| Origin | Italy | ||||||||||||||||
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| Dog (domestic dog) | |||||||||||||||||
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 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]
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]
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]
