General Appearance:

Small to medium-sized dog, well-proportioned, powerfully built, of rustic appearance, with a dense, curly coat of wooly texture. The dog should give the impression that he has the strength and endurance to work all day in challenging terrain.

 

 Size, Substance, Proportions:

Size – Height at the shoulders: Dogs 16½ to 19½ inches; Bitches 15½ to 18½ inches. Disqualification - Dog under 16½ or over 19½ inches; bitches under 15½ or over 18½ inches. Substance - Males 28 to 35 pounds. Females 24 to 31 pounds. Significant Proportions - The Lagotto is a square dog, measured from the prosternum to the point of the ischium and from the highest point of the shoulder to the ground. The length of the head is 40 % of the height at the shoulders. The neck is slightly shorter than the length of the head. The length of the skull should be slightly more than half the length of the head. The legs are slightly more than half the dog's height at the shoulder.

 

 Head:

Viewed from above and from the side, the head is a broad blunted wedge. The length of the skull, from stop to occiput, is the same as the width at the widest point of the zygomatic arch. The somewhat arched skull is slightly longer than half the length of the head (56 percent skull to 44 percent muzzle) with an unpronounced occiput. Planes of the skull and muzzle diverge slightly - extreme divergence, parallel planes, or dish-faced appearance are serious faults. The nasal bone is straight. The stop is moderate, with a distinct furrow between the eyes. Frontal sinuses are well developed, giving good fill beneath the eye. Cheeks are flat. The wide, robust underjaw defines the shape of the muzzle so that the lips form an upside-down semi-circle.

 

The nose is large with wide open, mobile nostrils and a strongly pronounced median groove. It protrudes very slightly from the front edge of the lips. The nose should be fully pigmented in shades from light to dark brown, varying with coat color. Anything else is a serious fault.

 

Lips are rather tight and not thick. The strong lower jaw determines the profile of the muzzle. The flies are tight-fitting and dry. The pigment of the lips varies with coat color from light to dark brown.   Well-developed teeth meet, ideally, in a scissor or level bite. A reverse scissor bite is acceptable. Full dentition is preferred.

 

Disqualification - Overshot or undershot bites (where the incisors do not touch those of the opposing jaw). The eyes are set somewhat frontal-obliquely and reasonably well apart. They are large, rounded, fill the sockets, and slightly protrude. The color of the iris ranges from ochre to hazel to dark brown – no other colors are acceptable. Eyelids are close-fitting. Eye rim color will vary with coat color from light to dark brown. Eyelashes are very well developed. The arch of the eyebrow is prominent. The ears are medium-sized in proportion to the head, triangular with rounded tips. The base of the ear is relatively broad and is set just above the zygomatic arch. When alert, the top of the ear rises to widen the skull's appearance, and the front edge of the ear is close to the cheek. When pulled loosely forward, the ear should cover about ¼ of the length of the muzzle. The Lagotto's expression should be intelligent, friendly, and attentive.

 

 Neck Body, Topline:

The neck is strong, muscular, thick, and oval. It is lean, set off from the nape, and slightly arched. The length of the neck is somewhat less than the total length of the head. The neck should blend smoothly into the shoulders. Muscles are mighty. A correct neck is fundamental to function.

 

The Lagotto body 

is square, compact, and strong. The length of the dog, measured from the prosternum to the point of the ischium, should be the same as the height at the top of the shoulder blade, which is long and quite high-set, rising well above the level of the back. The chest is well-developed, reaching down to the elbows but not below them. The ribcage is slightly narrowed in front, widening from the sixth rib back, allowing elbows to move smoothly along the body. Ribs are well sprung (the width of the ribcage at the widest point is about 30 percent of the dog's height).

The underline is straight, with a slight tuck-up at the flank. The scapulae are set high, back straight, loin slightly arched, croup slightly sloping, and the tail follows the line of the croup. A line drawn from the top of the shoulder to the hip will be somewhat sloping. A dog high in the rear or low in the shoulder will be penalized. The Lagotto's straight and very muscular. The loin is short-coupled, very strong, and slightly arched. Its width is equal to or slightly exceeds the length, giving strength for digging. The croup is slightly sloped, quite long, broad, and muscular. It forms an angle of approximately 25/30 degrees from the horizontal.

Flat or steep groups are to be severely penalized. The tail is set on following the line of the croup. At rest, it is carried scimitar-like and no higher than the back. When excited, the tail is decidedly raised and held in a loose arc above the level of the back. The tip of the tail should not be taken further forward than the pelvis. The tail should never be curled or taken straight up. The tail tapers from base to end and should reach just above the hock. Ringtails or tails carried over the back are serious faults. Forequarters: The shoulder blades are long (30 percent at the shoulder height), well laid back (yet not too close at the tips), muscular, and strong. They are closely attached to the chest but move freely. The angle between the shoulder blade and the upper arm should be approximately 115 degrees. The elbow will fall on a vertical line lowered from the back of the scapula to the ground.

