Our Frequently Asked Questions: The Tuscany Standard

As you look for your perfect Lagotto Romagnolo, I want to empower you with the exact questions you should be asking any breeder. This is how we do things here at Tuscany Lagottos, ensuring our golden Italian heritage is preserved with the highest integrity.

 

A. What is your background with the breed, and how deeply are you connected to its roots?

My Answer: My love affair with this breed didn't start online; it started where the breed itself did—in Italy. After falling in love with their magnificent temperament and woolly coats during my travels, I dedicated myself to studying their bloodlines. Today, as a preservation breeder, I closely follow the guidelines set by the Lagotto Romagnolo Club of America and the Lagotto Romagnolo Foundation. I am deeply committed to protecting the true Italian standard right here in New Fairfield, Brewster, and New York. You aren't just getting a puppy; you are getting a piece of authentic heritage backed by years of study.

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B. Will I get to choose my own puppy?

My Answer: To ensure absolute success, I will ultimately match the perfect puppy to your specific lifestyle. Every single litter I raise undergoes professional temperament evaluation and Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS). I watch these babies develop daily from day three. A quieter, more reserved puppy who thrives on gentle scent work will not be a happy fit for a bustling life in New York City, whereas an outgoing, highly inquisitive puppy will thrive there. You are choosing me for my expertise, and my promise to you is a dog structurally and mentally tailored to your home.

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C. Do you require a financial deposit to get onto your waiting list?

My Answer: Absolutely not. I do not believe in holding your money hostage while we wait on nature. There are far too many variables in breeding, and a non-refundable waiting list fee goes against my ethics. We only discuss a deposit when the puppies are 6 weeks old, healthy, thriving, and I am 100% certain I have the perfect structural match available for your family.

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D. What are your requirements for spaying or neutering?

My Answer: All of our companion puppies are placed on a strict non-breeding contract requiring them to be altered. However, I strictly forbid spaying or neutering before 15 to 18 months of age. Your puppy needs its natural hormones intact so its growth plates can close properly, ensuring excellent orthopedic health and long-term OFA structural soundness. Protecting their biological development matters far more to me than immediate convenience.

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Protecting the Breed: What to Beware Of in Your Search

It breaks my heart that I even have to write this, but with the rapid rise in popularity of the Lagotto Romagnolo in America, the market has unfortunately attracted ill-intentioned "salesmen" and dog brokers. As you search for your next family member, please protect yourself and the breed by keeping these flags in mind:

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• Beware the "Immediate Availability" Trap: This is a rare, slow-crafted Italian breed. Reputable preservation breeders almost always have homes waiting before a litter is even born. If a breeder has multiple puppies sitting around available for immediate purchase, ask tough questions.

• Beware the Dog Brokers: Steer completely clear of people who tell you they don't have puppies but "can easily source or find one from Europe for you." These are brokers flipping imported puppies for quick cash. They do not know the parents, they do not understand the lines, and they do not care about the health or temperament of the puppy entering your home.

• Insist on Verifiable Health Data: Never accept a verbal promise of "health tested parents." If a breeder cannot instantly show you public OFA registry links or DNA clearances proving the parents are clear of BFJE (Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy), LSD (Lagotto Storage Disease), and HUU, walk away. A smooth-talking breeder can only sell their puppies if they are likeable—don't let charm mask a lack of health data.

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Remember, this beautiful companion will be part of your family for the next 15 to 17 years. It is worth the wait, worth the screening, and worth doing right.

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