10 Things You Didn’t Know about The Lagotto Romagnolo
The Lagotto Romagnolo is an Italian breed that started out as a gun-dog but has seen use in other roles as well. Its current status is particularly impressive because it is an ancient breed, meaning that it has managed to make it through centuries and centuries to make it into the present. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about the Lagotto Romagnolo:
1. Its Name Is Rather Literal
The name of the Lagotto Romagnolo is as literal as it can be. After all, it translates to something along the lines of “lake dog from Romagna,” thus making it both simple and straightforward in nature.
2. Comes from Romagna
Speaking of which, the Lagotto Romagnolo is named thus because it is believed to have come from Romagna, which is an Italian region situated in the southeast of what is now Emilia-Romagna. In particular, the Lagotto Romagnolo is connected with Ravenna, which has been one of the most prominent cities on the Italian peninsula since Roman times.
3. Is a Gundog
Primarily, the Lagotto Romagnolo is known for being a gun-dog, meaning a dog that specializes in finding game before bringing it back to its master. With that said, the same characteristics that make the Lagotto Romagnolo an excellent gun-dog has made it well-suited for a number of other roles as well, meaning that it is by no means limited to its traditional purpose.
4. Specialized for Water
Given its look, it should come as no surprise to learn that the Lagotto Romagnolo specializes in being a water retriever. Due to this, some of its stand-out characteristics serve to make it better-suited for the water, with an excellent example being its swimming instincts.
5. Sometimes Used to Hunt for Truffles
One example of the Lagotto Romagnolo’s other uses is truffle hunting. Even now, the fungus remains very rare and very valuable, meaning that there is a demand for dogs that can hunt them down. Something that is more complicated than it seems on initial consideration because truffles need a very particular set of conditions before they can flourish.
6. Need to Be Trained to Hunt for Truffles
A lot of the instincts that make the Lagotto Romagnolo a good water retriever are instinctual in nature. In contrast, the skills used in hunting for truffles cannot claim the same status. As a result, a member of the Lagotto Romagnolo breed must be trained in hunting for truffles from a young age if its owner wants it to possess such capabilities.
7. Can Have Digging Instincts
In modern times, the Lagotto Romagnolo is being bred more and more for hunting truffles rather than water retrieving. As a result, some members of the breed possess digging instincts, which can be satisfied by providing them with either a sandbox or someplace similar where they can indulge that particular urge.
8. Friendly
For the most part, the Lagotto Romagnolo is a friendly breed, thus making it an excellent choice of canine companion for a lot of families out there. Said dog can be rather reserved when it comes to strangers, but it lacks the tendencies for more problematic behaviors when meeting with such individuals.
9. Energetic
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Lagotto Romagnolo is a very energetic breed. Due to this, families that want to keep a Lagotto Romagnolo should make sure to provide it with plenty of exercise. Otherwise, a Lagotto Romagnolo could end up exhibiting serious behavioral issues that range from defiance to destruction. Please note that a daily walk isn’t enough for the Lagotto Romagnolo because it also needs more sessions of play as well as other kinds of interaction with its family for the best results.
10. Low-Maintenance Grooming
The Lagotto Romagnolo’s coat doesn’t shed a lot of hair. As a result, it is relatively low-maintenance when it comes to grooming, though that isn’t the same as no maintenance whatsoever. Generally speaking, a Lagotto Romagnolo should be fine so long as it receives occasional bathing, occasional combing, and occasional brushing to keep its coat in a healthy, vibrant state. It is interesting to note that there is some disagreement on how the Lagotto Romagnolo should be groomed, with some believing in regular brushing for neatness and others believing in letting their coat’s natural fluffiness show.