The upper arm is as long as the shoulder blade, has a light bone structure, is muscular, and is tucked firmly against the chest. Legs are straight. The forearm is long, with strong, compact, oval bone. The carpus is fine, robust, mobile, and aligned with the forearm. Pasterns are also perfectly aligned with a forearm and slightly finer bone. They are moderate in length and slightly sloping. Forefeet are webbed, rounded, compact, and well-arched, tight toes. Pads have rigid soles. Nails are curved and range in color from white to extremely dark brown.

 

 Hindquarters:

Angulation of the hindquarters is slightly less than the angle of the forequarters (approximately 110 degrees). Legs are powerful and parallel when seen from the rear. The upper thigh is slightly longer than the shoulder (35 percent of the f height at the shoulders). It has pretty broad, convex, and well-defined muscles. The second thigh is slightly longer and well-boned, and then the upperthen. The hindmost is perfectly parallel to the spine. The angle of the stifle should be more open than the angle at the hip (approximately 130 degrees). The hock joint is well let down, broad, clean, and strong. Pasterns are thin, cylindrical, and perpendicular to the ground when the dog stands freely. A vertical line from the point of ischium to the ground will fall slightly in front of the toes. Hind feet are somewhat oval, compact, and webbed. The toes of the back feet are not quite as arched as those of the forefeet; thus, the nails may be straighter.

 

 Skin, Coat:

The skin of the Lagotto is thin, firm, and close-fitting all over the body, without wrinkles. The pigmentation of the skin and pads harmonizes with the color of the coat, ranging from dark pink to dark brown. Depigmentation anywhere on the body is a serious fault. Coat is essential in this breed. Hair should have a wooly texture and be semi-rough on the surface. The top coat should be pretty thick, and the undercoat should be visible. The combination of the two repel water. A correct coat is never luxurious or shiny. The body is covered with tight ring-shaped curls, not frizz. Skull and cheeks are covered with thick hair, and the looser curls of the head form abundant eyebrows, whiskers, and a rather bristly beard. The coat covering the tail is both curly and somewhat bristly. The Lagotto must not be corded—disqualification - smooth or straight jacket.

 

The correct trim must always be unpretentious and contribute to the natural, rustic look typical of the breed. In a curled state, the body coat must be trimmed to no more than 1½ inches in depth (not brushed/combed out), and it should be uniform with the dog's silhouette. The coat can only be more extended than 1½ inches on the head but should never cover the eyes (should be penalized). The edges of the ears should be trimmed to the leather; the surface of the ear flap should show looser curls but remain wavy. The area around the genitals and anus may be clipped short. Hair must be of sufficient length that curls and texture can be assessed. Corded or excessively groomed dogs (sculpted or blown out) should be severely penalized to be eliminated from competition. 

 

 Color:

Lagotti can be an ff-white solid color, white with brown or orange patches, brown roan, orange roan, brown, orange, or sable (in different shades), with or without white. Some dogs have extremities darker than their body color. Tan markings (in various shades) are allowed. The colors tend to fade, sometimes to such an extent that the brown areas can appear as silvery/gray roan. All the above colors, including the faded or diluted colors, are equally desirable.

 

Disqualification - Black or gray coat or patches; black pigmentation.

 

 Gait/Movement:

Lagotti should exhibit an energetic, lively, balanced trot with moderate reach and drive. The back should remain firm with no tendency to roll. At a trot, the rear foot covers but does not pass the footprint of the front foot. Movement from the front is parallel at a walk or slow trot, never more expansive than the dog's shoulder, adog'snds toward a center line as speed increases. Rear legs are also parallel at a slow gait, converging at increased speed, with hocks in a straight line between hip and foot. As the dog increases speed, the neck moves slightly lower and forward. The Lagotto should move with distinction and nobility of bearing. He should not be exhibited in an elongated trot – it is atypical and incorrect for the breed.

 

 Behavior, Temperament:

The Lagotto is tractable, adaptable, keen, affectionate, and excessively attached to its owner. He is both brilliant and easily trained. He is an excellent companion and an excellent watchdog. A natural gift for searching and a perfect nose has made the breed very efficient in finding truffles. The former hunting instinct has been modified by genetic selection to avoid distraction by game. This breed should never be aggressive or overly shy.

 

 Faults:

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and to the degree that it will affect the dog's ability to perform its traditional work, as well as the health and welfare of the dog.

 

 Disqualifications:

 

Size - Dogs under 16½ inches or over 19½ inches. Bitches under 15½ inches or over 18½ inches.

 

Bite – Overshot or pronounced undershot bite (upper and lower jaw incisors do not touch).

 

Coat – Smooth or straight.

 

Color – Black or gray coat or patches; black pigmentation.

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Adapted from information provided by the Lagotto Romagnolo Club of America