Lagotto Breed. The good, the bad & the ugly!

[Doglover81]

Hello All,

 

First timer here so please be gentle.

We have done a huge amount of research into the Lagotto breed and certain this is the breed for us.

As the time nears closer I think my 'nerves' are kicking in. I am trying to be as prepared as possible and absorbing knowledge as much as I can.....maybe too much!

 

The one thing I guess I am a little 'concerned about' is health and behaviour. Without sounding rude and that is not my intention, there seems to be alot of negativity about this breeds temperament. And I guess I am struggling to separate fact from fiction.

Although I have previously owned dogs and understand the important aspect of socialising and training etc, surely the majority of Lagotto dogs are not all in therapy for behaviour and anxiety issues? 

 

Also how does an ordinary (i mean without breeder database access etc) prospective purchaser search their genetic lines which seems to be consistant advice. And if you know the 'family tree' then how is one supposed to determine if previous litters have had potential issues?

 

Please understand absolutely no rudeness intended in my post and question, just trying to educate myself as much as possible.

 

If anyone could care to contribute to the good and bad it would be appreciated. If sensitive I am happy for messages and again, I am purely trying to gain further insight and education, not cause a heated debate.

 

Thanking you kindly.

[sandgrubber]

Any breed that is struggling back from near extinction faces dilemmas.  Breeders who want to preserve genetic diversity (or more cynically, want to capitalize on high puppy prices) tend to overlook faults, including temperament faults.  

I rented to a Logatto breeder a decade and more ago (she has since passed away).  She bred four litters from a bitch who was pathologically fearful.  Many of the resulting pups were, IMO, not suitable for pets.  She looked good on paper...she got many of her dogs titled.  But if there's almost no competition, you're a good handler, and you go to a lot of shows, a title is more a badge for attendance than a proof of quality. 

I think this breeder was the exception, not the rule.  But such things can happen, especially in rare breed.  And when they happen they give the breed a bad reputation.

I'd recommend reading up on temperament testing, and steer clear of any pup whose infant behaviour is off kilter...shy, nervous, passive, aggressive, etc..  likewise if the dam's temperament is off, don't ignore.

As for bloodlines, titles don't prove anything, and a pup whose pedigree looks good at 3 or 5 generations may be highly inbred if you could see 10 or 15 generations.  There are now genetic tests that pick up inbreeding, bit they're far from standard.  In the future that may be the way to go.

[Doglover81]

4 hours ago, sandgrubber said:

Any breed that is struggling back from near extinction faces dilemmas.  Breeders who want to preserve genetic diversity (or more cynically, want to capitalize on high puppy prices) tend to overlook faults, including temperament faults.  

I rented to a Logatto breeder a decade and more ago (she has since passed away).  She bred four litters from a bitch who was pathologically fearful.  Many of the resulting pups were, IMO, not suitable for pets.  She looked good on paper...she got many of her dogs titled.  But if there's almost no competition, you're a good handler, and you go to a lot of shows, a title is more a badge for attendance than a proof of quality. 

I think this breeder was the exception, not the rule.  But such things can happen, especially in rare breed.  And when they happen they give the breed a bad reputation.

I'd recommend reading up on temperament testing, and steer clear of any pup whose infant behaviour is off kilter...shy, nervous, passive, aggressive, etc..  likewise if the dam's temperament is off, don't ignore.

As for bloodlines, titles don't prove anything, and a pup whose pedigree looks good at 3 or 5 generations may be highly inbred if you could see 10 or 15 generations.  There are now genetic tests that pick up inbreeding, bit they're far from standard.  In the future that may be the way to go.

Thank you kindly for all of that information. Appreciate your reply and gave me some good, sound pointers to take on board.

I completely agree in regards to the titles, if minimum competition your chances at winning are pretty good so not much to go by! Plus just because a dog is a 'superb example of the physical standard' doesn't necessarily mean it has a fantastic personality!

[corvus]

I have met some fun, sweet Lagotti and some Lagotti that are anxious/fearful and will bite readily. I understand grooming can be particularly challenging with this breed's temperament. Some groomers have asserted to me that they've never met a Lagotto that wasn't aggressive during grooming, even if it was sweet and easy going any other time. The nice ones I've met have been really fun dogs that are great to train and pleasantly sociable. I wouldn't get one myself just because I'm ultra risk averse these days when it comes to temperament and I think too many for my comfort are being reported as problematic, but I've been tempted. 

[westiemum]

Very helpful post from Corvus above as usual.  I have only one experience of the breed - a visit from a 6 month old puppy.  He was beautiful!  But very puppy boisterous and his very dog savy owners were finding him a bit of a handful.  I'll be very interested to see him again as he gets older (he now lives in Darwin).

Edited April 29, 2021 by westiemum

[Rascalmyshadow]

I don’t have a lot of experience with the breed but the few I have groomed required careful handling as they were all very nervous and reactive and wouldn’t hesitate in biting if they didn’t like something and also had to be managed very carefully by their owners around unfamiliar dogs and people.

Personally they are a breed I wouldn’t consider owning due to the temperament issues.

Edited April 28, 2021 by Rascalmyshadow

[Pjrt]

I’ve probably groomed a dozen or more Lagotto and I can’t say I’ve ever met one that I found endearing or the sort of dog I’d think ‘gee I’d love one like this’. Bitey, fighty, flighty, a little too quick to their own defence, intolerant, emotional response quite disproportionate etc etc. 

 

Ill add that I’ve also groomed many many medium size poodle mix ‘mini Labradoodle’ type dogs who are often visually indistinguishable from a clipped Lagotto at a good hard glance, on size, colour & coat type, and I can’t say I’ve ever handled one of them that wasn’t a completely delightful happy go lucky ‘silly happy’ sort of a dog. I call them ‘faux Lagotto’ 

 

If I had to choose between, personally I’d choose to take my chance on the poodle mixes over a Lagotto 

[mackiemad]

I've heard bad things about their nerve, but every lagotto I've met has been a pretty happy go lucky dog. Most of them have been bred by a breeder in Bendigo (heaven sent I think?) but I've met a couple of dogs from other breeders that seemed like really normal family dogs but owned by experienced people.

 

So I think a lot of it is genetic but a lot of it is socialising the pup properly and not just dumping them in a park and thinking that's socialisation.

[Doglover81]

On 26/04/2021 at 1:03 PM, corvus said:

I have met some fun, sweet Lagotti and some Lagotti that are anxious/fearful and will bite readily. I understand grooming can be particularly challenging with this breed's temperament. Some groomers have asserted to me that they've never met a Lagotto that wasn't aggressive during grooming, even if it was sweet and easy going any other time. The nice ones I've met have been really fun dogs that are great to train and pleasantly sociable. I wouldn't get one myself just because I'm ultra risk averse these days when it comes to temperament and I think too many for my comfort are being reported as problematic, but I've been tempted. 

Thank you kindly, grooming seems to be a bit of a common theme, so will note this!

[Doglover81]

8 hours ago, mackiemad said:

I've heard bad things about their nerve, but every lagotto I've met has been a pretty happy go lucky dog. Most of them have been bred by a breeder in Bendigo (heaven sent I think?) but I've met a couple of dogs from other breeders that seemed like really normal family dogs but owned by experienced people.

 

So I think a lot of it is genetic but a lot of it is socialising the pup properly and not just dumping them in a park and thinking that's socialisation.

Thank you kindly. That is helpful. I do think genetics play some part buy definitely socialisation will also play a big part and definitely needs more than just a few park visits!