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| 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 probably from the term “lagotto” which is the name of the inhabitants of the local town of Lagosanto. Another theory believes it comes instead 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]
