Lagotto Romagnolo: Nutrition, character, training and much more about the Lagotto Romagnolo

Introductory

H

ande are man's best friends. With their loving and loyal nature, they accompany their owners for many years and quickly become full-fledged family members. They come in all shapes and coat colors, whether large or small, stocky or slenderly built, with short or floor-length coats. The main protagonist of this book, the Lagotto Romagnolo, can definitely be seen with his sturdy yet athletic build and curly coat, which can be a variety of colors. But his good looks are only a small part of what makes him a particularly appealing animal companion.

So the Lagotto Romagnolo has piqued your interest? These versatile curly haired dogs are definitely worth taking a closer look at. The Lagotto Romagnolo breed has an ancient tradition that can be traced back to the time of the Etruscans in ancient times. Over the centuries, these dogs have been faithful companions of the inhabitants of Italian coastal regions. They have always used their talents in hunting water game, but it is another ability that distinguishes them from all other dog breeds worldwide. Lagotto Romagnolos can detect the gold of the kitchen, the rare and highly appreciated by gourmets truffles. This requires not only an extraordinary sense of smell. Alone with this one would not get far in the search for truffles. Only together with the intelligent nature of the Lagotto you get this unique truffle hunter. But of course, you yourself do not have to be a gourmet to love this breed. Perhaps, after reading this book, you would simply like to become part of this ancient tradition of Lagotto Romagnolos and humans living together and also know such a wonderful companion at your side.

The Lagotto Romagnolo

B

he Lagotto Romagnolo is a small to medium-sized dog breed. Males usually have a size of 43 to 48 cm. Bitches are 41 to 46 cm tall according to the breed standard. The weight should be between 13 and 16 kg for a male, depending on its height, and between 11 and 14 kg for bitches. Lagotto Romagnolos are strongly built and well proportioned. They have a rustic appearance in this beautiful proportion and are characterized in particular by their excellent sense of smell.

Lagotto Romagnolos originate from Italy and carry the FCI breed standard number 298. There they are assigned to FCI group 8 and thus belong to the retrieving, rummaging and water dogs. The ancestors of today's Lagotto Romagnolo were already used as water retrievers in the 16th century in Comacchio and Ravenna. At that time, the landscape was characterized by lagoons and swampy valleys. For this reason, the owners of the early Lagotto Romagnolo were also called Vallaroli, which translates as lagoon hunters. Water game was hunted during this period. The task of the Lagotto Romagnolo was to retrieve the shot water game. This is the origin of the name Lagotto, still used today, which is derived from the dialect word Càn Lagòt from Romagna. This translated means something like water dog or also dog with curly hair for the hunt in the swamp area.

Later, however, people wanted to use the land for agriculture and drained the swamps for this purpose. The swampy valleys became usable farmlands with hills and plains. It was in this landscape that the Lagotto Romagnolo was born, specifically used to track truffles.

The coat structure of the Lagotto Romagnolo can be traced back to its original use as a water retriever. The curly, slightly oily coat makes it easier to work in the water and makes the dog hardy, even in very wintry temperatures. The Lagotto Romagnolo's curls are tightly coiled and ringed, giving it a woolly, somewhat rough coat texture.

The color of the coat can vary greatly. There are plain impure white dogs and white ones with brown or orange patches. However, the coat may also be brown mold colored or solid brown. The browns can come in different shades and there can be white mixed in. The same is true of solid orange fur, which may also have white mixed in. Brown to dark brown masks also occur, as do brand markings in various shades. The Lagotto Romagnolo does not shed hair. This is especially advantageous for allergy sufferers. In addition, he is easier to care for in that the living space is not full of dog hair. The disadvantage is that his coat must be coiffed, so it requires a little more care.

The Italian truffle dog

Formerly a water retriever used for hunting in swampy areas, today the Lagotto Romagnolo is one thing above all: an outstandingly good truffle dog. The breeding was specifically aimed at truffle hunting. The hunting instinct has been diverted away from the scent of game, so that the Lagotto Romagnolo is not distracted by passing game when searching for truffles. This allows him to devote himself fully to his task of tracking down the best truffles.

