character Lagotto Romagnolo

The Character of the Lagotto Puppies: Campbell’s Test

carattere cuccioli cane test campbell

The Character of the Lagotto Puppies.

Understanding the character of the puppy is important to determine their ability to adapt to the situation proposed to it by the adoptive family.

There are many families with children, elderly people, or owners of cats or other animals. Now interested in one of our Lagotto.

The space and time that will be available to the puppy are also elements that help to identify the right puppy for each circumstance.

The character of the puppy is formed indicatively in the first 4 months of life. In relation to the experiences the dog will have, it can also change over the course of his life. A sociable puppy can change his character even as an adult and become aggressive or shy. It depends on circumstances and negative experiences.

What we aim to do is to assess puppy character trends to achieve the best association between puppy and family.

By living our litter daily we try to never leave any puppy behind.

A well looked after litter will have a homogeneous character development. There will be no imbalance with some puppies too dominant and others too submissive.

Approximately between the sixth and eighth week of life, it is possible to get an idea of the character of the Lagotto as an adult. We are talking about a trend that we can verify almost at the end of the training course at the farm.

The Campbell Test

W. E. Campbell is an American psychologist who in 1975 defined a behavioural test for the selection of the puppy. A scholar of animal behaviour, and an observer of the relationship between man and dog, he defined an empirical method for evaluating the puppy’s temperament.

Campbell’s test does not provide scientific truths about the character of puppies and can also be used with adult dogs.

For a puppy we will talk about behavioural trends, which are useful information for the breeder. Even today, for its effectiveness and reliability the test is still in use and considered a valid tool.

The test is based on 5 simple exercises. For each exercise we give 5 possible evaluations of the puppy’s reaction.

Social attraction: We move away from the puppy by a few metres. By standing on our knees we attract the puppy’s attention with a few claps of our hands. We are evaluating the trust in us and in people. The dog’s sociality.

Ability to follow: by being seen by the puppy, we move away with a normal step. We are evaluating the propensity to follow us or vice versa to independence.

Constriction test: We keep the puppy turned on his back and hold him in this position for 30 seconds. We are evaluating the acceptance of physical dominance and the leader of the pack.

Social dominance: We pet the puppy from head to tail for 30 seconds. We are also evaluating the acceptance of hierarchies in relation to other dogs.

Dominance Test for Lifting: We lift the puppy off the ground for thirty seconds. We place our hands intertwined under the puppy’s belly and lift him about 20 centimetres. We are testing how the puppy accepts our dominance.

By putting together the results obtained on the various exercises, the test provides general judgements useful to understand the puppy’s adaptability to different situations.

  • We will have dogs that react aggressively and where the presence of children or elderly people is not recommended. In quiet situations, if politely and patiently educated, they will be excellent guard dogs. A Lagotto will never belong to this category.
  • Dogs tend to be dominant, loyal and competitive. Easily trainable and carried as working dogs.
  • Dogs that adapt to the proposed situations. Suitable for children and elderly people.
  • Submissive puppies in great need of pampering. They need injections of trust and affection and stay close to people. They are suitable for children but can bite if treated badly or in defence.
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The character of the Lagotto Romagnolo, raising a good puppy

Forming the Character of the Lagotto Romagnolo puppy

The character of the Lagotto Romagnolo is influenced in a decisive way by at least two factors.

  1. The character of the parents is a very important element, but not sufficient on its own.
  2. How the puppy is raised. The respect of the growth phases, the socialisation of the puppy, mark forever the character of the Lagotto Romagnolo.

Our added value lies in raising puppies that are serene and free from fears, and therefore beautiful for their owners.

Knowing the breed is fundamental to raise a Lagotto Romagnolo puppy with an exceptional character. The following information is an important but indicative reference point.

Lagotto Romagnolo puppy: Vegetative phase

This is the period that goes from birth to the first 15 days of life of the puppy.

It is called vegetative because the puppy’s senses are not developed. The puppies only know the Touch, which is useful to get to the only interaction they have in this period: the mother’s udders.

Studies have shown that tactile stimulation of puppies even in this phase can bring cerebral benefits. These are short exercises done at the most opportune moments of their day.

Lagotto Romagnolo Puppy: Transition Phase

This is the period from 15 days of life of the puppy to 21 days. Sight and hearing begin to develop. At last we can look our puppy in the eyes and even try to say a few loving, whispered words to each other.

The puppy already accepts being handled and appreciates the human warmth by being quiet.

In this phase you can work a lot on the sense of smell. The sense of smell that the dog will use as an adult to orientate itself in various situations.

