Northwest Lagotto · Lynden, Washington
Meet the Breeder
A passion for the breed, a commitment to the families we serve, and a standard we refuse to compromise.
The Person Behind the Program
How I Found the Lagotto —
and Why I Never Looked Back
Dogs have been part of my life since I was young. I bred them before I started a family, and through years of raising four kids on 10 acres outside Lynden, Washington, that pull never really went away. I always knew that when the time was right, the dogs would come back.
What drew me to the Lagotto Romagnolo specifically wasn't a single thing — it was an accumulation. Their quiet confidence. The easy, casual way they accept the world around them. Their loyalty that doesn't feel needy, and their love of play that never seems to fade. And then there was the truffle connection. I've had a long personal interest in truffles, and the Pacific Northwest — with its native truffle forests practically in our backyard — felt like exactly the right place to raise a breed whose greatest gift is its nose.
I didn't rush into breeding. I spent two years reading, researching, watching show rings, studying pedigrees and bloodlines, and speaking with established Lagotto breeders across Europe, Australia, and North America before I ever planned a litter. I wanted to understand not just what the breed looked like, but what it was — what made a Lagotto truly exceptional from the inside out. That process shaped everything about how I approach this work today. On what that actually means in practice →
We are located in Lynden, Washington — a short drive from the Canadian border, less than two hours north of Seattle, and surrounded by the farmland and natural beauty that our Lagotto love as much as we do.
Mocha, home from Italy. The dog that started everything — on the property where it all happens.
By the Numbers
How We Work
Our Breeding Philosophy
Waitlist-First, Always
We don't breed speculatively. Every litter we plan already has families waiting. That means our entire focus during those first eight weeks is on the puppies — not on finding homes for them. The families benefit. The puppies benefit. Everyone benefits.
Health Testing Without Exception
All breeding adults are CHIC certified and carry current OFA, CERF, and DNA results — publicly listed on ofa.org. We select pairings that strengthen genetics, temperament, and conformation — even when that means travelling far to find the right match. There are no shortcuts.
The Right Home Over the First Home
We place puppies with families we've taken the time to know. We ask real questions because we want real answers. We've turned down deposits and we'd do it again — because the right placement matters more than a quick transaction.
A Relationship That Doesn't End at Pickup
When you bring home a Northwest Lagotto puppy, you get my phone number. Families call and text with questions for years after pickup — and I wouldn't have it any other way. That continuity is part of what we offer, and it's not negotiable.
We entrust our exceptional companions only to families who share our commitment to OFA-certified hips, CERF-clear eyes, and LSD/BFJE-clear genetics — publicly listed at ofa.org.
Our foundation imports come from FCI-titled kennels in Bastia Umbra, Italy — verified by international judges, the same bloodlines that rebuilt this breed from near-extinction in the 1980s.
With only a handful of puppies placed each year, every match is made by temperament assessment — not by waitlist position. The right family for the right puppy, every time.
From Birth
How We Raise Our Puppies
We follow the Puppy Culture protocol — not as a marketing point, but because we've seen what it produces. The difference is visible at the vet's office, on the first car ride, in the first week in a new home.
Neurological Stimulation
Beginning on day three of life, each puppy receives Early Neurological Stimulation — a structured series of gentle exercises that build stress tolerance, resilience, and adaptability. This is not optional and it is not delegated.
Socialization Milestones
Each developmental window is tracked and used. Sounds, surfaces, people, experiences — introduced systematically and positively. By the time a puppy leaves us, the world is not alarming to them. It is interesting. Learn more about our Puppy Culture protocol.
Raised in Our Home
Our puppies are not raised in a kennel or a barn. They are raised in the house — in the noise and rhythm of a real family. They learn what a dishwasher sounds like, what a toddler smells like, what a normal day feels like. That preparation is irreplaceable.
Our Dogs
The Dogs Behind
the Program
Every dog in our programme is health-tested, temperament-evaluated, and selected for what they bring to the next generation. Full profiles, health records, and show results are on our dedicated page.
Mocha
Foundation Dam · Italian Champion · #10 USA · Retired
Cannella
Dam · Italian Champion · World Dog Show Qualifier
Ginger
Dam · Orange Roan · Current Programme
Mousse
Stud · American Lines · Current Programme
Ready to Learn More?
If what you've read here resonates with you — if you're looking for a breeder who takes all of this as seriously as you do — we'd love to hear from you.
With only a handful of exceptional companions placed each year, the next step is simple: tell us a little about your family and what you're hoping for, and we'll take it from there.