Truffles are a coveted commodity for upscale cuisine. The fact that they are difficult to track down makes them all the more desirable. Truffles are mushrooms that grow underground. This makes them impossible to find with the naked eye, so humans can find truffles almost impossibly on their own. Only those with an exceptionally well-developed sense of smell can detect the unique scent of these rare mushrooms. This is not possible for humans, but for the Lagotto Romagnolo, which has a very good nose even for a dog. But it is not only his sense of smell that makes him the perfect companion in search of truffles. It takes even more to be able to support a truffle hunter. When searching for truffles, dog and owner walk through areas of land where truffles are suspected or can be found on a regular basis. Lagotto Romagnolos are used primarily in northern Italy. These walks can last several hours and require a high stamina on the part of the dog. In addition, the dog is exposed to all kinds of distractions, such as wild animals or other interesting forest smells. So in addition to stamina, there is also a high level of concentration. The dog must be able to fade out the other stimuli and concentrate completely on the truffle smell. If the dog has smelled a truffle, then it is his task to show the owner where the mushroom is. However, he does not dig up or eat the mushroom himself. Instead, the human follows the dog's hint and digs up the truffle at the indicated spot.

Historical development

Probably the breed of Lagotto Romagnolo is the oldest dog breed among the water dogs known today. This is supported by historical evidence and geographical contexts that point to it. The Lagotto can be traced back to the 16th century in the lagoons of Comacchio and in the marshes of the Romagna plain. At that time, therefore, the breed demonstrably already existed and was already working closely with man. It is somewhat more difficult to trace the history of the breed even further back, as there is much less clear evidence for this. Also, of course, the emergence of a race is a long process that takes place over many generations. Therefore, if you want to research the past of the Lagotto Romagnolo, sooner or later you are not looking at the breed as it is today. The further one looks back, the more one has to speak of ancestors of today's Lagotti, in order to clarify the difference with the breed in its present form. The ancestors of today's Lagotto Romagnolo were Italian water dogs that, among other things, helped hunt coots. In the Etruscan ancient tombs of Spina there are pictures with hunting and fishing scenes, where dogs that look very much like Lagottos are regularly seen. Throughout time, water dogs remained faithful companions of the population, especially along the coast between Ravenna to Friaus and towards the Istrian peninsula. Thus, there is a representation on the frescoes of the wedding suite of the Palazzo Ducale die Gonzaga die Mantova, built in 1456, that shows a dog at the feet of the mistress that looks very much like a Lagotto. From the 16th century on, there are a lot of traditions in books that mention small curly dogs used in hunting water game. Until the end of the 19th century, the Lagotto accompanied the Vallaroli or Lagotti, guarded their property and continued to help in hunting on and in the water. These Vallaroli also searched, among other things, for truffles, so with them begins the tradition of the Lagotto Romagnolo as a truffle dog.

Breed typical behavior

Each dog breed has its own characteristics. In addition, the Lagotto Romagnolo is a very special dog, because he has an incredible olfactory organ. This, of course, can cause some difficulties and overstimulation in everyday life. Do not expose Lagotti to smells that are too intense. They can find perfumed scents in particular to be very unpleasant. The Lagotto Romagnolo makes a good family dog and usually gets along very well with children. Its friendly and bright nature makes it a pleasant companion, even for people who do not have too much experience with dog keeping. It is basically a hunting dog breed, but in most animals the hunting instinct is not so strong. In any case, one should inform oneself in detail about the keeping of dogs and especially about the breed, which one would like to acquire, before deciding on a dog. It is important to know that the Lagotto Romagnolo is a working dog. Therefore, he must be properly exercised, both mentally and physically. This is important for his physical and mental health and ensures a harmonious coexistence.

The Lagotto Romagnolo enjoys learning new things and loves to exercise. So don't be fooled by his small body size and woolly appearance. He is quite capable of excelling in dog sports or dog training.

Since he was originally used as a water retriever, the Lagotto Romagnolo loves water. Playing fetch in the water is especially fun for him. Thanks to his thick coat, you also don't have to worry about him getting cold, even when it's cold outside.

