Lagotto Romagnolo vs Spanish Water Dog

A Lagotto Romagnolo
Photo: Alberto Ziveri
A Spanish Water Dog
Photo: Natalia Ricci

Side by side

Lagotto Romagnolo
Spanish Water Dog
Adult weight
Males 13–16 kg (29–35 lb); females 11–14 kg (24–31 lb)1
Males 18–22 kg (40–49 lb); females 14–18 kg (31–40 lb)2
Height
Males 43–48 cm; females 41–46 cm1
Males 44–50 cm; females 40–46 cm2
Lifespan
No sourced figure
Median 13.7 years3
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Retrievers & water dogs1
Retrievers & water dogs2
Coat
Curly coat1
Curly coat2
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
Plenty
Class
Companion
Sport

Which suits you

Size
The Spanish Water Dog is larger on average: about 18 kg (40 lb) as an adult, against 14 kg (30 lb) for the Lagotto Romagnolo.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Lagotto Romagnolo: cooperative, with its own ideas; Spanish Water Dog: keen to work with you) and on loyalty (Lagotto Romagnolo: bonded to its family; Spanish Water Dog: sticks close to its people).
Alike
Both are rated the same on intelligence: needs daily brain work.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Lagotto Romagnolo
Retrievers & water dogs · Medium

In temperament the breed is affectionate with its household, keen and attentive. It keeps the working nose of a truffle dog and a strong urge to dig, and it is alert enough to announce visitors.

Spanish Water Dog
Retrievers & water dogs · Medium

The breed is loyal, diligent and attentive, with a strong drive to work and a herding instinct. It tends to be reserved and watchful with strangers, and it is closely attached to its own family.

The Lagotto Romagnolo page →The Spanish Water Dog page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Lagotto Romagnolo
Spanish Water Dog
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Lagotto Romagnolo
Spanish Water Dog
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Lagotto Romagnolo
Spanish Water Dog
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour5. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home6,7.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Spanish Water Dog grows to the heavier adult, about 18 kg against the Lagotto Romagnolo's 14 kg.
Lagotto Romagnolo
Spanish Water Dog
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More comparisons

Compare the Lagotto Romagnolo with
Lagotto Romagnolo vs Portuguese Water DogLagotto Romagnolo vs Standard PoodleEnglish Cocker Spaniel vs Lagotto RomagnoloAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·