Lagotto Romagnolo
Italy's curly truffle hunter — a nose with a very good dog attached.
Vital stats
| Size | Small-medium · 41–48 cm |
| Weight | 11–16 kg |
| Life expectancy | 15–17 years |
| Energy | High — 60+ min/day, ideally nose work |
| Shedding | Minimal — curls trap hair and can mat |
| Coat | Dense woolly curls · off-white, brown, orange, roan |
| Group | Sporting (AKC) · Water dog (FCI №298) |
Breed traits
Friendliness
Care
Mind
Temperament
Bred first to retrieve waterfowl in the marshes of Romagna, then re-employed as a truffle hunter when the marshes were drained, the Lagotto is a worker through and through: keen, focused and delighted to learn. At home it's an affectionate, undemanding companion — provided its extraordinary nose gets a daily assignment and its paws an approved place to dig.
Habits & quirks
Ground survey
Every walk is conducted nose-down, reading the earth like a newspaper.
The excavation
Digging is the job description — sandpits are gratefully accepted, lawns cheerfully sacrificed.
Water magnetism
Puddle, pond or fountain: the old duck-dog wiring pulls it straight in.
The head tilt
Ask it anything and the curly head tips over, genuinely trying to work out the answer.
Care
| Nose work | Scent games, searches and hidden treats aren't extras — they're this breed's core exercise. |
| Grooming | The curls don't shed but they do mat: comb through weekly and trim the coat down every couple of months. |
| Exercise | An hour a day of walking, retrieving and sniffing keeps mind and body settled. |
| Digging | Provide a legitimate digging zone early, or the garden becomes a truffle field without truffles. |
Common questions
Are Lagotto Romagnolos hypoallergenic?
No dog truly is, but the Lagotto's woolly, non-shedding coat releases little hair and bothers many allergy sufferers less. Spend time with the breed before committing.
Do Lagottos really hunt truffles?
Yes — they're the world's only recognised specialist truffle-hunting breed, still working in Italy's truffle regions today. Pet Lagottos happily channel the same instinct into scent games and searches.
Are Lagottos good family dogs?
Very — they're affectionate, gentle with children and easier-going than most working breeds. The condition is real daily activity for the nose; a bored Lagotto redesigns the garden.