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The Coat

The Lagotto, the curly dog made in Italy

 

The Lagotto’s coat is characteristic because it has a tightly closed curl and woolly texture. 
As it does not lose hair, the continuous and constant growth of the coat leads to matting, so curl management is essential to have a well-groomed Lagotto. 
The Lagotto is not a ‘smelly’ breed, but when outdoors it easily picks up dirt! 

The admitted colours of the Lagotto range from white to brown, in all its tonalities. Absolutely forbidden is the colour black, in the coat and/or mucous membranes (truffle -nose-, fingertips, lip).
The breed standard states. “Off-white single-colour, white with brown or orange markings, orange roan, brown roan, brown single-colour (in different shades) with or without white, orange with or without white. Some dogs have a brown to dark brown mask. Fuchsias (in different shades) are allowed.”
In this link you can see all the colours of the Lagotto PICTURES WITH LAGOTTO COLOURS

Coat management, also known as grooming, is essential for the Lagotto. The owner of a Lagotto must take time to achieve a beautiful, curly, felt-free coat of the right length. 

BRUSHING: Lagotto should be brushed every 1-2 weeks. It does not have to be brushed daily as the curl would not form. Recommended brushes are the carder or comb with metal teeth. 

WASHING: The Lagotto can be washed when dirty but it would be advisable to wash it every 30-45 days, using a shampoo suitable for curly hair and combining it with a conditioner to facilitate the untangling of knots.

CUTTING: The Lagotto’s coat can be cut manually with scissors or using a machine. Every 4-6 weeks, depending on the rate of hair regrowth, the coat should be shortened to a length suitable for home management. While 1-2 times a year, the coat should be shortened to 7-10 mm.

ALWAYS REFER TO AN EXPERIENCED GROOMER FOR THE BREED

Here are some useful links for those who want to learn more about grooming Lagotto.
BOOK: a book with many pictures and details for all types of grooming
“The art to keep it rustic”
WEBINARS: follow the detailed explanations to make your Lagotto’s curls perfect
Webinar-Lagotto grooming