The original role of the Lagotto was to retrieve duck for the hunters on the marshes in North-eastern Italy. They have maintained the physicality and aptitude to carry out this function in a variety of working gundog ways. Many owners work in the beating line or as picking-up dogs on driven and walked shoots. In competition, the Lagotto is classified as a Minority Spaniel breed and can therefore be entered into working tests and field trials held for this sub-section.