Lagotto Romagnolo Puppies: Adopt or Buy?

Should you adopt or buy a Lagotto Romagnolo?

For most people who have set their heart on a Lagotto, a registered breeder is the honest answer. Purebred Lagottos are rare across the rescues we aggregate, and the breed has inherited conditions that DNA tests can screen out before a litter is planned. That makes a careful breeder unusually valuable here. Rescue makes sense if what you want is the kind of dog (a medium, curly-coated, low-shedding companion) rather than the breed itself.

What does the breed standard say about the Lagotto?

The Lagotto is a recognised breed in the Gundog group. The Dogs Australia standard calls it an “ancient breed of retrieving water dogs in the lowlands of Comacchio and marshlands of Ravenna”. As the marshes were drained for farmland, it says, the Lagotto changed from a water dog to “an excellent dog for searching truffles in the flat open country and in the hills of Romagna.” The standard gives its use simply as truffle dog. The Lagotto Romagnolo Club of NSW goes further and calls Lagottos the only officially recognised truffle searching dogs.

Source: Dogs Australia Lagotto Romagnolo standard (last updated 12 November 2019), read 11 November 2026.

In everyday life that means a busy nose and a dog that wants a job. The NSW club reminds owners that Lagottos are working dogs that need mental stimulation and physical activity a couple of times a day, and Dogs Victoria says they need a variety of activities to stimulate their minds. Scent games and nose work give that nose something to do. The coat is the other commitment: Dogs Victoria says it grows continuously, keeps the dead hair, and will mat unless combed out, with scissoring or clipping needed regularly.

Are Lagottos hypoallergenic?

No dog is hypoallergenic. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) says: “All dog breeds cause allergies, although some do not shed as much dander, and therefore less allergen is spread.” It also says the main dog allergen is saliva. Dogs Victoria describes the Lagotto's coat as non-shedding and says it will not shed on furniture or clothing. That is about hair, not allergen: a low-shedding coat cannot remove the allergen.

If anyone at home has asthma or a dog allergy, see a doctor before choosing any dog, spend long, repeated visits with the specific dog, and read our guides to hypoallergenic dogs in Australia and dogs that don't shed.

Which health tests should a Lagotto breeder show you?

The Lagotto Romagnolo Club of NSW says “Generally the Lagotto is a robust breed”, but names four main health issues: hip dysplasia, juvenile epilepsy, Lysosomal Storage Disease and, more recently, hyperuricosuria. Three of the four have a DNA test, which means a breeder can plan matings so no affected puppies are born. Ask for written results for both parents.

Sources: Lagotto Romagnolo Club of NSW pages on hip dysplasia, juvenile epilepsy, storage disease and hyperuricosuria; the Lagotto Romagnolo Club of America screening list (BFJE and LSD DNA, hip radiographs, a patellar luxation exam and annual eye exams). All read 11 November 2026. A buying checklist, not veterinary advice.

Two conditions deserve plain words. The NSW club says dogs with Lagotto storage disease can show signs from 4 months or as late as 4 years, worsen progressively and eventually require euthanasia, which is why a breeder should never produce an affected puppy now that a test exists. Juvenile epilepsy is milder, and the club explains that carriers can be bred safely to clear dogs to keep genetic diversity. So “carrier” on a parent's certificate is not a red flag by itself; an untested parent is. Dogs Victoria also tells buyers to ask what health testing the breeder does.

What does a Lagotto puppy cost?

We cannot give you a breeder price we can stand behind. Our method is to read the prices that Dogs Australia member breeders publish on their own websites. In November 2026 we read the sites of Lagotto breeders that show membership of a state canine body or appear on the Lagotto Romagnolo Club of NSW breeder list, and none published a puppy price. Several had no website at all. The club, which says it is the only incorporated club for the breed in Australia, publishes no guide price. The prices that do appear online sit on listing sites, which we do not use as a benchmark because anyone can post there.

So ask each breeder directly, and ask what the price includes: registration papers, desexing or a desexing agreement, microchip, vaccinations, and the parents' health results. A high price does not buy health testing on its own. For comparison, here is what rescues publish:

Reference only, not a quote. Rescues publish their own fees and change them, and some dogs are priced individually, so check with the rescue. Adoption fees normally include desexing and microchipping.

The purchase price is the smaller number over a dog's life. Clipping a continuously growing coat is a regular cost on top of food, insurance and vet care, so run it through the dog cost calculator and read our guide to cheaper vet care.

How do you check a Lagotto breeder?

1. Confirm the membership yourself. Ask for the breeder's state canine body membership number and check it with that state body or the Dogs Australia Find a breeder tool, not through a link the seller sends. The NSW club breeder list is another starting point, though it may not be up to date.
2. Check your state's number. NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia each have their own breeder or supply number scheme. Our puppies for sale guide sets out every state.
3. Read the results. Hip and elbow scores and the three DNA tests above, for both parents, with names or microchip numbers that match.
4. Meet the mother. See the puppies where they are raised. Dogs Australia suggests asking whether the breed has hereditary conditions, whether breeding stock is tested and whether your own vet can check the puppy before you buy.
5. Expect questions back. A breeder who cares where a working breed goes will ask about your time, your yard and how you will keep the dog busy.

How do Lagotto scams work?

Scamwatch says scammers set up fake websites, social media profiles and marketplace listings for popular breeds and pets that do not exist, and that if a pet is very cheap, it is likely a scam. A Dogs Victoria fact sheet warns that scam ads may display microchip, source or membership numbers lifted from legitimate breeders, so check numbers yourself. Lagotto versions of the pattern to watch for:

• “Hypoallergenic guaranteed”. ASCIA says all dog breeds cause allergies.
• “Health tested” without paperwork. Ask for the four results above; a real breeder has them.
• A puppy ready today, and no questions for you. A breeder who cares where a working breed goes will want to know about your home.
• Copied photos. A reverse image search often finds the same puppy elsewhere.

If you have already paid, contact your bank straight away and report it to Scamwatch.

Is a Lagotto the right dog for you, and where else to look?

A Lagotto suits a home with time for daily walks and nose games, a grooming budget, and patience with a dog that lives through its nose. Not sure? Try the what dog breed is right for me quiz and the adoption readiness check.

Purebred Lagottos are rare across the rescues we aggregate, so if you are open to a curly-coated cross or another low-shedding dog, watch the listing pages and set an alert:

• Low-shedding dogs for adoption in Sydney
• Low-shedding dogs for adoption in Melbourne
• Low-shedding dogs for adoption in Brisbane
• Low-shedding dogs for adoption in Perth
• Low-shedding dogs for adoption in Adelaide

Our guide to adopting a dog in Australia walks through the process. Other adopt-or-buy guides in this set cover the Schnoodle, Pomsky, Siberian cat and Poodle.