A short article covering the recent history of the breed was published in Our Dogs over the Crufts 2024 period :
Very few Lagotti were exhibited at shows for the two decades that followed the breed’s arrival into the UK, and therefore it was difficult to meet the criteria for progression from the Import Register onto the Rare Breeds list for some years. A group of enthusiasts gathered together in 2012 (later registered as the Lagotto Romagnolo Association) in order to help progress the breed, and at Crufts 2016 the Lagotto celebrated its first championship show breed classes as a Rare Breed, judged by the esteemed judge, Carla Molinari. It was fitting that the homebred Lagotto representative, Katrien Van Gemert’s Gleska Goody Goody was placed third in the Gundog Group under Di Arrowsmith that day. A first at this level for the breed in UK competition.
During the process of application, the Kennel Club had reviewed and decided to disband the Gundog Utility sub group, totally reclassifying some of the breeds therein. For a short while there was a distinct possibility that the Lagotto would not maintain its historical status as a water-retrieving Gundog breed; but the fraternity pulled together once again and put forward a convincing case to remain. The Lagotto is now classified as a Spaniel Minority Breed, enabling owners to compete in KC-licenced working gundog competition, including field trials.
With health as a high priority for the new generation of owners, the Kennel Club was approached to consider publishing all recognised health testing information, providing clarity for potential owners and for those wishing to breed with health-tested UK dogs. Considering there are two confirmed serious neurological breed specific disorders (Lysomal Storage Disease and Juvenile Epilepsy) and both have DNA testing options, this transparency was essential for the future health of the Lagotto and publication became effective in 2017. Since that time, breeders have ventured further into the European bloodlines, which has considerably opened up the Lagotto gene pool.
An increase in the number of dogs being exhibited led to the need for structured breed education and the Lagotto was invited onto the KC JCF pilot scheme. The first Breed Appreciation Day (BAD) was held by the LRA in 2018. Regular BADs have been held since that time, with the first joint online event for the LRA and LRCGB being held early in 2023. This commitment to education led naturally to an application for amendments to the Kennel Club Breed
Standard during this period, in order to clarify important breed features and to align it more closely with the FCI Standard of the country of origin. A revised Standard was approved and published in 2020.
The final stage to our reaching championship status progressed fairly smoothly and it has now been confirmed that the Lagotto Romagnolo will have CC allocation (3 sets – Crufts, LRA Ch Show and National Gundog Show) from Crufts 2024, officiated by the well-known FCI judge, Espen Engh.
There have been a number of breed achievements along the way, with the highest accolade of Best In Show at Crufts 2023 being achieved by the Kan Trace kennel of Croatia, with their amazing global star, Multi BIS BISS JEW19 Am GChG Mult Ch Kan Trace Very Cheeky Chic (Orca). In 2020 at her first Crufts’ appearance, Orca won Best of Breed and went on to win an impressive Group 2. To return three years later, minus a KC Champion title, and win Best In Show at her second ever UK championship show, is an incredible achievement.
In 2019, Gilder and Van Gemert’s Rozebottels Porthos gained a BPIS at Gundog Breeds, a G1 at Boston 2020 and a Group 4 at Boston 2022. In 2021, I awarded Mikette Winter Solstice Best Puppy at GSoW, where she went on to take RBPIS under Nigel Worth.
In 2023 Kirsten Bond’s imported male, Kan Trace Emit Remmus gained G4 at EoE from his BOB/BP win under Jean Collins-Pitman.
Other notable Group places have been gained by Mangham’s imported Foogel Roberto at Onyxro with PG2 and PG1 during 2022, and also Gilder/Blunden’s homebred Mikette Maledictus, who gained a PG2 at East of England and PG4 at the National that same year. Their veteran Fullforge Free Horizons Con Mikette ShCM, the first Lagotto to gain a ShCM title, has been awarded five creditable Ch Show veteran group placements in 2023.
As we approach Crufts 2024, the Lagotto Romagnolo is no longer simply a long forgotten curly-coated farm dog, duck-hunter or truffling companion. The strong band of followers enjoys the breed in many activities, from Agility to Rally, from Gundog training and picking-up on shoots to a variety of Scenting disciplines. As a show dog and as an intelligent, rustic working companion, the recently-esteemed Lagotto Romagnolo is surely set for a long and successful future.
