Lagotto Romagnolo
Lagotto Romagnolo: does it suit you?
11 quick questions, the same ones this page answers. After each answer you see what the breed needs, and at the end whether it fits your life.
Lagotto Romagnolo: a good fit for you
Lagotto Romagnolo: could work, with compromises
Lagotto Romagnolo: probably not the right dog for you
Your answers match what the breed needs.
Most of your answers fit. Check the points below before you decide.
Some of your answers don't fit what the breed needs. The points below show where.
What to think about
What fits
A better match for your answers:
None of the 42 breeds on this site fits your answers better.
Originally a retrieving water dog from the lowlands of Comacchio and the marshes of Ravenna, the Lagotto Romagnolo is an ancient breed that later became a truffle dog.[1] Selective breeding has toned down its former hunting instinct, so the scent of game does not distract it from searching for truffles.[1] The standard describes it as tractable, undemanding, keen and affectionate, very attached to its owner and easy to train.[1]
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 11–16 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–16 years
Lagotto Romagnolo: origin and history
The name says a good deal: ‘Lagotto’ is an Italian dialect word for a curly-coated duck retriever, and Romagna is the district of northern Italy, once a landscape of wide marshes, where the breed was developed.[2] According to the American Kennel Club, it goes back at least to Renaissance Italy, where it retrieved waterfowl in the Ravenna marshes.[3]
Over the centuries the great marshes were drained and turned into farmland, and the Lagotto changed from a water dog into a truffle dog in the plains and hills of Romagna.[1] The Italian Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1991, so it is a relative newcomer to the UK, where it has shown its retrieving skills in gundog working tests.[2] The FCI classifies it in Group 8 (Retrievers – Flushing Dogs – Water Dogs), Section 3 (Water Dogs), with an optional working trial.[1]
Fact sheet
Character and needs
Rated on a scale from very low to very high.
- Exercise needshigh
- Trainabilityhigh
- Grooming needshigh
- Sheddingvery low
- Barkingmoderate
- Good with kidshigh
- Good with other dogshigh
- Good with catsmoderate
- Apartment-friendlymoderate
- Copes with being alonelow
- Watchdog instinctlow
- Good for first-time ownershigh
- Affectionhigh
Lagotto Romagnolo: questions and answers
Is it a good dog for first-time owners?
Yes. It rates 4 out of 5 for first-time owners. These dogs learn quickly and like working with you (4 out of 5 for trainability).
How long can it be left alone?
2 to 3 hours, once the dog is an adult and has learned to be alone step by step. These dogs are very attached to their people and often struggle on their own (2 out of 5 for coping alone). More than 6 hours at a stretch isn't fair on any dog; plan for a dog sitter or daycare. Puppies need company: start with a few minutes and build up.
How much exercise does it need?
About 2 hours a day, spread over several walks. Plan for off-lead running or games, not just walks on the lead.
How long does it live?
12–16 years is the typical life expectancy. That is longer than the average of the 42 breeds on this site (12.6 years). Breed-typical health risks: hip dysplasia, epilepsy, eye disease.
How big does it get?
41–48 cm at the withers and 11–16 kg. Size class: medium.
Is it a good family dog?
Yes. It rates 4 out of 5 with children. With other dogs it rates 4 out of 5, with cats 3 out of 5. Never leave young children alone with any dog.
Does it shed a lot?
Very little: 1 out of 5 for shedding. The low-shedding coat is often better tolerated by people with allergies, but no dog is allergen-free. The coat keeps growing: brush it several times a week and have it trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks.
Male or female?
43–48 cm at the withers for males and 41–46 cm for females, according to the breed standard. Weight: 13–16 kg for males and 11–14 kg for females. Character differences between the sexes are smaller than between individual dogs; upbringing matters more. Unspayed females come into heat about twice a year, and unneutered males can be restless around them.
Lagotto Romagnolo or Poodle?
Biggest difference: trainability (high vs. very high).
| Lagotto Romagnolo | Poodle | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Medium | Toy–small–medium–large |
| Weight | 11–16 kg | 2–30 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–16 years | 12–15 years |
| Coat | Curly | Curly |
| Trainability | High | Very high |
| Grooming needs | High | Very high |
| Good with cats | Moderate | High |
| Apartment-friendly | Moderate | High |
Who it suits
A good fit if you…
- love being outdoors and have 2 hours or more a day for exercise
- are getting your first dog
- have children
- want a dog that sheds very little
Lagotto Romagnolo: the downsides
Every breed has a flip side. Before you decide, check that you can live with these:
- Needs about 2 hours of exercise a day
- Every day, in any weather, for 12–16 years. Without enough exercise and things to do, the dog gets restless and may start chewing or barking.
- Struggles when left alone
- 2 to 3 hours at most. If you work away from home, plan for a dog sitter or daycare from the start.
