Resources & Contact
Whether you are preparing for a new puppy, caring for a Lagotto already in your life, or simply curious about the breed — there is something here for you. You’ll find guidance on training, health, grooming, and the history of this remarkable dog. If you have a question we haven’t answered, use the form below — we’re glad to hear from you.
From Our Experience With This Breed
Four Guides Worth Reading Before You Decide
Years of direct experience with this breed, distilled into four guides you’ll actually use.
Guide
Puppy Training
The Lagotto Romagnolo is one of the most trainable breeds in existence — but trainable is not the same as easy. These are dogs built to think independently, to work at a distance from their handler, to make decisions on their own in the field. That intelligence is exactly what makes them such rewarding companions. It is also what makes early training so important.
The first sixteen weeks of a Lagotto puppy’s life are the most consequential. This is when the foundations of confidence, curiosity, and social ease are built — or missed. Every puppy that leaves Northwest Lagotto has been raised under the Puppy Culture protocol from day one, which means that work has already begun before they arrive in your home. What comes next is yours to shape.
Guide
Health & Wellness
The Lagotto Romagnolo is a hardy breed with a long working history, and that heritage shows in their general robustness. But like all breeds, they carry a small number of hereditary conditions worth understanding — and worth testing for. Responsible breeding starts with health data, not optimism.
At Northwest Lagotto, every breeding animal is health tested before being used in our program. We test for Lagotto Storage Disease, Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy, hip and elbow dysplasia, and eye conditions through OFA. We share these results openly and encourage every prospective puppy family to ask about them. Knowing what to look for, what questions to ask a breeder, and how to support your Lagotto’s long-term health gives you a meaningful advantage as an owner.
Guide
Grooming
The Lagotto’s coat is one of its most distinctive features — dense, curly, and woolly in texture, more similar to a poodle’s coat than to most other breeds. It does not shed in the traditional sense, which makes it a practical choice for many households. It does, however, require consistent attention to stay healthy and comfortable.
Left ungroomed, the coat will mat. Groomed correctly, it is low-maintenance and beautiful. The difference is understanding what the coat needs and establishing a rhythm early — ideally while your Lagotto is still a puppy and learning that grooming is simply a normal part of life. This guide covers everything from puppy coat introduction to full clip technique, with honest guidance on what you can do at home and when a professional groomer makes sense.
History
Heritage & Breed History
The Lagotto Romagnolo is one of the oldest retrieving breeds in the world, with roots in the wetlands of Romagna in northeastern Italy. For centuries they worked as water retrievers, built for endurance, scenting ability, and an instinct to work closely with people. As the marshlands of the Po Delta were drained in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, their role shifted — and breeders discovered that the same extraordinary nose that had served them in water could be turned to the ground.
Today the Lagotto is the only breed in the world recognised by the FCI as a specialised truffle dog. That lineage — ancient, purposeful, deeply Italian — is part of what draws people to the breed. Understanding where they come from helps explain everything about who they are.
Northwest Lagotto · Lynden, Washington
We’re Glad
You’re Here.
Every message we receive is read personally. No question is too basic, and there is no obligation attached to reaching out.
If you’re not sure whether to use the form or pick up the phone — either is fine. Mark’s number is below. He’s an LRCA member who has been placing Lagotto Romagnolo puppies with families across the Pacific Northwest for years.
“Every family I’ve placed a puppy with started with a message just like yours. I’m glad you found us.”
Send a Message
Begin the Conversation
Whatever brought you here — curiosity, a specific question, or the beginning of a serious conversation — this is where it starts. Mark reads every message personally.
You’re now in our conversation.
Mark reads every message in the order it arrives — yours included. Whether this is the beginning of a longer conversation or a quick question, you’ll hear back personally. That’s not a policy. It’s just how this works.
— Mark Nelson, Northwest Lagotto