Lagotto-Romagnolo: features of the breed and conditions for its maintenance

The breed of lagotto-romagnolo, known as the Italian water dog, appeared, as the name implies, in Italy, and references to it have already existed since the XVI century. These dogs were noted in different professions, but to this day they have no equal in the search for truffles. They are also great companions and friends for the whole family. Doggies are distinguished by their peaceful disposition, friendliness and their indefatigable energy.

As the story goes, in ancient times these dogs were the favorites of sailors. They not only performed security functions, but were also excellent communicators, as they transmitted messages from sailing ships to the shore. Already from the 17th century, dogs began to be attracted to hunting, they were very good at catching a shot bird from the water. Experts compare this breed with retrievers due to their excellent scent, passion and ability to quickly bring the necessary items.

Over time, the area where the lagotto-romagnolo inhabited has changed, arable land has appeared there, respectively, hunting has become less developed. This led to the fact that the need for hunting functions of dogs disappeared, but they quickly found another application. The main task was to find truffles. The dog’s flair is beyond praise, due to which they are able to find mushrooms at a decent depth, which is up to 60 centimeters.

There are distinctive features that are inherent in this breed.

• Such dogs are medium in size and reach 46-48 centimeters in height, and weighs from 14 to 16 kilograms. Males are slightly larger than bitches.
• They are very proportionally folded, and the backbone is quite light. Dog breeders note an outward resemblance to such breeds as the Wasserhund, Barbet and Spanish Water.
• Lagotto-romagnolo has a wide muzzle and erect triangular ears.
• They have well developed teeth and very strong jaws. The eyes have a brown tint, the saturation of which is affected by the intensity of the main color.
• Croup has a slight slope. The saber-shaped tail is not twisted, wider at the base and tapers towards the tip.
• The breed standard is medium-long hair, very thick and curly, there is a waterproof undercoat, thanks to which the animal tolerates cold temperatures and humidity well. The dog needs to be cut regularly, otherwise mats will form.
• The color has a predominantly brown hue, from dark to light tones. A mask or spots on the chest may be observed, which is not a difference from the main color scheme.

Dog breeders note the friendly disposition of these dogs. They are very attached to family members, hate loneliness, require attention and affection. In addition, the lagotto-romagnolo are very active, distinguished by their hard work and are highly oriented towards people. They do not show aggression, are not cowardly, emotionally stable and sociable.

As for the behavior at home, one can note the calmness of these doggies. They do not destroy the apartment and do not spoil things, being alone. In this case, the return of the owner, even after a short absence, becomes a real holiday. Dogs are very curious, enjoy exploring the territory while being on a walk, love to play and move. At the same time, they are distrustful of strangers, but quickly make contact.

If the dog lives in a family, it will distinguish the owner from the household, but the behavior will not change significantly. To all family members, lagotto romagnolo is affectionate and affectionate, and he listens well to each of the household. They love children, are able to spend a long time with them, and enjoy playing with kids and adolescents.

Hunting instincts have become a little dull over time. At the same time, dogs remain excellent search engines, and they like to bring various objects to the owner. The character warehouse and physiology do not allow the dogs to become good guards, but the guard of them is not bad.

They react to suspicious moments with a loud bark, which allows to warn the owner of possible troubles. Each of the moments has its pros and cons, so the future owner must accept deliberate decision to purchase such a pet, depending on their needs and the availability of free time.

As for education and training, problems with this usually do not arise. This is facilitated by the mind and ingenuity of the dogs. They are very contact, trying to please the owner, so they quickly and with pleasure carry out commands and remember them well.

Please note that rigidity and pressure are not acceptable when working with this breed. Dogs need to be brought up as gently as possible, over time they begin to perfectly understand and catch not only tasks, but also the mood of the owner.

Dogs of this breed can be safely entered into a house or city apartment, they will feel quite comfortable in these conditions.Lagotto-romagnolo has almost no shedding, and there are no smells either. Puppies do not create problems for the owners, do not spoil things, upbringing does not create difficulties.

They are able to withstand adverse weather conditions and be on the street in a booth, but this will not leave a very pleasant imprint on the psyche. The fact is that they need attention and communication, the animal will begin to get bored and be burdened by loneliness. This does not negate the fact that he needs long walks and active physical activity.

These pets are not in vain called water dogs. Water is their weakness; they can swim not only in summer, but also in spring and autumn. This factor will also need to be taken into account and provide pets with such an opportunity. Necessary and load for the mind, a great option will be the search for objects, active games and activities.

Caring for representatives of this breed is not too complicated. It is enough to cut them in time, wash, comb out and carry out basic hygiene procedures.

The peculiarity of Italian water dogs is that molting is naturally present. However, due to the structure of the hair, the fallen hairs remain on the animal, and not on the floor. If you comb out in time, this moment does not cause any inconvenience, in addition, a weekly repetition of this procedure will help prevent the formation of tangles. You need to wash your pet 1 time in 2-3 months.

The owner must regularly check the condition of the ears and teeth of the pet, and if necessary, cut its claws. You may also need to wash your face after eating. A haircut is a prerequisite, as the wool grows constantly. This makes it easier to care for and eliminates many difficulties.

The health of the dog and its external attractiveness depend on how competently the dog’s diet is thought out. Experts recommend not saving on products, regardless of what type of feeding is selected. The animal can eat both natural products and special feeds for medium breeds. Representatives of this breed are not prone to allergies, but can quickly gain weight, especially if their lifestyle is not too mobile.

Representatives of this breed usually do not have any genetic diseases. On average, with proper care and good conditions. they are able to live about 13-14 years. The health problems of the lagotto-romagnolo are not peculiar, they have a fairly strong immunity.

Among hereditary diseases, special attention should be paid to orthopedic problems. Dogs also suffer from juvenile epilepsy and eye diseases. Breed marriage is not too common, but still has a place to be. It is expressed in a change in color, problems with bite, non-standard type of coat. Dogs need to visit a veterinarian in a timely manner and get the necessary vaccinations. Also, treatment should be carried out against parasites so that the pet remains healthy and active.

For our country, the breed lagotto-romagnolo is not common. There are very few breeders involved in it. Most of these dogs come from the USA and Europe, but even there it is not too widely put on stream. This must be taken into account if it was decided to have a pet.

The purchase of such puppies can take a long time, especially when it comes to selecting a pet, which is planned to be shown at shows. This factor forms pricing policy. On average, the cost of one baby is at the level of 80 thousand rubles.

Next, watch a video about the dogs of the breed Lagotto-Romagnolo.