Introducing the puppy to new smells, those of the various people living with the puppies, are necessary stimuli. At first, the mother does not like this intrusion and keeps a watchful eye on every movement. The character of the Lagotto Romagnolo will benefit from such interactions with man, woman and children. Later on it will consider being handled a normal event.

We breed our puppies indoors because we believe that at this stage they can become accustomed to the sounds of home. Our Lagotto puppies will always be available to be cuddled. It is at this stage that we introduce them to the smell of truffles.

Lagotto Romagnolo Puppy: Imprinting

This is the period from 21 days of life of the puppy to 50 days. The mother starts the education of her puppies. We are there at her side ready to do our part. It is the most delicate period of the puppy’s character development.

Movements become more relaxed. Siblings are always available to play with. In just a few weeks the puppy goes from the whelping room to living in the garden. Around 35 days the puppies can go out in the garden for the first time.

We must proceed step by step and not leave anyone behind. We are careful about shyness and giving positive reinforcement. In this phase we must spend a lot of time with our puppies.

The puppies will get to know our furry pack leader and the other dogs. Respect for hierarchies begins. Soon all signs of shyness and fear towards other dogs disappear. These are the first signs that our puppy will grow up to have an excellent character.

A beautiful and challenging moment. Our whole family participates. It is fun and useful for the puppies. In this period you can and must make a difference.

The character of each puppy begins to emerge, and if we have worked well the next phase will give us Super Lagotto Romagnolo.

Lagotto Romagnolo Puppy: Socialisation

This is the period that goes from 50 days of life of the puppy to 4 months. In this phase the puppy will have to get to know all the situations that once adult will be everyday life.

So let’s indulge our imagination and go step by step: always.

Get to know other dogs, animals and people outside the family. Frequent socialisation is the watchword for new families.

The puppies’ socialisation process begins at the kennel and necessarily continues with their owners.

In order to cope well with this phase, we have chosen to keep the puppies in the kennel until the 70th day. Leaving our kennel with a good baggage of experiences allows an easy learning process with the new families. A shy or fearful puppy will take much longer in its learning process. And this does not always lead to the desired results.

Tufo primo giorno con nuova famiglia. Cucciolo felice e brillante al primo impatto.

Pubblicato da David Boretti su domenica 11 marzo 2018

Our advice is appreciated and sometimes necessary. It does not bother us as some sometimes think. It gratifies us and allows us to contribute to the refinement of the character of our, now yours, Lagotto Romagnolo.

This phase is characterised by games and education.

Play represents a spontaneous way of learning. Education in the sense of respecting the rules must be clear to the puppy from the first moment it enters its new home.

Experiencing other dogs, games and activities is good. But always in safety, see also Training a puppy.

We add this short video made by one of our customers, although the right term would be friends.

A bright and happy little Lagotto immediately ready to interact and conquer his new humans.

A young couple who visited us and booked their puppy. After a few months of waiting here they are with their little Lagotto just arrived at home. Amazing!

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Socializing for the temperament of the Lagotto Romagnolo puppy

Socializing Your Puppy Is Health

Paying the utmost attention to the socialization of puppies is essential.

During the time that the puppies are in breeding, the foundations are laid for their adult character. Well socialized puppies that as adults will be Lagotto Romagnolo balanced.

Working on the character of the litter is expensive in every sense. It takes passion and seriousness.

We have to be there every day and commit ourselves to increasing the puppy’s wealth of experience. Experiences he will carry with him for the rest of his life.

In the growing phases of the litter, there comes a time when every novelty is taken from the chest by the puppy. It won’t always be like that. That’s why it’s important to be there when your puppy is ready for the new.

Intervening in this period is a great opportunity to improve the temperament of the Lagotto Romagnolo.

The time lost is not always able to recover. For this reason we try to keep the puppies in breeding with their mothers until the 70th day. It would also be more comfortable and less expensive for us to entrust our puppies to the 60th day as the law allows.

Our puppies of Lagotto Romagnolo must have the best.

A socialized puppy does not mean that he is a puppy who has known other dogs or people. A socialized puppy is a dog that is well.

In these terms we must see the socialization and character of the Lagotto Romagnolo. A decisive element in defining a healthy puppy.

Every single puppy will have to be understood. We will be ready to intervene so that everyone can develop their own discretion.

A puppy in full confidence with the ability to distinguish and choose.

A Lagotto Romagnolo puppy capable of finding the right solutions to face new experiences and with the strength to practice them.

