What Good Lagotto Breeders Do
Choose the Breeder First
Every Lagotto puppy is easy to fall in love with. The breeder behind that puppy will influence far more than the photograph that first caught your attention. Decisions about health testing, temperament, pedigree, early development, and placement help shape the dog you may share your life with for the next fourteen years.
A responsible breeder should be willing to explain those decisions openly. They should provide the health-testing results of both parents, use a clear written contract, raise puppies with purposeful socialization, match puppies thoughtfully, and remain available as a resource throughout the dog’s life.
Choose the breeder first. A good breeder will care as much about whether you are the right home for the puppy as you care about whether the puppy is right for you.
A Good Breeder Will Ask You About You, Too
Questions Every Breeder Should be Willing to Answer
Health & Breeding Decisions
• What health testing has been completed on both parents, and may I see the results?
• Are the results recorded in the OFA database or an equivalent registry for foreign dogs?
• Why were these two dogs chosen for each other?
• How were health, temperament, pedigree, working ability, and genetic carrier status considered before breeding?
Puppy Raising & Placement
• Where are the puppies raised, and what are they exposed to during their first weeks?
• What socialization, enrichment, handling, and early training do they receive?
• How are individual temperaments evaluated, and how are puppies matched with families?
• At what age do puppies go home, and what veterinary care and records are provided?
Contracts & Lifelong Support
• May I read the written contract and health guarantee before making a commitment?
• What are the deposit, payment, registration, and spay/neuter requirements?
• What happens if I can no longer keep the dog?
• Will the breeder remain available for questions and support throughout the dog’s life?
Health Testing Is Only the Beginning
Health testing helps breeders make better-informed decisions and reduce avoidable risks, but no breeder can promise that a dog will never develop a health problem. A responsible breeder understands both the strengths and the weaknesses within their dogs and pedigrees—and is willing to discuss them honestly.
Temperament matters just as much as test results. Breeding dogs should be stable, confident, and suited to the lives they are expected to produce for the next generation. A good breeder looks beyond appearance and considers temperament, working ability, structure, health, and family history when planning a litter.
The way puppies are raised also matters. Purposeful socialization, enrichment, handling, observation, and thoughtful matching give each puppy a stronger beginning. A responsible breeder’s involvement does not end when the puppy leaves; they remain available and will take responsibility for the dogs they produce throughout their lives.
A Good Breeder Will Ask About You, Too
Choosing a breeder is a two-way process. A responsible breeder should want to understand your household, daily routine, activity level, experience with dogs, other pets, children, and what you hope life with a Lagotto will look like.
Do not be surprised by an application, a detailed conversation, or questions that feel personal. These are signs that the breeder is thinking beyond the sale and trying to determine whether the breed—and a particular puppy or dog—is truly suited to your home.
A thoughtful breeder may recommend a different puppy, a different sex, an older dog, a future litter, or even another breed. They may also decide that a placement is not appropriate. A disappointing conversation before a puppy goes home is far better than a painful mismatch afterward.
The Premier Truffles Commitment
At Premier Truffles, thoughtful breeding begins with health-tested dogs, carefully considered pairings, and an honest understanding of each dog’s strengths and weaknesses. Puppies are raised in our home using Puppy Culture protocols, observed as individuals, and matched according to temperament, energy level, and the needs of each family.
Every placement includes a written contract, health guarantee, lifetime return commitment, and continued support. Our responsibility does not end when a puppy or dog leaves our home.