Italian Water Dog. Here is something I found a while back on the internet about the history of the Lagotto. I don't have the link but have copied it here in its entirety:
Italian Water Dog
Italian Water Dog
Friendly Italian water dog the first time I've seen at the World
Exhibition in Brussels in 1995. It was a dog kennel from the Italian
Luciano Landi. Now, without a water dog does not do any large-scale exhibition
and a dog of this breed successfully win prizes for "Best-in-Show".
Italian Water Dog (lagotto) - a very old breed. It occurs in
lowland areas of Comacchio and Ravenna in northern Italy, where in the last
century were drained swamps. According to Italian researchers, the
ancestors of these dogs came to Italy with Turkish sailors, ships are often
moored to the shores of Italy. They guarded the sailing of the Moors, the
sailors were very much appreciated for the intelligence and ability to perform different
tasks and swim well.
President of the Italian club lagotto Giovanni Morsiani believes
lagotto goes back to prehistoric dog Canis familiaris palustris Rutimeyer, peat
or a dog known as the ancestor of many breeds of dogs that existed in the period
from 10 000 to 6000 years BC
However, the figure, the characteristic drooping ears, habits and
other characteristics lagotto suggest that this breed is classified by
Professor S.Bogolyubskogo (1959) to the group goncheobraznyh, which includes
the hounds, cops, spaniels and retrievers. Curly hair pudelepodobnaya
could be inherited from kosmatosherstnyh shepherds, which were widely
circulated in the past century in Europe. Morsiani opinion about the
origin of the peat lagotto dog - the alleged founder of Spitz, Terriers and
Pinschers hardly justified. Progenitor of a group of hunting dogs is
goncheobraznyh Ash dog Canis familiaris intermedius, found in Europe. Of
course, to say with complete conviction, from whom there was one or the other
species in prehistoric times, it is impossible, we can only
speculate. Morsiani also convinced that the Canis Aquaticus, or water dog,
mentioned the great Swedish naturalist Linnaeus XVIII century and is found in
the pool, and there's nothing like lagotto. Powered by Linnaeus drawing
curly dog and is very similar to other water dogs mentioned by different
authors. In 1591 Erasmo di Valvazone in the "Hunt" wrote:
"Our favorite curly dog breed is not afraid of no sun, no ice, no water,
overcoming the steep hills, making their way through thickets of thorns, and
swimming across the river. Her head and hair reminiscent of sheep, this the dog
willingly brings wounded bird.
Eugenio Raimondi wrote in 1630 that water dogs are common in the
Adriatic Sea to Venice, where he used to feed the ducks to water. Other
documents in 1660 also refers to the water dogs used for hunting waterfowl,
which were rich in the lagoon in Italy, particularly coots. Hunters are
very prized these dogs because they are easily trained to submit game with water,
but, except for hunters, fishermen, and they were used, which helped pull the
dog's small boat on a rope. Sometimes in shallow water was collected as
many hunters that shooting at a bird turning into a real massacre. Dogs
also tirelessly picking up the game, swimming and diving in the water, even
with the ice crust, from which they are well protected curly hair.
The closest relatives of lagotto - Portuguese Water Dog, Spanish,
Irish and American Water Spaniels are very similar in composition and characteristics
of slime coat. There is no doubt that their common ancestors, the most
famous and refined breed of this family was the poodle.
By 1800 the lagoon was drained, the water fauna is
impoverished. Lagotto found no more use as a bird hunter and have been
used to find truffles, which is particularly widespread in the years
1840-1890. Thus, from the swamps and shallow lagoons lagotto moved to the
wooded hills. Mushroom - the main specialization lagotto today. The
dog can detect the fungus that grows at a depth of 60 cm under the
ground. Truffles have saved the breed from extinction. I would like
to hope that she does not lose its valuable properties under the influence of
fashion.
In addition to Italy, lagotto quite well known in Sweden, Britain,
France and the United States. Dogs of this breed are taking part in
competitions in agility, work well with the police on the trail, successfully
detected drugs.
Lagotto Romagnola - unpretentious and appreciative companion, who
loves to work not for reward, but only for the praise of his master. In
relation to people and dogs lagotto friendly and peaceable. This dog must
be able to swim and frolic in the water, it should not be protected from all,
as a porcelain toy. Lagotto easily tolerates heat and cold, is always
ready to play with the owner, does not like being alone. We must not
forget that the hunter in the past do not miss a soaring bird or cat had been
running, so the walks should be alert. At the same time, this dog is very
docile and easily controlled.
Lagotto Romagnola - a dog of medium height, of proportional build,
strong, with thick, curly hair, evenly covering all parts of the dog's body,
silky strands to the touch.
Height at withers Dogs 43-48 cm, ideally 46 cm, weight 13-16 kg,
females 41-46, respectively (43) cm and 11-14 kg. Length of body slightly
greater than the height at the withers. Head trapezoidal, somewhat longer
than the cranial part of the muzzle. The transition from forehead to
muzzle a little noticeable. The eyes are round, the color of the tone
color. The ears are drooping, rather large, broad at the base, triangular,
rounded at the ends. The tail is saber, carried below the
topline. Color white, white with brown or reddish spots of various shades
of brown, red. The muzzle may be a darker brown mask.
The magazine "Friend" 1998 - 2
The paper benefited Swiss magazine "Le chien magazine"
