The Lagotto Romagnolo, meaning “lake dog”, is an Italian breed of hypoallergenic dog. They are known for being both adorable and hardworking. So, how much do these adorable puppies cost?
A Lagotto Romagnolo puppy costs between $1,800 and $5,000. Factors like gender, size, weight, and location of purchase can change the price of a Lagotto Romagnolo puppy. This dog breed is considered rare, originates from Italy, and weighs under 35 pounds.
The Lagotto Romagnolo is loyal, loving, and a great addition to a new family. Continue reading to understand more about the cost and care of a Lagotto Romagnolo puppy.
How Much Does a Lagotto Puppy Cost?
Lagotto Romagnolo puppies are on the more expensive side. Some puppies are only $1,500, while others are as pricey as $5,000. On average, Lagotto Romagnolos cost $3,000. (Source)
They are so expensive because these dogs are more common in Europe than in America, so they are somewhat rare, especially because each Logotto Romagnolos litter only has about 4-6 puppies. The rarer the breed, the more expensive the puppies are. Because of this, you may have to pay import prices to get your Lagotto Romagnolo puppy.
How Big Do Lagottos Get?
Male Lagotto Romagnolos grow to be 17 to 19 inches tall and 28 to 35 pounds, while female Lagottos grow to be about 14 to 16 inches tall and 24 to 31 pounds, so they are small to medium-sized dogs.
Lagottos live for about 14 to 16 years. Because of their purebred status, Lagotto Romagnolos are classified as rare dogs.
What is Their Temperament?
The Lagotto Romagnolo is a sweet, loyal, and friendly dog breed. These dogs do well with other dogs and young children.
Lagottos can make excellent watchdogs as they focus easily when assigned tasks.
These dogs can veer towards shyness if not properly socialized as puppies, but traditionally, the Lagotto is a social breed and should not be left alone for long periods of time.
How Much Training is Needed?
It is important to introduce these puppies to lots of new things at a young age. This breed is highly adaptable as long as they are not overly sheltered at first. (Source)
Historically, Lagotto Romagnolos were bred as active working dogs. This eagerness to please makes them highly trainable. Lagottos thrive off of praise, so reward them for a job well done to keep them engaged. (Source)
Working on crate training and housebreaking at a young age is necessary. As puppies, Lagottos should be left in their crate when left unsupervised, even overnight.
Lagotto is often used as competition dogs due to their intelligence, athleticism, and drive. They are trained for competitions such as nose work, jumping, swimming, obedience, and tracking.
They are excellent problem solvers. These dogs are seen as search and rescue dogs as well as therapy dogs. This is due to their natural ability to search, sniff out issues, and calm people or even other dogs down when experiencing feelings of distress.
What Should They Be Eating?
Feed young Laggotto Romagnolos puppy food until they are about 6 months old. By then, you can begin to slowly transition them to adult food.
Lagottos do not do well on high protein diets. In fact, too much protein at a young age has been linked to accelerated growth, which can be harmful to them later on in life. (Source)
It's best for the Lagotto Romagnolo to be given food at scheduled, consistent times and to have constant access to water so they can drink what they need throughout the day.
Avoid giving your dog human food. Their nutritional needs are vastly different from ours and specifically other breeds. If you are uncertain about which dog food is best for your dog, reach out to your local vet or a licensed Lagotto breeder.
How Much Grooming Maintenance is Needed?
Although it is generally a low-maintenance breed, there is an ideal way for a Lagotto Romagnolo to be groomed. The Lagotto's curly hair can give it an appearance similar to that of a poodle, but it should not be groomed the same way. (Source)
The hair around its muzzle and eyes should be kept longer, as it naturally protects its eyes and face. The hair on the chest, underbelly, inner thighs, and beneath the tail is where matting is most likely to occur, so these areas should be cut short.
The tail should also be groomed shorter in order to preserve hygiene and prevent the dog from getting debris stuck. It should be shaped like a carrot, wider at the base and tapered at the tip.
Do not use a brush on a Lagotto Romagnolo. This strips the undercoat and ruins the dog's hair. Lagotto Romagnolos need their undercoat because it provides warmth, waterproofing, and protection.
Puppies don't have their undercoat yet, so they need to be protected when temperatures drop.
When your Lagotto Romagnolo has fully groomed, the coat on the head, bridge of the nose, and around the eyes should be longer, and the coat on the legs should appear longer.
To make the ears less likely to get caught or torn by branches, the lower ear and around the ear should be trimmed very short but kept longer at the front so they blend in with the head.
Does a Lagotto Need a Lot of Exercise?
The Lagotto Romagnolo was originally bred as a hunter. Over the years, these hunting skills were replaced with a desire to search, so they need plenty of time to exercise, although not in extreme amounts.
These dogs do best with fairly active families. They love to play and will gladly learn any tricks or games you want to teach them.
Lagotto Romagnolos love to get outside and sniff around. They are working dogs and do best when they feel they have something to do. Although they do not need to feel like they have a task to complete, they do prefer to be active as much as possible.
This breed will continue to be playful well into adulthood. Because they were originally bred to hunt waterfowl, these dogs are excellent swimmers and love to play in the water with their families.
Cindy is a prolific writer and online researcher who can't imagine life without dogs. There is scarcely a dog topic she has not researched or written about. Her love for dogs and helping dog parents is evident by the thousands of dogtemperament.com visitors who read her articles monthly. Most of all, each topic Cindy writes on helps forge a stronger bond and understanding between her and her happy Catahoula Leopard Dog Jossie.
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