Carolyn Adkins-Fry (Bedeslea)
Very few Lagotti were exhibited at shows for the two decades that followed the breed’s arrival into the UK, and therefore it was difficult to meet the criteria for progression from the Import Register onto the Rare Breeds list for some years. A group of enthusiasts gathered together in 2012 (later registered as the Lagotto Romagnolo Association) in order to help progress the breed, and at Crufts 2016 the Lagotto celebrated its first championship show breed classes as a Rare Breed, judged by the esteemed judge, Carla Molinari. It was fitting that the homebred Lagotto representative, Katrien Van Gemert’s Gleska Goody Goody was placed third in the Gundog Group under Di Arrowsmith that day. A first at this level for the breed in UK competition.
During the process of application, the Kennel Club had reviewed and decided to disband the Gundog Utility sub group, totally reclassifying some of the breeds therein. For a short while there was a distinct possibility that the Lagotto would not maintain its historical status as a water-retrieving Gundog breed; but the fraternity pulled together once again and put forward a convincing case to remain. The Lagotto is now classified as a Spaniel Minority Breed, enabling owners to compete in KC-licenced working gundog competition, including field trials.
With health as a high priority for the new generation of owners, the Kennel Club was approached to consider publishing all recognised health testing information, providing clarity for potential owners and for those wishing to breed with health-tested UK dogs. Considering there are two confirmed serious neurological breed specific disorders (Lysomal Storage Disease and Juvenile Epilepsy) and both have DNA testing options, this transparency was essential for the future health of the Lagotto and publication became effective in 2017. Since that time, breeders have ventured further into the European bloodlines, which has considerably opened up the Lagotto gene pool.
An increase in the number of dogs being exhibited led to the need for structured breed education and the Lagotto was invited onto the KC JCF pilot scheme. The first Breed Appreciation Day (BAD) was held by the LRA in 2018. Regular BADs have been held since that time, with the first joint online event for the LRA and LRCGB being held early in 2023. This commitment to education led naturally to an application for amendments to the Kennel Club Breed
Standard during this period, in order to clarify important breed features and to align it more closely with the FCI Standard of the country of origin. A revised Standard was approved and published in 2020.
The final stage to our reaching championship status progressed fairly smoothly and it has now been confirmed that the Lagotto Romagnolo will have CC allocation (3 sets – Crufts, LRA Ch Show and National Gundog Show) from Crufts 2024, officiated by the well-known FCI judge, Espen Engh.
There have been a number of breed achievements along the way, with the highest accolade of Best In Show at Crufts 2023 being achieved by the Kan Trace kennel of Croatia, with their amazing global star, Multi BIS BISS JEW19 Am GChG Mult Ch Kan Trace Very Cheeky Chic (Orca). In 2020 at her first Crufts’ appearance, Orca won Best of Breed and went on to win an impressive Group 2. To return three years later, minus a KC Champion title, and win Best In Show at her second ever UK championship show, is an incredible achievement.
In 2019, Gilder and Van Gemert’s Rozebottels Porthos gained a BPIS at Gundog Breeds, a G1 at Boston 2020 and a Group 4 at Boston 2022. In 2021, I awarded Mikette Winter Solstice Best Puppy at GSoW, where she went on to take RBPIS under Nigel Worth.
In 2023 Kirsten Bond’s imported male, Kan Trace Emit Remmus gained G4 at EoE from his BOB/BP win under Jean Collins-Pitman.
Other notable Group places have been gained by Mangham’s imported Foogel Roberto at Onyxro with PG2 and PG1 during 2022, and also Gilder/Blunden’s homebred Mikette Maledictus, who gained a PG2 at East of England and PG4 at the National that same year. Their veteran Fullforge Free Horizons Con Mikette ShCM, the first Lagotto to gain a ShCM title, has been awarded five creditable Ch Show veteran group placements in 2023.
As we approach Crufts 2024, the Lagotto Romagnolo is no longer simply a long forgotten curly-coated farm dog, duck-hunter or truffling companion. The strong band of followers enjoys the breed in many activities, from Agility to Rally, from Gundog training and picking-up on shoots to a variety of Scenting disciplines. As a show dog and as an intelligent, rustic working companion, the recently-esteemed Lagotto Romagnolo is surely set for a long and successful future.
Carolyn Adkins-Fry (Bedeslea)