Lagotto Romagnolo breeder

Breeding Lagotto Romagnolo Valle dei Medici: Frequently Asked Questions

lagotti romagnoli allevamenti

Puppy of Lagotto Romagnolo frequently asked questions.

When you decide to welcome a Lagotto Romagnolo puppy into your family, doubts about its management begin.

Whoever chooses a breed dog, in our case a Lagotto Romagnolo knows roughly what to expect from this fantastic breed. The character, the size, the maintenance of the coat and many other aspects are defined even if each puppy has its own peculiarities that make it unique.

From the first visit or telephone contact we are asked many questions, from the most general ones about the breed to the specific ones of the puppy adopted.

Often after the adoption of our puppy we are contacted for information and advice.

Being able to contribute to the growth of your puppy is also of interest to us.

Here is an overview of the most frequently asked questions.

What should we prepare for the arrival of the puppy at home?

It is important not to be caught unprepared or have second thoughts about where our puppy should have his puppy, his bowl, his toys.  These are the items to be procured. It is important to define immediately the spaces that we will put at his disposal and maintain them.

When the puppy arrives home, new certainties will have to be created. The more the new family will be able to give them to him, the less problems of acclimatisation he will have.

If we have to make an accommodation in the garden and our residence is in Tuscany, important information is also in the article OUR BREEDING.

The hygienic bags kit to go out for a walk with our friend.

What will the puppy of Lagotto Romagnolo eat ?

A natural feeding for the Puppy of Lagotto is always preferable. Not everyone is able to prepare it. To understand how to vary the diet, it is good to have the support of a vet. There are not always the conditions for cooking food for the puppy at home and the choice of using dry food is the most popular.

We grow our puppies with quality, puppy specific croquettes, a specific product for Breeding.

The right choice is to continue with this product to avoid diarrhea.

At our breeding farm when the puppy is delivered you can take a 20KG bag of the product used by us. We provide the information to find this product later from our dealer at an agreed price.

The kibble will always be specific for puppies until the first year of the puppy’s life.

The daily quantity of kibble is indicated on the packaging and depends on the age of the puppy. Up to 6 months the ration will be divided into three meals. Then morning and evening. However, we must adapt the quantities to the individual puppy’s metabolism and therefore check his weight periodically.

When will I get my pedigree?

All the Puppies of Lagotto Romagnolo of Allevamento Valle dei Medici have the Pedigree. There are no discounts or possibilities to have puppies without pedigree.

If the pedigree is registered directly to the breeder, it will be showed together with the puppy. It remains to communicate the transfer of ownership to ENCI. Then we will send it to your home in next weeks.

Alternatively, the most practiced, the Pedigree is registered directly to the new owner. In this case, ENCI will send pedigree directly to the new owner.

When do I have to call the Vaccines?

The vaccines program is reported on the Health Booklet that we deliver together with the Cucciolo di Lagotto. Our veterinarian always reports what the next deadlines are. The recommendation is to choose activities for the puppy that do not lower his immune defences near the vaccines. For more information on our vaccination protocol see WHEN TO HOLD A PUPPPY.

Treatments against external parasites, worming and stool testing are listed in the puppy’s health booklet. In particular, treatments against external parasites should be repeated monthly.

When can I do some laps together with the Puppy of Lagotto Romagnolo?

Since the puppy arrives home, it usually takes 5-6 days for him to show himself calm and completely set. This is important to proceed with the vaccine recall. During this period it is good not to stress your puppy with a leash or collar.

Then, proceeding in stages, we can start to get your puppy used to the collar and therefore the leash.

Can I let the Lagotto Romagnolo puppy play with other dogs?

We will have to wait for the first vaccine booster to attend other dogs of which we are not sure to be vaccinated.

We can meet vaccinated dogs but avoid potentially risky areas.

The management of a puppy must be careful.

We cannot let a 7-8-10 Kg puppy run freely with dogs that weigh three or four times more.

Like a child with a mini motorbike that always keeps the gas at maximum. The finish is quite safe.

It will definitely hurt, and the traumas due to this senseless handling can come out even months or years later.

When can the puppy take a swim in the sea or lake?

The love for water is in the history of the Lagotto Romagnolo, the pedigree reads: “aquatic rescue dog”. Taking a Lagotto puppy where there is water will send him into ecstasy. Until the age of 9 months it is always advisable to be careful how the toys develop.

Running on the beach, taking continuous shots to jump into the water are dangerous activities for every puppy.

Making your puppy swim brings enormous benefits to our puppy’s muscles and bone development.

These experiences made with the right care are healthy for your puppy and big puppy. We are always available for further information or details on specific situations.