- High-maintenance coat
- 4 out of 5 for grooming. The coat keeps growing: brush it several times a week and have it trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks.
- Breed-typical health risks
- Hip dysplasia, epilepsy, eye disease. Choose a breeder who screens the parents, and consider health insurance.
Lagotto Romagnolo: puppy price and monthly costs
£1,560 for a puppy from a breeder in the UK (Wamiz UK, 2025). From £83 a month in running costs in the UK (PDSA, 2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, other costs.
| Country | Puppy from a breeder | Running costs per month |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £1,560 [4] | from £83 [5] |
| United States | $1,500 – $2,500 [6] | $116 [7] |
| Canada | no data | CA$367 [8] |
| Australia | no data | A$210 [9] |
| New Zealand | no data | NZ$100 [10] |
- Set-up costs at the start: £415 – £560 for basic equipment, first vaccinations, wormers and neutering (PDSA, 2024).
- Dog licence in Northern Ireland: £12.50 a year; England, Scotland and Wales have none (nidirect, 2026).
- Dog licence in the US: $5 – $20 a year, set by the city or county (American Kennel Club, 2021).
- Dog licence in Canada: CA$25–60 a year in Toronto, less for a neutered dog (City of Toronto, 2026).
- Dog registration with the council in Australia: A$20–200 a year, depending on the council and whether the dog is desexed (Mozo, 2026).
- Dog registration with the council in New Zealand: NZ$78–182 a year in Auckland, depending on the dog (PetMall NZ, citing Auckland Council, 2026).
- Groomer: £39 – £85 per visit, every 6 to 8 weeks (Asda Money).
- Puppies far below these prices often come without health checks or papers.
Health
Breed-typical health risks
- Hip dysplasia [17]
- A malformed hip joint. Both parents should be X-ray screened.
- Epilepsy [18]
- Can be inherited and is often well controlled with medication.
- Eye disease [19]
- Inherited conditions such as PRA or cataracts. Good breeders have the eyes tested.
Health tests for the parent dogs
8 health tests appear in the breeding rules for the breed.
- No health test is required for breeding in the UK (The Royal Kennel Club); the table shows what is recommended.
- Needed for a CHIC number in the US (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) / Canine Health Information Center): hip X-ray (HD), kneecap check, eye exam, and DNA tests (BFJE, LSD).
- Required of club members who breed in Canada (Lagotto Romagnolo Club of Canada): hip X-ray (HD), kneecap check, eye exam, and DNA tests (BFJE, LSD).
- No health test is required for breeding in Australia (Lagotto Romagnolo Club of Victoria Inc.); the table shows what is recommended.
- Required of club members who breed in New Zealand (New Zealand Lagotto Romagnolo Club): hip X-ray (HD), elbow X-ray (ED), eye exam, and DNA tests (BFJE, HUU, LSD).
| Test | United Kingdom [20] | United States [17] | Canada [21] | Australia [22] | New Zealand [23] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip X-ray (HD)Hip dysplasia | Recommended | Required | Required | not in the rules | Required |
| Elbow X-ray (ED)Elbow dysplasia | Recommended | not in the rules | not in the rules | not in the rules | Required |
| Kneecap checkPatella luxation | not in the rules | Required | Required | not in the rules | not in the rules |
| Eye examInherited eye disease, by a certified vet ophthalmologist | Recommended | Required | Required | not in the rules | Required |
| DNA test: BFJEBenign familial juvenile epilepsy | Recommended | Required | Required | not in the rules | Required |
| DNA test: HUUHyperuricosuria (urate stones) | not in the rules | not in the rules | not in the rules | not in the rules | Required |
| DNA test: LSDLagotto storage disease | Recommended | Required | Required | not in the rules | Required |
| DNA test: NADNeuroaxonal dystrophy | not in the rules | not in the rules | Recommended | not in the rules | not in the rules |
● Required. ○ Recommended: advised, not required. – Not in the rules. The clubs and their rules are in the source list.
United Kingdom: the Royal Kennel Club’s Health Standard requires no test, so every test is ○ recommended.
United States: ● means the test is needed for a CHIC number from the OFA; taking part in CHIC is voluntary.
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand: ● means the breed club’s code of ethics requires the test of member breeders; the kennel club registers litters without it.
What to ask the breeder
- Certificates for both parents: hip X-ray (HD), elbow X-ray (ED), kneecap check, and eye exam. A claim that the parents are “health tested” is not enough.
- DNA results of both parents for BFJE, HUU, and LSD, or proof that both are clear by descent.
- To see the puppies with their mother, at the breeder’s home.
