The Lagotto’s dense, curly coat sheds little, which makes him attractive to people who dislike dust bunnies, but the trade-off is that he requires regular trimming by aprofessional groomeror a well-trained owner.
No fancy clips are needed for the Lagotto. He’s not aPoodle. When he’s groomed, he should have a natural, rustic appearance, with the coat clipped or scissored to the lines of the body. The tail is trimmed into sort of a carrot shape, wider at the base and pointed at the end.
A monthlybathwill help to keep him clean without affecting the coat’s natural ability to repel water. Be sure you don’t blow dry or brush out the Lagotto after a bath, unless you want him to look like a Chia Pet.
Plan to pony up forprofessional grooming, or learn how to trim him yourself. You’ll need to gently comb the coat, especially behind the ears, between the toes and where the legs meet the body. Removing excess hair from the ear canal can help toprevent wax and dirt from building up.
A Lagotto puppy coat is soft and develops its curl gradually. The coat doesn’t achieve its adult appearance and texture until the dog is 2 to 3 years of age.
The rest is basic care.Trim the nailsevery week or two, andbrush his teeth often, with a vet-approved pet toothpaste, for good overall health and fresh breath.
Lagottos are born to work hard and require rigorous, daily exercise. They make excellent hiking and jogging partners. Lagottos also love to swim and often take to the water naturally given the opportunity.
It is also important to remember that as a working breed, Lagottos require a “meaningful” and mentally stimulating task that they can engage in each day to live happily and fulfilled lives. This can be something as simple as a game of fetch or a session of hide and seek.
Lagottos should be fed two daily meals of high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian’s supervision and approval.
Any diet should be appropriate to the dog’s age (puppy, adult, or senior). Some dogs are prone to gettingoverweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level.
Treatscan be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity.
Learn about whichhuman foodsare safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.
Lagottos are a generally healthy breed and do not suffer from any major hereditary health issues. Some breeding lines are known to have problems with hip dysplasia and epilepsy.
Lagottos are alert, intelligent, and lively. They love to learn and please their owners and excel in canine events such asagilityandobedience, as well as other pursuits like dock diving (they naturally love water).
With their excellent nose, they are perfect candidates for scent work, search-and-rescue, and detection of medical conditions. Earlysocializationandtraining arevital and help to ensure that the Lagotto grows into a well-adjusted, well-mannered companion.
