Dogs which work for man - the truffle hunting Lagotto

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, developed to perform various functions for man, but one of the strangest jobs for any canine is the task set for the Lagotto.

Lagotto were originally used for hunting wildfowl in Romagna in north-east Italy but with the draining of the marshes at the end of the 19th century the Lagotto was out of a job. Instead of hunting wildfowl, the dogs were switched to searching for truffles. The breed came close to extinction by the 1970s when it was estimated that only twelve pure bred Lagotto remained in Romagna. Fortunately a group of fanciers started a conservation program and today Lagotto are found in small numbers in many countries throughout the world.

The Lagotto is reported to be the only breed which specialises in finding truffles which are, weight for weight, one of the most expensive foods on the planet. The white is the finest and tartufi bianchi can cost well over $3000 a kilo. Truffles are a fungi that grows underground and is located by scent. Obviously a good truffle dog is highly prized. While working it displays passion and efficiency, using its excellent sense of smell. The instinct for the chase has been bred out of the breed so that it is not distracted from its truffle searching by chasing game. The Lagotto is medium to small in size, measuring between 41-49 cms and weighing 11-16 kgs and its general appearance is rustic. It has an attentive, intelligent and lively expression. It is affectionate and strongly attached to its owner, making it an excellent companion dog and it is highly trainable. The water-proof coat has a woolly texture, forming very thick, ring-shaped curls with visible undercoat. Curls are distributed all over the body, except on the head, where the curls are more loose, forming abundant eyebrows, whiskers and beard. The continuously growing hair tends to become felted, and it is important to groom regularly for the dog¹s comfort If not groomed the hair tends to become very matted, therefore pet dogs require regular clipping. If the dog is a show dog clipping is limited.

The colours of the Lagotto are solid white colour, white with liver-brown or orange markings, liver-brown roan, liver-brown solid colour (in different shades) orange solid colour. Some dogs have a brown or dark brown mask. This unusual breed is adaptable to country or city living but requires regular exercise and thrives on companionship.

Click here for Burkes Backyard Road Test results on the Lagotto.