How the puppy’s character is formed

The character of the Lagotto Romagnolo as an adult depends on many factors. Genetics plays its part. Knowing the character of the parents is one of our tasks. The character passes from parents to children, and this is the first brick to put in for the character and health of the puppies.

Then comes our time. Following a path of growth that is not only about food. The puppies from the first days of life will have to be handled.

Simple passive exercises that stimulate brain development.

And then they will have to attend men, women and children. Familiarize yourself with the noise of the house.

And then get to know other animals, other dogs. Dogs of different breed and sex, their world must soon expand.

Puppies go through a phase where they are open to everything. They gladly accept the reproaches of adult dogs, of their mother and quickly, without fear, they distinguish between what is to be done and what is not.

Putting the nose in the bowl of the pack leader is something not to be done, even as an adult.

By frequenting other dogs, they learn this at the right time here. No adult dog would bite a puppy, but education is demanded. Now is the time to learn.

It is depressing for puppies to see only the person who brings them food two or three times a day.

It’s depressing to think of puppies raised this way.

Breeding beautiful puppies for character

Our Lagotto Romagnolo puppies grow up at home.  We want them to meet people and children from birth.

Our puppies stay at home even when living together becomes difficult. We extend their stay at home until the puppies are physically and mentally ready to stay out with their mothers.

Once the puppies can live in the garden, new experiences will begin.

They will know the pack leader, the adoptive father of all our puppies. This is very educational for them. All out, all together to get strength, games and fights between brothers and then all on the adult dogs. You are a spectacle!

With the game the puppy gets carried away and enthusiastically faces life.

The mother must always be present. It is she who educates and helps her puppies in moments of fear. Everything happens naturally with the mother.

The presence of the mother gives security to her litter. Going out of your kennel, walking in the garden is easier for the puppy.

The imprinting phase lasts up to about 12 weeks. Our puppies are already in their new families. Now it’s up to them to continue with the puppy’s education. We will always be there to help our puppies and their new family.

A happy and cheerful Puppy of Lagotto Romagnolo, and sure of himself will always know how to face life with the right momentum.

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Lagotto Romagnolo as a pet dog

lagotto cane da compagnia famiglia e bambini

The Lagotto Romagnolo has a mild temperament, a balanced character and is linked to its master. Loyal and loving, he is an ideal pet dog for the family and suitable for children. The picture of the Lagotto and the Child on the cover is of our “Valle dei Medici Heros” in the Yago house with our nephew Ettore and kindly granted by his family.

The Lagotto since he was a puppy loves to play. For training he uses this temperament. He can carry out the most demanding obedience commands without any effort.

At its origin the Lagotto Romagnolo was an excellent dog to bring back. This characteristic of his is still very much alive today, we can spend hours throwing an object at him and having him brought back to us.

Its intelligence, mild temperament and lack of aggressiveness make the Lagotto a very appreciated dog by families.

The Lagotto Romagnolo is not a demanding dog. It knows how to stay in its place until it is decided that its time has come, provided that it arrives anyway.

The Lagotto Romagnolo is defined as a working dog. In reality, it is a dog that knows how to please its owner, which is why we find it in manifestations of agility, obedience. Whatever the job for Lagotto Romagnolo is, it’s a game.

Particularly suitable for children and recently recommended for pet-terapy.

With its small size it is suitable for living at home, it is not a barking dog. Its diffusion in Italy but also abroad, is having an exponential growth, thanks to its increasingly appreciated qualities as a companion dog.

The Lagotto Romagnolo does not change its coat. Its thick and curly hair is not lost at home. Its coat has a constant growth that requires a couple of grooming per year. Also for this characteristic it is a dog increasingly sought after by those who live in flats.

Personally, I happened to see a dreadlocks style pond. Although it attracts the attention of all passers-by, let’s say it’s not exactly the best.

The Lagotto Romagnolo does not like to be scolded at all. He gets touchy, and when it happens that we have to scold him, we must never exaggerate. He understands at first and if we insist, it offends his fine intelligence.

With these qualities, the abrupt and snappy bosses are unable to have any relationship with Lagotto Romagnolo. Often with no dog, but with the Lagotto they are really incompatible.

The Lagotto Romagnolo is endowed with enormous patience and intelligence. Qualities of which it is fully aware and for this reason it knows how to wait for the moment of play or pampering.

It can stare at you tirelessly for hours with languid eyes, and when called for two caresses or to play or for a walk, in a few moments it becomes very active, wags its tail and shows all its happiness.

Ideal for children because they can become inseparable playmates.

Sharp enough to understand from your outfit what is about to happen…get out, and go!!!

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