Mar 7 • Breed of the Week
Lagotto Romagnolo
The Lagotto Romagnolo is an Italian dog breed that has written evidence of its existence as far back at 1600. There are hunting dogs that look very much like the Lagotto Romagnolo that goes back as far as the 8th to 2nd century when the Etruscans lived in Italy that look very similar. It is thought that there is relation with the Lagotto Romagnolo and the Barbet (fresh waterdog) Portuguese and Spanish Water Dog.
The Lagotto Romagnolo’s original purpose was to retrieve waterfowl and would do so all day in any weather. They would even dive under ice to retrieve downed waterfowl and all of this from a boat. After the environment where the waterfowl lived had disappeared, due to marshlands being drained and dried up for population expansion, the breed needed a new purpose and so they then switched to specializing in truffle hunting. This transition happened between 1840-1890 and during this time the breed’s desire to predate had been suppressed so they are not genetically inclined to be distracted by critter trails.
This new purpose did not keep the breed from almost becoming extinct. As recent as the 1970s a group of gentlemen that included Professor Francesco Ballotta, Dr. Antonio Morsiani, Lodovico Babini and led by Quintino Toshi decided to save the breed. In 1988 the Club Italiano Lagotto was founded and in 1992 the morphological Standard was made by Dr. Antonio Morsiani.
Due to the efforts of these gentlemen the popularity, preservation and overall numbers of the Lagotto Romagnolo continue to increase.
Some historical written art:
In 1591 a poem was written about the Lagotto Romagnolo by Erasmo di Valvasone called La Caccia (The Hunting) and in there he described the breed as follows:
Curly fur, not afraid of the sun, water and ice, climber of mountains, wading of rivers.
He who know how to overcome thorns bushes and that the waterfowl proudly and happily brings to the handler.
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Lagotto Romagnolo
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