Living with a Lagotto Romagnolo, The Fluffy Hypoallergenic Dog Breed!

Warning: The following article contains EXTREME cuteness & puppies

The Lagotto Romagnolo is an Italian breed of dog, traditionally used as a water dog.

But what are they actually like to live with, are there good tempered ones and bad tempered ones, and are Lagottos good for people with allergies?

Choosing your new Lagotto can be difficult as appearances can vary greatly in the breed, and they are all cute as a button!

Coloration can be anything from chocolate brown to grey to white with patches of butterscotch, and as they get older the patterns in their coats can change drastically, as you can see from the pictures here of my little fella. Lagotto's eyes are almost human looking, rather than the darker eyes of other breeds.

They are suitable also for people with allergies, as the moult very little from their soft fluffy sheep wool like coat making them a hypoallergenic dog breed.

Before picking up your new puppy, please take heed of some advice from me as a Lagotto owner. The little bundles of fluff have some serious energy. They need training almost right off the bat, have a strong digging instinct which will likely wreck your garden before you get it under control, and need several stimulating walks every day. These dogs in my opinion are not suited to apartment dwelling, despite what can be read from other sources. They love to have a garden or yard to call their own.

Another thing to bear in mind is that not all Lagottos are going to turn out to be great family dogs. As with any breed there are better ones, and worse ones. As an example, despite constant training and encouragement, our dog will never be entirely safe with children due to his possessive / aggressive nature. They can be housed with other animals if suitably socialised, but again it depends on the individual dog and his temperament.

Lagottos are also extremely intelligent dogs. They crave attention, and stimulation for their wonderfully attentive brains. Ours was able to solve "doggy puzzles" for treats with such ease it was incredible to see. Sometimes he seems to display an almost human level of intelligence and emotion.

Your new Lagotto will live up to 16 years, and will grow to be a middle sized dog. Ours is on the large side of the scale. They are extremely strong dogs, being hardy and well muscled, and can pull like a freight train, so if you are not physically up to the job, care is needed with training to prevent the pulling. A collar and lead is recommended by me over a harness arrangement for just that reason.

On a final note, these are fantastic dogs on the whole, but care needs to be taken, as with any dog, when selecting a breeder. Make sure to meet both the mother and father dog, and ask the breeder directly about any behavioral problems.

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