Other names/Nicknames:
- Truffle Dog
Country/Date of origin:
- Italy
- 1300′s
Height:
- 16 to 19 inches
Weight:
- 24 to 35 pounds
Personality:
- Friendly and playful.
- Gets along well with other pets.
- Very intelligent and anxious to please.
History:
The Lagotto Romagnolo’s origins lie in the marshlands of northeast Italy where it was used as a sporting retriever. As these wetlands disappeared, the dogs found a new vocation as a truffle sniffer. Truffles, an underground fungus, are worth more per pound than gold and the dogs who could detect them were obviously worth their weight in gold, too. It is one of the few, if not only, breeds that have an affinity for this lucrative work. The Lagotto, with its remarkable nose and strong desire to do the truffle hunter’s bidding, was guarded closely for centuries. The breed, with its looks reminiscent of the Barbet and Poodle, has changed little over the years. The perky little workers are enjoying their own Italian renaissance today.
Body Type:
- Has a Poodle-like appearance.
- The tail is long and carried erect when the dog is interested in something. It is not altered.
- The hanging ears are not altered.
Coat:
- Short, thick, and woolly with tight curls on the body and looser curls on the head and ears.
- Allowed colors are white or off-white, with or without liver brown patches and ticking; liver brown or liver roan; or, orange.
- Moderate grooming required.
Health and Wellness:
- None that are known.
What you should know:
- Non-shedding.
- A bright and lively dog that has been overlooked by the international fancy.
- These dogs were so closely guarded because of their work as truffle hunters that they are practically unknown.
- A puppy will be difficult to locate and expensive to purchase.
