The Lagotto Romagnolo[a] is an Italian breed of dog. It originates in the marshlands of the Delta del Po in the eastern part of the Romagna sub-region of Italy. The name derives probably from the term “lagotto” which is the name of the inhabitants of the local town of Lagosanto. Another theory believes it comes instead from Romagnol can lagòt, meaning "water dog".[2] Its traditional function was as a gun dog, specifically a water retriever; since the drainage of large areas of wetland habitat in its area of origin, it is now more often used to hunt for truffles.[3][1]

OriginItaly
Traits
Height Males
43–48 cm[1]
Females
41–46 cm[1]
Weight Males
13–16 kg[1]
Females
11–14 kg[1]
Kennel club standards
Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana standard
Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

History

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The Lagotto originated in the lowlands of Comacchio and marshlands of Ravenna in the Delta del Po, in the eastern part of the Romagna sub-region of Italy. The name derives from Romagnol can lagòt, meaning "water dog".[2] Its traditional function was as a gun dog, specifically a water retriever; since the drainage of large areas of wetland habitat in its area of origin, it is now more often used to hunt for truffles.[3][1] It has been known since the sixteenth century, but did not become widespread until the nineteenth.[2]

It was provisionally accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1995, and received full acceptance in 2005.[4] In 2018 the Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana recorded 2207 new registrations.[5]

Characteristics

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A female Lagotto

The Lagotto is of small to medium size, rarely over 50 cm at the withers,[2] powerfully built and of rustic appearance. It is roughly square in outline, the body length more or less equal to the height. The coat is thick, wool-like and tightly curled into ringlets. It may be completely off-white, or off-white with orange or brown patches or roaning, or solid orange or brown either with or without white markings.[3][6]

A Lagotto usually lives for about fifteen years.[6] Neurological disorders that have been identified in the breed include cerebellar abiotrophy[7]: 308  and idiopathic epilepsy.[7]: 250 [8]

Notes

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  1. ^ Italian pronunciation: [laˈɡɔtto romaɲˈɲɔːlo]; plural Lagotti

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f FCI-Standard N° 298: Lagotto Romagnolo (Romagna Water Dog). Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Accessed July 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Lagotto (in Italian). Enciclopedie online. Roma: Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana. Accessed July 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Lagotto Romagnolo (in Italian). Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana. Accessed July 2020.
  4. ^ FCI breeds nomenclature: Lagotto Romagnolo. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Accessed July 2020.
  5. ^ Lagotto Romagnolo (in Italian). Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana. Accessed July 2020.
  6. ^ a b Tamsin Pickeral (2014). Dogs Unleashed. San Diego: Thunder Bay Press. ISBN 9781626860681.
  7. ^ a b Ronaldo C. Da Costa, Curtis W. Dewey (2015). Practical Guide to Canine and Feline Neurology, third edition, ebook. Ames, Iowa: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781119062042.
  8. ^ T. S. Jokinen, L. Metsähonkala, L. Bergamasco, R. Viitmaa, P. Syrjä, H. Lohi, M. Snellman, J. Jeserevics, S. Cizinauskas (2007). Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy in Lagotto Romagnolo Dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 21 (3): 464–471. doi:10.1892/0891-6640(2007)21[464:bfjeil2.0.co;2]

Further reading

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