Lagotto Romagnolo

Breed characteristics

Size: Small-Medium
Exercise: More than 2 hours per day
Size of home: Small house
Grooming: More than once a week
Coat length: Medium
Sheds: No
Lifespan: Over 12 years
Vulnerable native breed: No
Town or country: Country
Size of garden: Large garden

The name of the breed is very informative: Lagotto is an Italian dialect word for “curly coated duck retriever” and Romagne was the district in northern Italy where the breed was developed, a landscape of expansive marshes. However the reclamation and draining of the marshes in the early 20th century brought the departure of the ducks and so there was less demand for this retrieving breed. However, the acute scenting powers of the Lagotto have been utilised in truffle hunting and this is now his primary use in his native land. The breed was recognised by the Italian Kennel Club in 1991 and so he is a relative newcomer to the UK, where he has shown his retrieving skills in gundog working tests.

Read the breed standard

Images for this breed

Whether you’re thinking of buying a puppy, or breeding from your dog, it’s essential that you know what health issues may be found in your breed. To tackle these issues we advise that breeders use DNA tests, screening schemes and inbreeding coefficient calculators to help breed the healthiest dogs possible.

More about health

Priority health schemes and tests

The Kennel Club's Assured Breeders must use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice. All other breeders are strongly advised to also use these.

DNA test - JE - part of The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services* (see below). Find a list of tested dogs

Important health schemes and tests

We strongly recommend that all breeders, both assured breeders (ABs) and non ABs, use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice.

Hip dysplasia screening scheme (BVA/KC)
Elbow dysplasia screening scheme (BVA/KC)
Eye screening scheme (BVA/KC/ISDS)
DNA test - LSD - part of The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services* (see below). Find a list of tested dogs
Check inbreeding calculators

*The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services - simple to use and easy to organise all-in-one DNA tests

The DNA tests listed above marked with an asterisk (*) are included in our DNA Testing Service. This includes:

JE (Juvenile epilepsy)
LSD (Lysosomal storage disease)

Kennel Club Assured breeders and Kennel Club Accredited Instructors receive a 10% discount.

Find out more about our DNA Testing Service.

Find out about a particular dog's results

Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed Register.

You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.

Have any questions about health in your breed?

If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.

Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.

To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email:

Breed watch

Category 1

Currently no points of concern specific to this breed have been identified for special attention by judges, other than those covered routinely by The Kennel Club's breed standard.