- The pedigree papers (United Kingdom: Royal Kennel Club registration certificate; Canada: CKC certificate of registration; Australia: Dogs Australia pedigree, issued by the state body; New Zealand: Dogs NZ certificate of registration). [24] [25] [26] [27]
- 8 weeks: the youngest age at which a puppy may leave its mother in the UK, in Canada (Quebec), and in Australia (New South Wales). [28] [29] [30]
- Advice on buying a puppy: The Royal Kennel Club, The Canadian Kennel Club, Dogs Australia, and Dogs New Zealand. [31] [32] [33] [34]
No dog is completely allergen-free. If someone in your home has an allergy, spend time with the breed before you decide.
Similar breeds
Sources
- FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale): Breed standard No. 298: Lagotto Romagnolo (2026)
- The Royal Kennel Club: Lagotto Romagnolo
- American Kennel Club (AKC): Lagotto Romagnolo Dog Breed Information
- Wamiz UK: Lagotto Romagnolo Breed Specific Information: Breed Standard, Temperament, Price (2025)
- PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, UK veterinary charity): The cost of owning a dog (2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, other costs.
- PetMD: Lagotto Romagnolo Dog Breed Health and Care (2023)
- ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): Cutting Pet Care Costs (2021). Covers food, vet visits, preventive medicine, insurance, toys and treats, boarding, dog licence, grooming supplies.
- Pets Plus Us (Canadian pet insurer; figures from OVMA 2024 Cost of Care research): HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGY? (EN-DOG_PPU_Cost-of-Care_Aug2024_v3.pdf) (2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, dog tax, accessories.
- Animal Medicines Australia (survey by Sweeney Research/SNR): Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people (Pet Ownership Study 2025) (2025). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, parasite treatment, vet medicines, supplements, grooming, training, accessories, dog walking, boarding, transport, memberships, alternative healthcare.
- Companion Animals New Zealand (NZ Companion Animal Council): Companion Animals in New Zealand 2016 (section 6.3 Dogs, Fig 50) (2016). Covers food, vet visits, dog tax, boarding, equipment, grooming, healthcare products, insurance, training, other costs.
- nidirect (official government website for Northern Ireland): Dog licensing and microchipping (2026)
- American Kennel Club: Are You Financially Prepared for a Puppy? Explore Costs of Owning a Dog (2021)
- City of Toronto: Pet Licensing Fees (2026)
- Mozo: How much does it cost to own a dog or cat in Australia? 2026 (2026)
- PetMall NZ, citing Auckland Council: Auckland Dog Registration 2026–27: Late Fees Now Apply — Full Fee Table (2026)
- Asda Money (Asda Pet Insurance, administered by Insurance Factory Ltd): Dog Grooming Costs - Average UK Costs
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) / Canine Health Information Center (CHIC): CHIC Program Requirements and testing statistics: Lagotto Romagnolo
- Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 21(3):464-71 (Jokinen TS et al.): Benign familial juvenile epilepsy in Lagotto Romagnolo dogs (2007)
- Veterinary Ophthalmology 25(6):426-433 (Crasta M et al.): A multicenter retrospective evaluation of the prevalence of known and presumed hereditary eye diseases in Lagotto Romagnolo dog breed within a referral population in Italy (2012-2020) (2022)
- The Royal Kennel Club: Royal Kennel Club Health Standard: A complete guide to health testing for responsible breeding (2026)
- Lagotto Romagnolo Club of Canada: Code of Ethics
- Lagotto Romagnolo Club of Victoria Inc. (LRCV): Rules (model rules of the incorporated association)
- New Zealand Lagotto Romagnolo Club: Health
- The Royal Kennel Club: What should the breeder give me?
- The Canadian Kennel Club: By-Laws (incl. Code of Ethics (2025)
- Dogs Australia: Getting a Dog: Importance of Pedigree Papers
- Dogs New Zealand (New Zealand Kennel Club Inc.): Registration Regulations (Section 4, Reg. 24: Litter Registration Limitations (2026)
- UK Government (legislation.gov.uk): The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/486), Schedule 6 (breeding dogs) and Schedule 3 (selling animals as pets) (2018)
- Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ): Guide d'application du Règlement sur le bien-être et la sécurité des animaux domestiques de compagnie et des équidés (reproduces CQLR c. B-3.1, r. 0.1, art. 36) (2023)
- NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), State of New South Wales (fact sheet hosted by Dogs NSW): New laws for dog breeders in NSW (fact sheet on the 2024-25 amendments to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 and Companion Animals Act 1998) (2025)
- The Royal Kennel Club: Questions for the breeder
- The Canadian Kennel Club: Finding an Accountable Breeder
- Dogs Australia: Getting a Dog: Choosing a Breeder
- Dogs New Zealand: How do you go about purchasing a pedigree pure bred dog?
Breeding rules, health sources and breed standards checked October 8, 2026.
Prices as published by the sources; collected October 8, 2026.
Breed traits describe typical tendencies. Every dog is an individual, shaped by genes, upbringing and training.