The Truffle Dog Whose Nose Ages Last
The Lagotto Romagnolo is an ancient Italian breed, once a water retriever and now famed as a truffle hunter, with a teddy-bear look, a single woolly curly coat, and one of the keenest noses in the dog world. In senior years the nose usually outlasts the legs. A grey-muzzled Lagotto may still light up completely when scent work appears, even while his hips tire on long woodland walks and his recovery after a big day stretches out.
Scent Games Replace Long Hunts
Recreate truffle work at garden scale. Hide treats or a scented toy in grass, under light leaf litter, or in a row of flowerpots, and let him work a small area thoroughly with praise for every find. Scatter feeding in short grass turns an ordinary meal into twenty minutes of nose-led pottering that tires him more kindly than a forced march. Keep woodland outings shorter and on softer, level paths, let him choose detours to interesting smells rather than covering distance, and carry water for both of you on warm days. Watch his gait home: lagging, sitting down mid-walk, or stiffness that is still obvious after a night's rest means the outing was too long or something needs checking.
The Woolly Coat and Ears in Later Life
Lagotto hair grows continuously and felts into mats if it is neglected, especially behind the ears, in the armpits, and where a harness rubs. In old age, clip the coat to a practical, even length more often rather than attempting marathon grooming sessions, and work in short sittings with breaks so stiff joints are not held in one position. Senior skin tears and bruises more easily, so tease mats out gently and check the skin under the curls for redness, flaking, or lumps each week. Those hairy ears need routine attention: keep the ear opening tidy as your groomer or vet shows you, dry ears after wet walks, and watch for head shaking or a musty smell. Report persistent scratching, sore patches, or a coat that changes texture suddenly, because skin is often where a senior dog's wider health shifts show first.
Feeding a Keen-Nosed Forager
Lagottos are resourceful eaters who will forage enthusiastically, so senior weight management partly means managing opportunity: secure bins, keep counters clear, and measure the meals he is actually supposed to have. Scatter games should use food taken from his daily ration, not added to it, so enrichment does not quietly become a second dinner. Aim to feel his ribs under the curls with light pressure, weigh him monthly, and adjust portions gradually as search sessions replace hikes. Feed two measured meals, notice if he starts leaving food or chewing on one side, which can point to dental discomfort, and keep water available in the rooms where he spends his day. Increased thirst, weight loss despite good eating, or a dull coat alongside lower energy should prompt a vet visit with blood work rather than a simple change of food.
Health Notes Worth Keeping for This Breed
Ask your vet to pay particular attention to hips, eyes, and teeth at senior checks, and to note how his gait compares with the previous visit, because gradual hip stiffness in a cheerful, nose-driven dog is easy to under-report. Keep a simple record of search enthusiasm, walk length tolerated, appetite, and any eye cloudiness or bumping into things in dim rooms, and bring it to appointments. Seek a check promptly if he limps beyond a day, stops enjoying scent games he loved, develops a growing lump under the curls, or drinks noticeably more. Filing those observations in his KinsLe Pet Passport alongside examination and vaccination records means his next vet, groomer-vet referral, or holiday carer reads one consistent Lagotto history.