Temperament
Affectionate, Biddable, Lively, Curious.
Health problems to know about
- Benign familial juvenile epilepsy
- Lagotto storage disease
- Cerebellar abiotrophy
- Hip dysplasia
Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.
Daily care
Daily exercise with nose work, scent games or tracking to occupy the brain. Comb the curls to the skin a few times a week and trim the hair around the eyes as needed. Dry and check ears after swimming.
A good fit for
Active families, people keen on nose work or agility, and owners who want a lower-shedding dog and do not mind regular grooming.
Probably not ideal for
Prized gardens (they dig), owners out all day, and anyone hoping a low-shedding coat means low maintenance.
Sources
Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.
