The Northwest Lagotto Journal · Table of Contents
Hover any essay to preview · Click to read
The Breed
On genetics, morphology, history, and what makes the Lagotto singular among working dogs
Genetics & History
The Near-Extinction: How the Lagotto Almost Vanished
in the 1970s — and Who Saved It
in the 1970s — and Who Saved It
14 min
Biology
The Nose: How Lagottos Experience a World We Cannot Perceive
11 min
The Coat
The Coat: What Makes It Different — and Why Most People Get It Wrong
9 min
Lineage
Three Generations, Two Continents: The Story of Our Lines
16 min
Genomics & Population Genetics
Rebuilding a Breed Without Weakening It: The Genetics Behind Every Lagotto Alive Today
14 min
Breed Comparison
Lagotto Romagnolo vs Goldendoodle: What a Breeder Wants You to Know
12 min
Breeder Guide
How to Choose a Lagotto Romagnolo Breeder
12 min
Breed Comparison
Lagotto Romagnolo vs Standard Poodle
10 min
The Work
On training, development, and what it actually takes to raise a Lagotto well
Training
Manding: The One Skill That Changes Everything
8 min
Development
Puppy Culture: What It Is, What It Does — and What It Asks of Us
12 min
Puppyhood
Teething: What's Normal, What Isn't — and How to Get Through It
7 min
The Breeder
On philosophy, purpose, and the decisions that define a breeding programme
Breeding Philosophy
What Makes a Great Breeder? The Question I Ask Myself Every Day
10 min
Our Dogs
Mocha's Record: What Winning Across Two Countries Actually Means
13 min
Science & Practice
Nature vs Nurture: The Honest Answer Is More Complicated Than You Think
15 min
Living With Lagotto
On life alongside these dogs — the first year, the long years, what they give and what they ask
First Year
The First Year: What to Expect — Month by Month
18 min
Puppyhood
Two Firsts: Your Puppy’s Ride Home and First Night
10 min
Health Decisions
When to Spay or Neuter Your Lagotto: What the Research Actually Says
12 min
Development
Socialization, Fear Periods & the Science of Early Development
20 min
Nutrition
Feeding Your Lagotto — Nutrition, Growth & What the Science Actually Shows
18 min
These essays are written from over a decade of lived experience with the Lagotto Romagnolo — not from a position of academic authority, but from the daily practice of breeding, training, and living alongside these dogs in Lynden, Washington.