Dog breeds / Medium breeds
What a Lagotto Romagnolo really costs
The Lagotto is expensive up front, often $2,000 to $4,000 for a rare, waitlisted puppy, and its curly coat needs a professional trim about every 6 to 8 weeks for life. In return it sheds very little, eats like a medium dog and is expected to live 15 to 17 years.
- Size
- Medium, 24–35 lb
- Life expectancy
- 15–17 years
- Grooming
- High
- Insurance risk
- Average
- Puppy price
- $2,000–$4,000
- Food a day
- About 840 calories
Where the money goes each year
A typical adult year for a Lagotto Romagnolo with mainstream food, a groomer, no insurance, in an average-cost area. That's $40 more than the median breed.
- Illness and injury (average)$650
- Grooming$554
- Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$443
- Food$433
- Checkups, vaccines and tests$330
- Dental cleanings$283
- Toys, beds and everyday supplies$230
- Treats and chews$87
- License$20
- Typical year$3,030
Most years land between $2,040 (budget food, home grooming, lower-cost area) and $4,220 (premium food, groomer, insurance, big city). Dogs over about 7 add about $180 a year for senior checkups.
The first year
Buying a puppy front-loads the bill: the price, gear, puppy shots and spay or neuter.
Bringing a puppy home
- Breeder price$3,000
- Crate, bed, leash, bowls and gear$550
- Spay or neuter$490
- Microchip$50
- Puppy or basic obedience class$149
- Upfront$4,240
Running costs in year one
- Food$433
- Treats and chews$87
- Puppy vaccines and checkups$738
- Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$443
- Grooming$554
- License$20
- Illness and injury (average)$650
- Year-one running costs$2,920
First-year total: $7,160. Adopting instead brings it to about $3,960.
Make it your estimate
Change the choices that move the price most. Totals update as you go.
$252 a month in a typical year.
- Illness and injury (average)$650
- Grooming$554
- Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$443
- Food$433
- Checkups, vaccines and tests$330
- Dental cleanings$283
- Toys, beds and everyday supplies$230
- Treats and chews$87
- License$20
- Typical year$3,030
Health costs to plan for
Lagottos have a high OFA hip dysplasia rate (21.5%) and inherited epilepsy, balanced by small size and an AKC life expectancy of 15 to 17 years, so we rate them average for a medium dog; no breed-specific claim data was found.
| Condition | How it affects Lagotto Romagnolos | Typical treatment | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip dysplasia | OFA graded 21.5% of 1,089 Lagotto hip X-rays dysplastic, high for a dog of this size. Source | FHO or other non-replacement hip surgery, per hip | $1,500–$3,000 |
| Epilepsy (including benign familial juvenile epilepsy) | AKC lists juvenile epilepsy as a breed concern; OFA's DNA test shows 16% of 707 Lagottos tested carry the juvenile epilepsy variant. Source | Anticonvulsant medication and monitoring, per year | $200–$5,000 |
| Elbow dysplasia | About 3% of 548 Lagottos evaluated by OFA had abnormal elbows. Source | Surgical diagnosis and treatment (arthroscopy), per elbow | $1,500–$4,000 |
The yearly estimate already includes an average allowance of $650 for illness and injury. A single surgery can cost several times that, which is the case for an emergency fund or insurance.
What drives the cost of a Lagotto Romagnolo
- AKC says the curly coat needs regular trimming, and Lemonade estimates $300 to $600 a year for professional grooming; coats that mat need more frequent visits.
- AKC's 15-17 year life expectancy means many years of food, prevention and senior care, which raises the lifetime total even though yearly costs are moderate.
- Ask breeders for OFA hips and the juvenile epilepsy and storage-disease DNA tests; one in five hips OFA has graded in the breed was dysplastic.
- Food for a 24-35 lb dog costs about $45 to $65 a month per Lemonade.
- Lagottos are bred as truffle hunters and need nose work; scent-work classes are a popular and inexpensive way to channel that drive.
Breeder or rescue
- Reputable breeder
- $2,000–$4,000
- Rescue or shelter
- $0–$1,500
- Lifetime, from a breeder
- $53,900
- Lifetime, adopted
- $50,700
Lemonade puts reputable Lagotto breeders at $1,500-$4,000; the breed is rare in the US and many litters are imported or waitlisted, so prices skew high. Lagotto Dog Rescue sets fees from $0 to $1,500 based on each dog's age and health.
Similar-size breeds by yearly cost
- Border Collie$2,920 a year
- Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever$2,920 a year
- English Springer Spaniel$2,940 a year
- Samoyed$3,010 a year
- Keeshond$3,030 a year
- English Cocker Spaniel$3,030 a year
- Compare all breeds
Common questions
How much does a Lagotto Romagnolo puppy cost?
A Lagotto Romagnolo puppy from a reputable US breeder typically costs $2,000–$4,000. Adopting one through a rescue usually costs $0–$1,500.
How much does a Lagotto Romagnolo cost per year?
After the first year, a Lagotto Romagnolo costs about $3,030 a year, or $252 a month, for food, vet care, preventives, grooming, supplies and average illness costs. Depending on food, grooming, insurance and where you live, a typical year ranges from about $2,040 to $4,220.
How much does a Lagotto Romagnolo cost over its lifetime?
About $53,900 over a 16-year life when bought from a breeder, or $50,700 if adopted, in 2026 dollars.
Sources
- AKC breed page: Lagotto Romagnolo
- OFA disease statistics by breed (hips, elbows, eyes, thyroid, DNA tests)
- Lagotto Romagnolo Club of America
- Lemonade breed guide: Lagotto Romagnolo (costs, breeder and rescue ranges)
- Lagotto Dog Rescue: adoption fees
- Embrace Pet Insurance: Hip Dysplasia in Dogs (veterinary cost section)
- Embrace Pet Insurance: Epilepsy and Seizures (veterinary cost section)
- Embrace Pet Insurance: Elbow Dysplasia in Dogs (veterinary cost section)
Prices are averages from the sources above and the cost baselines on our methodology page, in 2026 US dollars. Your vet, groomer and city will differ. Updated October 14, 2026.