About
They are the only dogs bred for the specific purpose of truffle hunting in modern times, and their keen sense of smell and natural tendency to dig make them experts at the task. Lagotto Romagnolos can also make loving, active, easygoing household pets with few demands. Their hypoallergenic coats are good for allergy sufferers, though those coats require a good deal of maintenance. So, if you are capable of keeping up with grooming and brushing and you want a dedicated, easily-trained family companion–or someone to help you hunt for delicious truffles–the Lagotto Romagnolo may be a great dog for you.
Breed
Lagotto Romagnolo means “lake dog from Romagna,” which is a good name for this breed, considering these dogs were originally bred to help hunt waterfowl through the wet marshlands of Romagna in Italy. They are also known as Italian Water Dogs and Romagna Water Dogs. Today, with many of the marshlands of the breed’s homeland drained, these dogs have found a new purpose in truffle hunting. Owners can easily train them to use their super noses for scent work, and Lagottos’ thick coats help them stay warm in fall and winter while protecting them from thorns and debris as they run through forests.
Highlights
The Lagotto Romagnolo is currently the only breed bred specifically for truffle hunting, even though they were originally bred as hunting companions. Scientists have studied the genes of Lagotto Romagnolos to better understand juvenile epilepsy and have applied this genetic research to the study of epilepsy in human children. Lagotto Romagnolos have a water resistant coat that not only helps them swim, but keeps them warm when searching for truffles in fall and early winter while protecting them from thorns and debris as they run through forests and fields.
