Lagotto Romagnolo
The only breed in the world bred specifically to find truffles, and it still does it in Italy. Curly and waterproof, from work in marshes long since drained.
Photo by Svenska Mässan, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Lagotto is the only breed in the world bred specifically to find truffles. It was a marsh water dog in Romagna until the wetlands were drained in the nineteenth century, at which point it was redirected to truffle hunting, and the switch worked because the nose was already there.
It is also one of the longest lived medium breeds at fifteen to seventeen years.
Temperament
Affectionate, keen and highly trainable. Lagotti are good with children, sociable with other dogs, and they bond very closely to their families.
They are diggers, which follows from truffle work, and a garden will show it. They are also sensitive and they need mental work as much as physical. They can be reserved with strangers and they are alert without being aggressive.
Care and grooming
The curly woolly coat mats and needs combing right to the skin every week or two plus clipping every couple of months. It does not shed, which is why it is suggested to allergy sufferers, and no dog is truly hypoallergenic.
Juvenile epilepsy and storage disease both have DNA tests, and hip dysplasia occurs. Ask for both test results.
Living and exercise
An hour to ninety minutes a day plus scent work, which is the thing this breed is happiest doing.
Giving a Lagotto a nose job, even a made up one with hidden treats, does more for it than distance. They suit active families and they need company.
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