The Dogs Behind
the Program

Mocha

Every breeding program has a foundation. Ours is Mocha.

IGDM Yelina Salas came to us directly from the kennel of Monica Benelli — Il Granaio Dei Malatesta — one of the most decorated Lagotto kennels in the world. She arrived after a debut on the European show circuit that, in five months of competition, produced one of the most complete records any Lagotto from the Pacific Northwest has ever compiled.

She opened her campaign in October 2018 at the Italian Specialty in Bastia Umbra — the most competitive domestic Lagotto event in the world. On day one she placed 5th from a field of 56 Lagotto, winning CAC and CACIB. She came back the following day and won Best of Sex from 34 of the finest Lagotto in Italy.

Two weeks later she crossed into Slovenia and won Best of Breed on two consecutive days — November 10th and 11th. Then, on November 16th, still early in her debut season, at an all-breed FCI international show in Italy broadcast on national television, she won Best of Breed and then went into the Group ring and placed Third in Group — beating the champions of every working breed at that show on that day.

In January 2019 she competed at the Lugo di Romagna Specialty — the breed's own heartland, the most historically significant show a Lagotto can enter. Under three different judges over three consecutive days, she placed 3rd from 37 Lagotto, then 2nd from 17, then 2nd again. Handled throughout by Artur Bullari, with Monica Benelli and Marco Damiani present, it was a performance that confirmed what the earlier results had already suggested.

She closed her European campaign in February 2019 at two international shows in Arezzo, Italy — winning 1 ECC, CAC, CACIB, and Best of Breed on both days, out of fields of 12 and 19. Then she came home.

Mocha is retired and lives with good friends just down the road from us in Lynden. She is the reason this program exists, and the standard by which everything we do is measured.

Ginger

Calm, patient, and deeply affectionate. Ginger's steady temperament comes through clearly in the litters she produces, and her combination with Mousse has been one of the most consistent pairings in our program. She has recently whelped another litter — three boys and three girls, all thriving.

Kiko

Imported in 2020 from Anna Peterson’s Regun Kennel in Sweden, Gillenias Fransesca — “Kiko” — is Mousse’s mother. She is petite at 26 pounds, with a gorgeous brown coat of extremely tight curls, excellent movement, and a very nice structure.

Kiko has completed her health testing and has been retired from our breeding program. Her contribution to Northwest Lagotto was significant — the genetic diversity her Swedish lineage brought to our foundation dogs strengthened the program in ways that will be felt for generations. Her half-sister is expected to produce a litter before year end, continuing the Regun Kennel line in our program.

She is a great example of the breed — easy going, friendly, adaptive, and intelligent. She readily accepts other dogs and quickly integrates into new routines and social orders. The kind of temperament that produces calm, confident puppies.