Families

Northwest Lagotto · Lynden, Washington

What Happens Afterthe Puppy Comes Home

In their own words, unedited

14Families
9States & Regions
2021–26Placements
Curated by Mark Nelson·Published with family permission·Updated 2026

The Ones That Say It Best

Three Questions Every
Family Asks

These are the three questions we hear most from families considering a Lagotto Romagnolo. Here are three families who answer them better than we could.

“

Will this dog be everything we hoped for?

Murphy is extremely calm around our children, has been easy to train, and is happy to explore new environments. We are actually on our way to our second backpacking adventure with her as I write this. She loves to explore. We are very happy to have chosen Mark as our breeder.

Wes

Portland, OR · Murphy, 2022

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Is the wait actually worth it?

There is a reason the waitlist is so long — and it’s definitely worth the wait. I looked into many different Lagotto breeders before finding Northwest Lagotto. Mark really cares about his dogs and the families they join. Even after taking our girl home, Mark has been readily available for advice and support.

Kari

Seattle, WA · Gelato

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What does the relationship look like after?

When we reached out to Mark, it was a year before we were planning to take a puppy home. Over the course of that year, he was in regular communication with us — which was really reassuring. He is incredibly knowledgeable and really just approaches this process with great care.

Laura

Seattle, WA

Puppy Culture

What the Vet Said on Day Four

“

We took Gio to the vet. They spent about an hour with us. Gio is perfectly healthy, and they were so impressed by how well he is adapting already. They couldn’t believe we’d only had him for four days, and he was so bonded to me already. The vet actually mentioned that the behaviors he was offering were very adult-like for a first visit — he was comfortable enough to lay between us on the floor and offer the vet his belly. On the way out, the vet told me that it is so clear this dog has had a fantastic head start, he is incredibly smart, and it is now up to us to keep up with the training — because this dog has the potential to do anything we want to do with him.

Madison

New York · Gio, 2023

This is what eight weeks of Puppy Culture looks like on day four in a new home.

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5.0  ·  5 Reviews

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A
Annie Carr
March 2026
Ludo has brought us so much joy over the almost five years that we have had him. He is incredibly intelligent, mischievous, playful, and affectionate. True to his nature, he loves the water — he likes to join us on our paddle boards and play fetch in the water. Ludo also has an incredible nose! His biggest travel adventure was this past January when he joined my husband and me on our international move. He is the best travel buddy. I cannot recommend Northwest Lagottos enough. Mark is an incredible breeder — his passion for the breed is clear. The communication did not just end when we took Ludo home. If we were still in the states, Mark would be the first and only breeder we would go to for another Lagotto.
B
Brijette Buquiran
April 2026
Mark and Tracy’s level of detail and care, their process, and knowledge sharing has been a tremendous help over the years. It also helped me prepare for the journey with Gio, who is full of energy, intelligent, curious, and a cuddle bug. He’s happy and healthy. It’s been truly remarkable watching Gio flourish — hikes, swims, truffle hunts, agility classes, you name it. And I know that the exposure he got early on has helped make it all possible. NW Lagotto’s love for the breed comes through in every communication, video, and resource. If I am lucky enough to bring another Lagotto into my home, I know I’ll be in good hands with Mark and Tracy.
C
Chris Olsen
April 2026
Not one but two amazing dogs from Mark and the team! Everything they promised about Pizza and Pasta came true. They are the best family dogs we could have ever asked for and I could not recommend them more as a breeder. Thank you for our amazing family!
J
Jim
April 2026
I was truly blessed to locate Northwest Lagotto in the state of Washington. This is my second Lagotto and I didn’t want to travel to Spain again to get my second one. Marco is almost two years old now, but if it wasn’t for Mark and Tracy helping me through this wonderful experience with all the information I needed to bring a puppy back into my home, it would have been very difficult to say the least. Marco is truly a blessing for me, especially since my partner passed away nine months after we brought Marco home.
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Gene Chao
April 2026
Mark and Tracy are great breeders. We wanted a Lagotto as a companion pet, not to show or hunt truffles, so we haven’t done any specialized training. Named Cucciolo — Italian for puppy — Cucci is a great companion.

