Lagotto Romagnolo

The breed belongs to the Delta del Po, the lagoons and marshland around Comacchio and Ravenna in Emilia-Romagna. Its name comes from the local dialect for a duck or water dog, and dogs of this type are recorded there from at least the sixteenth century, working alongside the valligiani, the marsh hunters who lived off the wetlands.

Large-scale drainage in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries destroyed that world. As the water retrieving work disappeared, the dogs were redirected to a task that used the same nose: locating the truffles that grow in the hills of Romagna and the Apennine foothills. Selection then favoured scenting ability and biddability, and the modern Lagotto is a specialist because of that shift.

By the 1970s the breed was close to disappearing as a distinct type. A small group of Italian enthusiasts began a recovery programme and founded the Club Italiano Lagotto in 1988; the Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana recognised the breed and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale gave it full recognition in 1995, placing it in Group 8 among the water dogs and retrievers. The American Kennel Club admitted the Lagotto to the Sporting Group in 2015.

The Lagotto is a small to medium dog of rustic, well-balanced build, roughly square in outline. Males stand about 17 to 19 inches at the withers and weigh around 28 to 35 pounds; females are about 16 to 18 inches and 24 to 31 pounds. The impression should be of a sturdy working dog rather than a fluffy pet, with a broad head, a rounded muzzle and large, generous eyes set well apart.

The coat is thick and woolly with a rough texture, forming tight ringlets over the whole body, with equally dense furnishings on the eyebrows, cheeks and muzzle. It grows continuously and does not drop hair in the way a smooth coat does, which is why the breed is often suggested for people sensitive to dog hair. The waterproof undercoat is what once allowed these dogs to work cold lagoons in winter.

Recognised colours are off-white solid, white with brown or orange patches, brown roan, solid brown in various shades and solid orange, with or without white markings. A brown or dark mask is permitted, and many dogs grey or lighten with age. The tail is carried at or below the level of the back and, like everything else, is thickly curled.

Lagotti are affectionate, sociable and closely bonded to their households. They tend to be gentle with children and get on well with other dogs, and they retain a keen, alert quality that makes them quick to bark at something unfamiliar without being aggressive about it.

The defining trait is the nose. This is a dog that thinks through its sense of smell, and a Lagotto with nothing to search for will invent a search, frequently by digging up a lawn or a flower bed. Scent games, hidden-food puzzles and formal nose work are the single most effective way to keep one contented.

Unusually for a gundog, the breed's hunting drive for game has largely been bred out in favour of truffle work, so many Lagotti are calmer around wildlife than a retriever or spaniel would be. They still love water, and most will get into any pond available.

They are sensitive dogs that dislike being ignored or shouted at, and some lines are naturally cautious with strangers, so early and continued socialisation matters. Left alone all day without company or occupation, a Lagotto is prone to barking and destructiveness.

Truffle hunting remains the breed's professional occupation, and Italian truffle hunters, the tartufai, still train and use Lagotti to find white and black truffles by scent, working slowly and marking the spot for the handler to dig. The dog's willingness to work close and give up the find without eating it is exactly what centuries of selection produced.

Beyond that speciality, the Lagotto's nose and biddability translate directly into modern scent sports and detection work, and the breed also does well at agility, obedience, rally and dock diving. Its size and low-shedding coat make it a practical town dog for owners who commit to the grooming, and its steady, affectionate nature has led some individuals into therapy and assistance roles.