jobs when the wetlands were drained. Under the teddy-bear curls is a rugged, keen-nosed worker: affectionate, very attached to its owner, easy to train and a natural at scent work and water, not hyperactive but needing both mental and physical activity and family company. The woolly, low-shedding coat mats easily and needs regular trimming.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 41–48cm |
| Weight | 11–16kg |
| Life expectancy | 15–17years |
| Breed group | AKC: sporting FCI: 8 |
| Role | Sporting |
| Coat | Curly coat |
| Shedding | 1/ 5 |
| Exercise | 60–150min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 3 hours |
| Companionship need | 5/ 5 |
| Trainability | 4/ 5 |
| Barking | 2/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 5/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 2/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 4/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Elbow dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen elbows by X-ray. Ask your vet if you notice front-leg lameness, especially in a growing dog.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Epilepsy
Idiopathic epilepsy is reported in the breed. Ask your vet promptly if your dog has a seizure.
Behaviour
Keen, affectionate, attached to its owner
The CKC describes the Lagotto as tractable, keen and affectionate, very attached to its owner and easily trained — an excellent companion and a good watchdog that is well behaved in the home but needs a fair amount of outdoor exercise to work off excess energy.
Nose work and water, not a backyard dog
The AKC says the breed is not hyper and does not need huge amounts of exercise, but it must have both mental stimulation and physical activity and will not do well left to live outdoors without family interaction. It loves to learn and please, naturally loves water, and its excellent nose makes it a candidate for scent work, search-and-rescue and medical detection.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 4/5 (high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "more than 2 hours per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 4/5, barking level 2/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Lagotto Romagnolo
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Lagotto Romagnolo (Sporting Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Lagotto Romagnolo
Breed characteristics (size small-medium, exercise more than 2 hours per day, lifespan over 12 years), plus the recommended pre-breeding health schemes and DNA tests.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Romagna Water Dog (standard no. 298, group 8)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's "Is this breed right for you?" page warns that the breed ticks many boxes on paper — medium, hypoallergenic, smart, biddable — but the claim that it is easy to groom or undemanding is not true: "undemanding" was removed from the standard in 2020 because the Italian word meant an easy keeper on food, not a low-maintenance temperament. Expect a groomer every six to eight weeks, a Velcro coat that brings the forest indoors, nails that never wear down, and a 15–17-year commitment; some dogs are good with children and some are not, so choose a breeder who socialises puppies well.”
— Lagotto Romagnolo Club of America — Is This Breed Right For You? via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Lagotto Romagnolo — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Lagotto Romagnolo — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Lagotto Romagnolo — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Romagna Water Dog — FCI standard no. 298 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Is This Breed Right For You? — Lagotto Romagnolo Club of America — Lagotto Romagnolo Club of America (public breed pages) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.