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Lagotto Romagnolo dysplasia

Dysplasia in the dog

Hip dysplasia (HD) is a pathology borne by the COXO-femoral joint that affects many dog breeds and may have often severe arthrosic evolution. It was the first skeletal and hereditary pathology studied in the dog.

Elbow dysplasia (ED) is one of the most important causes of anterior limb lameness of the Young and elderly dog (taken from the site of the official central reading radiographs Celemasche)

Dysplasia in the Lagotto Romagnolo

The Lagotto Romagnolo passes for being a breed that is not afflicted by dysplasia. The reality is very different!

Its light weight well supports light grades of dysplasia. And this is a very positive fact. The difference between withstanding dysplasia well to be free of dysplasia is so much, even too much!

For those who breed, dysplasia puts important stakes. It represents costs, it discards some easy couplings, it forces to remove some dogs from the reproduction. It means dealing with problems and situations.

In some cases even vets do not help. Where there is money there is always someone ready to take advantage. In all categories. And even dysplasia for someone can only be a business.

For those who buy a puppy Lagotto is often “not knowing” that pushes to buy puppies without controls. Just looking at the price can lead to wrong choices. Even worse to pay puppies as selected because the Lagotto Romagnolo passes for being a breed not afflicted by dysplasia.

Our choice is to have litters exclusively from Lagotto Romagnolo whose degree of dysplasia is ascertained by official radiography on hips and elbows.

Only with this information we can determine the right pairings, think of healthy puppies and pursue the improvement of the breed.

The Lagotto Romagnolo dysplasia in the institutions

Enci does not limit the degree of dysplasia within which the reproducers must stand. The limit is on the recognition of selected reproducers.

Only Lagotto Romagnolo with a degree of hip dysplasia A, B, C are recognized as selected breeders.

The breed clubs, all, each for the related breed, have self-limiting.

The Italian Club Lagotto Romagnolo admits only dogs with hip dysplasia degree A, B, C to the list of male breeding males.

For the dysplasia of the elbows the Club does not set limits.

Many Lagotto Romagnolo farms, attentive to the health of their puppies, verify the degree of dysplasia of the elbow of their mares and stallions. Already from these few lines we understand how:

It is ETHICAL to proceed with the reproduction and breeding of the Lagotto Romagnolo with X-rays of dogs whose degree of dysplasia is ascertained OFFICIALMALLY.

These are the reading stations that establish the degree of dysplasia and report it on the pedigree. They issue official certificates such as those reported in all the cards of our Lagotti Romagnoli. All of them!

There are no puppies free from dysplasia

No one can give guarantees of exemption from dysplasia for puppies.

Since polygenic diplasia is a disease, there is no genetic test for it. In order to claim that the genetic heritage of parents is free from dysplasia, they must not be dysplastic, all siblings, grandparents and uncles.

The genetic patrimony of the Lagotto Romagnolo is not so vast.

Pedigree and X-ray dogs also serve this purpose, to qualify the relationship to go in the right direction.

Dogs with dysplasia degree C can give birth to puppies with dysplasia degree A and vice versa.

It also depends on the kinship. It makes no sense to ignore this pathology for those who breed or even for those who buy a puppy of Lagotto Romagnolo.

Welcoming a puppy of Lagotto Romagnolo son of parents and in case tested grandparents, shifts the odds of having a healthy puppy heavily on our side.

Classification of dysplasia

The F.C.I. Fédération Cynologique Internationale classifies hip dysplasia in 5 degrees, whose medical definition is described in Italian on the FSA Foundation Animal Health Website:

  • Grade A-no sign of dysplasia
  •  Grade B-almost normal hip joint
  • Grade C-Light hip dysplasia
  • Grade D-Medium hip dysplasia
  • Grade E-Severe hip dysplasia

The F.C.I. Fédération Cynologique Internationale classifies elbow dysplasia in 5 degrees.

  • Grade 0 – no alterations found
  • BL grade – (borderline, transition): minimal joint changes
  • Grade 1 – presence of osteophytes with an amplitude < 2 mm, and/or subtroclear sclerosis of the ulna and/or joint incongruence < 2 mm
  • Grade 2 – presence of osteophytes with a width of 2 to 5 mm
  • Grade 3 – presence of osteophytes with an amplitude > 5 mm
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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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Genetic testing in the Lagotto Romagnolo

Genetic tests in the Lagotto Romagnolo breed

The genetic tests allow to verify the inheritance of certain pathologies. The pathologies for which the responsible gene has been identified. The puppies children of tested parents will not suffer from such pathologies. With selection and recently recovery of the breed have been fixed some pathologies in the Lagotto Romagnolo breed too. By examining the DNA of parents it is possible to understand the impact on the litter of the most common pathologies of each breed.