A peculiarity of the Lagotto Romagnolo breed that should be mentioned also concerns coat care. Its curly coat must be brushed regularly. In addition, it must be completely shorn at least once a year, preferably towards the summer. If the coat has matted areas, whether in the top coat or in the undercoat, these areas must be removed. These bother the dog and dirt can accumulate there. At first, this may sound like a lot of work. However, the reason for these demands on coat care is at the same time a huge advantage. The Lagotto Romagnolo does not shed hair. Neither in winter nor in summer he goes through a coat change. That is why sometimes you have to help him a little bit with the coat care. In return, your home and car will remain free of annoying dog hair. Even the clothes do not have to be brushed off every day. Anyone who has ever had a hairy dog will definitely appreciate this advantage.

To sum up, Lagotto Romagnolo is a kind and faithful companion, not only if you want to go truffle hunting. He is frugal, bright and easy to train. This makes him suitable for beginners as well. He is also a very good companion and guard dog.

Hunting behavior of small dogs

As so often in the subject of dog training, also in relation to the hunting behavior one or the other cliché holds. Lagotto Romagnolos are rather small or medium-sized dogs. Many dog owners still think that the training effort increases proportionally to the size of the animal. According to this misconception, the hunting instinct is similar. According to this, a large dog needs a lot of exercise and has a pronounced hunting instinct. This assumption is justified not rarely with the fact that large dogs are closer to their original form, the wolf. This is absolutely not correct. Small dogs have by no means less demands, neither in education nor in their need for exercise and attention. The hunting instinct of smaller hunting dog breeds is similarly pronounced as that of large ones. Small hunting dog breeds were geared for hunting from the beginning and can sometimes exhibit very strong hunting behavior. If you are now wondering what tasks small dogs perform in hunting, just take a look at the breeds that are still used today. The Lagotto Romagnolo is admittedly not the best example, because his specialty is the hunt for truffles. It is quite different, for example, with dachshunds or terriers. These breeds are very dedicated hunters with excellent hunting instincts. They are mainly used for fox and badger hunting. So-called earth dogs have the important task of driving the prey animal out of the burrow. It also happens that the dog acts underground, while the hunter waits above ground for the prey to leave the burrow. For this a high independence of the dog is also necessary, because except view of the hunter he must make own decisions. Accordingly, smaller hunting dogs can also be stubborn, because this character trait is also useful. For this reason, however, they also need a particularly good education. Dog owners, who are not aware of this, often get into trouble with uncontrolled hunting behavior and a generally bad upbringing of their dog. So do yourself and your dog a favor and inform yourself in detail about the requirements of the respective breed. Make sure that you are able to do justice to your dog and that you are able to give him an appropriate amount of physical as well as mental exercise. Only then will you be able to enjoy a harmonious life together with your four-legged friend.

Characteristic properties

Lagotto Romagnolos are the only dog breed in the world that specializes in the search for truffles. This specialization makes them working dogs. As such, there are certain characteristics that distinguish this breed, but also certain demands that it places on its owners. Lagotto Romagnolos are strong and sturdy and have a friendly, alert disposition. Originally they were bred from hunting dogs, but the breed has long been cultivated specifically for truffle hunting, which is why the hunting instinct is hardly present. How strong a hunting instinct is still present can vary from dog to dog. However, the passion for digging is still present in many dogs. This need should also be allowed to be lived out, because many dogs have enormous fun with it.

In addition, Lagotto Romagnolos are characterized by their good memory and quick perception. They can concentrate very well and are reluctant to be distracted by set tasks. An intelligent dog needs to be mentally exercised and challenged to live a happy life. Play with your dog and set him tasks that he will enjoy solving. Lagotto Romagnolos especially enjoy playing memory games. For example, you can play the well-known cone game with your dog, where you show your dog a treat and have him remember which cone it is under. However, it can be assumed that the Lagotto Romagnolo's fine nose can simply sniff out the treat. Therefore, he has great fun with hide-and-seek games, where you hide treats in a defined area and then let the dog search for them. The difficulty level can be increased by placing the treats in accessible and visible places and then hiding them better and better. You can also use objects, such as an old sock, to hide the treats in. Agility can also be a good option to properly challenge your dog physically and mentally. You don't have to join a club to do this. Agility exercises can also be done playfully in your own home or outside on the dog's meadow. You only need a few obstacles, which you can choose according