Romagna water dog

Overall description of the breed

The Romagna Water Dog has its origins in Italy, a very old breed, which was mainly used as a hunting dog for small waterfowl. It was created and developed exclusively in the province of Romagna in Northern Italy, from which it takes its name.

Over time, it was converted into a truffle dog thanks to its excellent sense of smell, as well as a faithful family companion, always present in the lowlands of Comacchio. The Lagotto Romagnolo, as it was originally called, came close to extinction on several occasions, but this was without counting on the determination of a few breeders who saved this Italian natural heritage from a tragic fate.

The breed was provisionally recognized by the International Cynological Federation on March 10, 1995, and then definitively on July 6, 2005. The latest update of the official standard in force was published on September 30, 2019.

This is a medium-sized dog, with a beautiful construction that is both light and robust. Its appearance is pleasing to the eye, without heaviness, with a well-proportioned body overall. His morphology is compact, his legs are straight and strong, the topline is clean, slightly oblique, with a broad, stocky back. This aquatic hunter has a deep and ample chest, its bust is well developed, the belly raised.

The head is round and rather massive, the muzzle is short, the stop is clearly marked and the nose rather broad. The tail is of medium length, discreetly curved, carried high when the dog is in action. His coat is thick, abundant, with beautiful curls, coupled with a dense and visible undercoat. His eyebrows and long-haired moustache are well defined. The coat colours permitted by the breed standard are off-white, bicolour, white/brown or orange, brown in all its shades.

The character of the Romagnolo Water Dog or "Lagotto Romagnolo" is gentle and very affectionate towards his relatives, he quickly gives off an impression of sympathy and natural good humour, an excellent family dog, he is also a stubborn worker. His boundless energy allows him to participate in intense sporting activities or playful games for long hours without feeling the need to stop. The benevolent temperament makes him an endearing and tender companion, especially with children, whom he enjoys very much.

Docile and devoted, he can remain calm and quiet indoors without any problem, and he will easily adapt to the general mood of the house. Despite its apparent friendliness, its protective instinct is characterized by a certain distrust of people it does not know, proving to be extremely dissuasive in the event of danger to those around it. Balanced and pleasant to live with, the Romagnol Water Dog is a wonderful companion, a trustworthy pet as well as a very reliable working assistant.

Adult: The Romanian Water Dog will weigh approximately 13-16 kg (28.5-35 lbs) for males and 11-14 kg (24-31 lbs) for females, withers height will be approximately 43-48 cm (17"-19") for males and 41-46 cm (16"-18") for females.