The DNA test is carried out with a blood sample.

The result of the DNA examination can give three possible outcomes for each individual pathology.

  • Free both alleles of the gene responsible for the disease are healthy. Healthy homozygous Gene.
  • Carrier The two alleles of the gene responsible for the disease are different. heterozygous carrier Gene.
  • Affect both alleles of the gene responsible for the disease are recessive. homozygous recessive Gene.

A dog carrier a certain pathology is a healthy dog for that pathology.

In other words, He will have no symptoms or manifestations. If he coupled with a Lagotto Romagnolo carrier too, the problem come out tangible on his offspring.

For those who couple Lagotto Romagnolo not tested the unknown is just that. The two carrier dogs candidates for coupling do not manifest the pathology, they are healthy, unfortunly in their litter the pathology will be present. Some  puppies will result AFFECTED. We can know if a dog is carrier or free only through genetic testing.

Why do we performe genetic tests?

Genetics makes available a tool to proceed with safety in the direction of the health of the puppies.

We have important certainty about the health of our puppies.

The Lagotto Romagnolo has a natural dowry as hunting-truffle, that submit the Lagotto Romagnolo breed to litters with little or even without criterion . They are mainly private or some animated by interest or alleged love of their Lagotto Romagnolo who decide to start to breed litters no criteria.

The Lagotto Romagnolo has a natural dowry as hunting-truffle, that submit the Lagotto Romagnolo breed to litters with little or even without criterion . They are mainly private or some animated by interest or alleged love of their Lagotto Romagnolo who decide to start to breed litters no criteria.

The information that gives genetic tests are not anoptional but a health guarantee for puppies. The breed pathologies and the genetic tests of the Lagotto Romagnolo are not a bogeyman. Just going to the breeding sites to see how many healthy dogs are carrier of one or another pathology. I suppose the same incidence is even in dogs not tested who have litters without this information. The real question is that genetic tests are decisive to decide the coupling of reproducers. At the end we can be sure about the health of the puppies in relationship to each genetic pathology of the breed.

Genetic tests fot the hereditary pathologies of the Lagotto Romagnolo.

  • JE Juvenile epilepsy: it manifests itself during the life of the dog with episodes ranging from agitation to paralysis.
  • LSD Lagotto Storage disease: The disease begins between 4 months and 4 years. The movement is completely uncoordinated. The disease also affects the character. Lagotto develops progressive aggression and statistics said that the carriers are 11% of Lagotto.
  • Furnishing: The pathology is presented with a mutation of the coat. It has no character or health repercussions. A Lagotto Romagnolo affected by Furnishing is not in the Standard of Lagotto Romagnolo and can not participate in show.

The cost of genetic testis and selection influence the price of the puppy. Often those who decide to adopt a puppy of Lagotto Romagnolo do not know these aspects. Especially if you are looking for the first pet dog. Once given the informations present in this article, everyone appreciates to have a puppy of Lagotto Romagnolo son of parents with genetic tests.

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Why one of our Lagotto Romagnolo

lagotto romagnolo allevamento

The Lagotto Romagnolo is an Italian breed with ancient origins. It was born as an aquatic carry dog. Following changes in the territory of origin it has seen its use change.

The Lagotto Romagnolo has become the recognised and undisputed specialist in the search for truffles.

For years, perhaps even decades, the Lagotto Romagnolo has been crossed with dogs of other breeds. Mainly truffle hunters in search of the dog with wide and meticulous search characteristics when needed. The Lagotto Romagnolo has risked extinction.

The work to recover the purity of the Lagotto Romagnolo began in the 70s. There were not many specimens. By analysing the pedigrees with the highest degree of genealogy, we can easily see how dogs are often recurrent.

From these few lines on the origins of the breed, we can understand why pedigree and health must be taken into consideration when we talk about the Lagotto Romagnolo dog.

Lagotto Romagnolo: Health

The Lagotto Romagnolo is a rustic and resistant dog, but in the genesis of the breed there are some pathologies that we take into consideration.

We only breed Lagotto Romagnolo with genetic tests and official X-rays for hips and elbows.

Lagotto Romagnolo: Pedigree

In a breeding farm, pedigree is not a piece of paper to add to the dog. It is a work and selection tool. It is important for the morphology, character, health and working attitude of the dog.

The pedigree is the identity card of your dog, the pedigree is its history and therefore its future.

Having a Lagotto Romagnolo puppy without pedigree is to all intents and purposes like not having a Lagotto Romagnolo. From the pedigree it is possible to obtain information on bloodlines and degrees of kinship.