In Their Own Words

The Families
Who Came Before You

“
We loved working with Mark to find our new puppy. After we brought her home, Mark answered all of our questions about crating, feeding, and training. We felt supported in our first days — and we know we can reach out any time as she grows up. Mark really cares about finding the right fit for his dogs and educating and supporting their new families.
Jessica · Seattle, WA
“
I am so thankful to have gotten our Lagotto, Ludo, from Northwest Lagotto. He was absolutely worth the wait. I have received compliments every single time we’ve gone to the vet about how well socialized and adjusted he is — and that’s all due to Mark’s focus on Puppy Culture. Ludo is an incredibly playful, intelligent, confident, and cuddly pup. I’m continuously blown away by just how smart he is and how quickly he learns new tricks. Mark’s support did not stop once we picked up Ludo.
Annie · Seattle, WALudo, 2022
“
Mark went the extra mile to provide us with a quality puppy and to match her with us for personality and other critical traits. The result has been a resounding success. Our Olive is, at nine months, a huge part of our family — loving, obedient, energetic, and great with kids and strangers. We continue to talk with Mark, who is an ongoing source of advice and expertise. In sum, it could not have been a happier result.
Jim & Regan · Bellingham, WAOlive, 2022
“
From the time we realized that a Lagotto was the right breed for us to the first meeting of our little pup, Mark was professional, informative, and fulfilled our wishes of sex, color, and traits to the best possible outcome. His willingness to share and take the time to help us be successful with our wonderful little guy made the transition from his home to ours remarkably smooth. He truly cares about the breeding process and the quality of his dogs and puppies.
Liz & Ron · Coeur d’Alene, ID
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We chose Mark as our breeder because of his responsible breeding philosophy and his choice of raising and training his puppies using Puppy Culture. The proof is in Luca. Our ten-month-old boy is a healthy, happy, curious, and adaptable puppy who just completed a cross-country trip with us. We are so delighted with Luca. All the credit goes to Mark and his family for giving him such a loving and solid foundational start to life.
Amanda · Los Angeles, CALuca, 2023
“
As he does for all his buyers, Mark hand-picked Austin for us from his litter of seven based on our answers to his extensive questionnaire. We feel he gave us the pick of the litter — Austin is matching up perfectly with our lifestyle in Los Angeles. Mark and his entire family deserve credit for bringing up all of their puppies in a loving, caring, and healthy environment. Austin is friendly, responsive, and an incredibly fast learner. We love him.
Scott · Los Angeles, CAAustin, 2021

Every family you’ve read so far made the same decision you’re considering.

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“
The most beneficial part of going through Northwest Lagotto was the initial education and preparation component. We appreciated learning about puppy care specific to the Lagotto breed. It was a bonus to meet Mark and see his gentle and patient interaction with his puppies. All the time, attention, and initial training he gave Tilly those first eight weeks is a testament to how quickly and easily she adapted to our family. We are forever grateful.
Rich & Jan · Wenatchee, WATilly
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Your detail, process, and knowledge sharing has been a tremendous help and has put me at ease on multiple occasions. It also helped me prepare for this new journey with Gio, who is full of energy, intelligent, curious, and a cuddle bug who’s already in love with the smell of truffles.
Brigette · New JerseyGio, 2023
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We are beyond happy with our new pup Lello and the entire experience with Northwest Lagotto. Mark’s practice of incorporating Puppy Culture made all the difference in Lello adjusting to his home. I would highly recommend this breeder — and if we were ever to add another Lagotto to our family, we would return to Northwest Lagotto.
Donna & Albert · Seattle, WALello, 2022
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The puppy we received from Northwest Lagotto far exceeded our expectations. He has spurts of hilarious puppy antics, but mostly he is healthy, happy, and well-adjusted with a very sweet demeanor. Many of our friends have commented on what a good dog he is, even at his young age. Mark Nelson takes the time to understand how to place his dogs with the right owner. The care that he and his family take with the dogs is evident when you meet them.
Michael & Lauri · Portland, OR2021
These accounts were written in the first year. The relationships they describe — with the dog, and with us — continue well beyond it. We remain in contact with every family we’ve placed.
Northwest Lagotto

Recent Litter

Sable Puppies — A Rare Color

Sable Lagotto Romagnolo puppies — Northwest Lagotto — click to play

Sable Lagotto Romagnolo — a rare and beautiful color variation in this ancient breed.

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Their Families.
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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.

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