Lagotto Romagnolo
Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions
1. What health issues does the Lagotto Romagnolo have?
Those that are known, and breeders are required to test their breeding for are: Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy, Lagotto Storage Disease, and have had eyes, hips and patellas evaluated by a licensed Veterinarian.
2. Do you test the puppies for genetic defects?
No, it is the parents of the puppies that must be tested before being used in a breeding program.
3. How long do Lagotti live?
The average life expectancy of a Lagotto Romagnolo is 14-16 years.
4. How long have you been breeding?
We began with a stud dog in 2005, and after learning more about the breed and mentoring from other Lagotto breeders, began with our own program in 2011.
5. How are the puppies socialized?
We follow the Puppy Culture protocols which provide for daily interaction and age appropriate learning exercises. This can be exposure to various sounds, surfaces, play props, and problem-solving tasks. They are also held and given lots of attention from not only ourselves, but we incorporate relatives, friends, neighbors at the appropriate ages to increase the puppy’s overall social and emotional health.
6. What vaccines does the puppy have when I get it?
The first vaccine is part of the DHPP series (canine distemper, infectious hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus) and cannot be given until the puppy is at least 6 weeks old. We take them to the Veterinarian at just over 7 weeks old for their health check and the first shot in the 3-vaccine series. The second and third in the series will be the new owners’ responsibility. Rabies and any other vaccine generally done 3-4 weeks after the third DHPP vaccine, or at between 16-20 weeks of age. Your Veterinarian may suggest other vaccines, based on the area in which you live, and what exposures your puppy may have.
7. Is the puppy microchipped?
Yes, they are microchipped at the same time of their first vaccine. It will be the owner’s responsibility to register the microchip once they pick up their puppy.
8. Has the puppy been dewormed?
Yes, they puppies have been dewormed at 4 weeks of age and again at 8 weeks.
9. Can I pick the puppy I like? If not, how do you select the right puppy for me?
No, the breeder chooses the puppy for the new owner, based on the information the owner has provided in terms of lifestyle and home environment the puppy will enjoy. The breeder has carefully monitored, socialized and tested the puppy in various ages and stages of its life and knows the puppy better than any other person, and can generally select the puppy for the new owner based on the desired criteria.
10. Does the puppy come with a health guarantee?
Yes, the puppy is guaranteed for 48 hours to be in good health and free of serious communicable diseases at the time of sale as diagnosed by a licensed veterinarian. The above described canine is guaranteed to one (1) year of age against any genetic defect that may arise causing termination of life. This specifically excludes internal and external parasites.
11. Do you sell the puppy on a contract?
Absolutely.
12. Will the puppy be registered?
Yes, the breeder will register the puppy with the American Kennel Club and have then send a 3-generation pedigree. This is part of the purchase price.
13. Can I change the puppy’s name?
The pedigree name of the puppy cannot be changed and this is outlined in the contract. However, you may choose any “call name” you like, but its official name is on the pedigree and AKC registration.
14. Do you require an application? If I submit one, am I placed on a waitlist?
Yes, and most breeders do. Just filling out an application is no guarantee that you will be placed on a waitlist. The application is just the beginning of the process. Once an application is received, I follow-up with a screening phone call so we can get to know each other. It gives me the opportunity to ask further questions, and for you to do the same. I am totally honest and transparent if I have reservations about selling you a puppy and why, or if the Lagotto may not be the right breed for you. I also look for any information about you online and would expect you to do the same about me. It is also the reason I ask for some references and am happy to give some in return. Once we are both comfortable with each other, then your name goes on the list.
15. Am I able to meet the parents?
Yes, you will be able to meet the mother of the puppies at the very least, and the male if he is available. There times I may have semen shipped to me from another good breeder and in that case, the male would not be on-site. I would have photos of the male and perhaps video so you could at least get some sense of him, as well as copies of all his health clearances.
16. If I get a puppy from you, can I still contact you with questions?
Yes, I would expect you to contact me. I am happy to answer your questions and if I can’t, I will advise you as the best course of action to get your question or concerned answered.
17. How much are your puppies?
Please contact me for a current price. In an effort to protect the breed and discourage puppy mills and unethical breeders, posting the cost online is not recommended.
18. Do you ever rehome your dogs? Is there a cost?
Yes, I will rehome a retired dog or a dog that did not meet breeding standards for one reason or another. While I do charge a variable fee, I fully disclose the issues of a dog that did not meet breeding standards.
19. Do your puppies come trained?
They have been shown some basics in terms of training. They have been introduced to going outside to eliminate, have had some time in crates, know what a clicker is and know a couple commands, based on the Puppy Culture protocols. These are very young dogs and their memories and attention spans are still limited, so it is very important that the new owner continue with the training as it can take several months before the puppy has many training commands properly mastered. Beginning them in a puppy class as soon as possible is generally strongly recommended. The Lagotto is a very smart dog, and they do learn fast overall, but some commands do take longer than others.
20. When do you recommend the puppy be spayed or neutered?
More research is slowly coming out about the effect of early spay and neuter, and that removing the sex organs can have long term negative effects. Please refer to the articles about spay and neuter in the education section of this website. Per my contract, I require that the new owner wait until the puppy is at least one year of age.