Lagotto Romagnolo: Character

Character is one of the strong points of this breed. To form the character of a puppy it is decisive how it is raised in its first weeks of life. Happy and socialised puppies is our main goal.

Choosing the Lagotto Romagnolo means having a clear idea of the dog we want.

In our amateur kennel we have few litters per year. We choose the matings to have also in the puppies excellent character potential.

To breed the Lagotto Romagnolo we need to know the breed. The blood lines, the morphology and how to raise Lagotto Romagnolo puppies with a special character.

Continuous Behavioral Availability

Having a puppy from us means having a contact person who can follow the development of the puppy even when it has left the breeding farm.

For the love of each of our puppies we will always be available. At the disposal of new owners with competence and experience.

We have been living with our Lagotto Romagnolo for years and we study every aspect of the breed.

With the Lagotto Romagnolo we go truffle hunting. We have trained many Lagotto Romagnolo truffle breed. Experience that we make available to the owners of our puppies.

Puppies are not all the same. Each one has its own personality. We know each of our puppies since birth and this can help in their education.

In the family we have the expertise of a dog instructor and a veterinarian.

Knowing how our puppy grows is always a pleasure and never a nuisance.

 Lagotto Romagnolo: Choice of puppy

It is his talent as a truffle hunter that endangers the quality of life in the Lagotto Romagnolo. At certain times of the year, the white truffle season, it is precisely his life that is at risk.

These are the reasons that push us to select the owners of our puppies.

They are very happy if our puppies give vent to their hunting skills. But only if they are run by people who love them first.

The Lagotto Romagnolo is a dog that adapts well to the most varied situations and often our support for the choice of puppy is not necessary.

Other times, the space available, the composition of the family or the expectations of the owners lead to choosing the puppy together.

Truffle Italia water Dog

Lagotto Romagnolo is the recognised specialist in truffle hunting. This is its temperament. In our breeding we introduce all our puppies to the scent of truffles.

They like it, and we like to give them it.

Often the owners of our puppies make unexpected discoveries. After the purchase, for the love of their dog and out of curiosity, they decide to start the hobby of truffle hunting. What could be better!

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Our idea of breeding

allevamento lagotto

We started breeding with after having gained experience, knowledge and skills. In this path of growth we have been helped by great people, serious breeders and true dog lovers. We became real friends with them. Immediately in tune because they are animated by the same passion than us. We are informed and we have deepened every single aspect of breeding.

With our ideas and respecting our dogs, we carry on our passion.

We certainly do not breed by necessity, it is a passion that takes us a lot of time, day and night..

The quality of puppies and to pursuit of our idea of Lagotto Romagnolo is our reference as breeder.

Our dogs are family members. As such they need attention and time, just like children.

The number of our dogs must not increase beyond our chances of following them.

Requirements of our litters Lagotto Romagnolo

In order to breed with a certain continuity we need a certain number of females. Our ambitions remain to have few well-bred litters and with all the requirements of health and morphology. With this statement we mean:

  1. We want to create a health picture around puppies that provide the best health guarantees. All the certainties that genetics allows us to have. There are pathologies such as dysplasia that in fact we can never exclude. That’s why we do the X-rays official to our Lagotto reproducers and select the breeders for outside studs.
  2. Work at the maximum on the character of the puppy. We gradually offer our puppies as much experience as possible. With the help of their mothers we want to create the presuppositions to have great dogs, balanced and never fearful.

Parents of our litters are Lagotto Romagnolo who carried out the genetic tests and official X-rays for hips and elbows.

Commitment and time, expenses and risks that without a doubts we support because it is the least for our dogs, their puppies and the families who welcome them. When we finally get the desired results, we feel more than satisfied.

We are alwais available on the issues that you may encounter after adopting a puppy of ours. We like to be informed about how our puppies grow to became great Lagotto Romagnolo.

Dog Shows and information

Our time and our interest is directed almost exclusively to our Lagotto Romagnolo and their puppies.

From time to time we do not subtract ourself from showing our Lagotto Romagnolo to expert judges of the breed. Skills, attitudes and morphology are assessed. The purpose of these exits, stressful for our dogs at least as they are for us, it is not the attainment of goals of beauty or work. We already believe in what we are doing.

Expert judges ‘ assessments are necessary information to improve our work and the breed.

Unfortunately we note daily how little information there is in the canine field. Even us try every day to learn and improve ourselves. As far as possible we try to divulge our notions too. Information on the health, character and education of dogs and Lagotto Romagnolo in particular. This aspect is also part of our idea of breeding.

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