Bringing Home Your Lagotto Puppy (8 Weeks to 6 Months)

The first weeks with your puppy are crucial for setting the foundation for a lifetime of good habits and trust.

Nutrition and Feeding

Your young Lagotto puppy needs high quality, puppy specific food rich in protein, healthy fats, and essential nutrients to support healthy growth. Feed smaller, frequent meals (three to four times per day) until around six months old.

Feeding Guidelines:

• Choose premium puppy food with real meat as the first ingredient.
  
  
• Avoid foods with fillers, artificial colors, or by-products.
  
  
• Provide fresh water at all times and monitor weight and body condition regularly.
  
  
• Consult your veterinarian about portion sizes based on growth rate.
  
  

Important Note: Lagottos can be prone to food sensitivities. If you notice digestive issues, skin problems, or itching, discuss potential food allergies with your vet.

Recommended Feeding Schedule:

• 8 to 12 weeks: 4 meals per day
  
  
• 3 to 6 months: 3 meals per day
  
  
• 6 to 12 months: 2 meals per day
  
  
• 12 months and beyond: 2 meals per day (or as recommended by your vet)
  
  

Early Socialization

Socialization shapes your puppy’s confidence and temperament. The critical period between 8 and 16 weeks determines much about your dog’s adult personality.

Expose your puppy to different people, environments, sounds, and textures. Include children, elderly individuals, and people in uniforms or hats. Let them meet friendly, vaccinated dogs and, if possible, other animals like cats or livestock.

Take them to pet friendly stores, parks, and different neighborhoods. Expose them to sounds such as vacuum cleaners, doorbells, traffic, and thunder. Allow them to feel grass, gravel, tile, carpet, and metal grates.

Provide positive water experiences using kiddie pools, sprinklers, or shallow streams. Reward with treats, praise, and calm encouragement. Never force a fearful puppy; let them explore at their own pace.

Socialization Checklist:

• Meeting 100 different people in the first 16 weeks
  
  
• Exposure to 10 different environments
  
  
• Introduction to 5 or more friendly dogs
  
  
• Experience with 20+ sounds and textures
  
  
• Multiple positive water interactions
  
  

Basic Training Foundations

Lagottos are intelligent, eager to please, and learn quickly when training is fun and rewarding.

Essential Early Commands:

• Name Recognition: Say their name often and reward attention.
  
  
• Sit: Hold a treat above their nose and move it back; say “sit” and reward when they do.
  
  
• Come: Use an excited voice and reward generously when they return. Never call them for something negative.
  
  
• Down: Lower a treat between paws, say “down,” and reward once belly touches floor.
  
  
• Gentle Leash Walking: Start indoors, then gradually practice outside, rewarding calm walking near you.
  
  

House Training Success:

• Maintain a consistent potty routine.
  
  
• Take them outside after waking, eating, playing, and before bed.
  
  
• Choose a designated potty area and always reward success.
  
  
• Never punish accidents; clean thoroughly with enzymatic cleaner.
  
  

Expected Timeline:

• 8 to 12 weeks: Accidents common (every 1–2 hours)
  
  
• 3 to 4 months: Improved control (every 3–4 hours)
  
  
• 5 to 6 months: Fewer accidents
  
  
• 6 to 12 months: Reliable habits forming
  
  

Crate Training Benefits:
A crate provides a safe space, helps with house training, and prevents destructive behavior. It also makes travel and vet visits easier.

Crate Training Steps:

• Make it inviting with bedding and toys.
  
  
• Feed meals inside the crate initially.
  
  
• Gradually close the door for short periods.
  
  
• Slowly increase duration and distance.
  
  
• Never use the crate as punishment.
  
  

Keep sessions short (5–10 minutes) and end positively. Lagottos are sensitive; rely on positive reinforcement, not punishment.

Health Care for Puppies

Vaccination Schedule:
Follow your veterinarian’s plan, typically including the DHPP series (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza).

• First dose: 6–8 weeks
  
  
• Boosters: every 3–4 weeks until 16 weeks
  
  
• Rabies: around 12–16 weeks
  
  
• Bordetella for social dogs
  
  
• Leptospirosis if regionally recommended
  
  

Parasite Prevention:

• Deworm every 2–4 weeks until 12 weeks.
  
  
• Start flea, tick, and heartworm prevention early.
  
  
• Continue monthly preventatives.
  
  

Veterinary Visit Schedule:

• Initial check: within 10 days of arrival
  
  
• Follow ups: every 3–4 weeks until vaccination series complete
  
  
• Discuss spay/neuter timing (usually 6–12 months)
  
  

Early Grooming Habits

Start grooming early to build comfort and cooperation.

Puppy Grooming Routine:

• Brush gently several times per week with a soft slicker brush.
  
  
• Trim nails every 2–3 weeks.
  
  
• Clean ears weekly; Lagottos’ ears can trap moisture.
  
  
• Brush teeth daily or with a finger brush.
  
  
• Handle paws, mouth, and tail positively with treats.
  
  

Coat Development:
Lagotto puppies have soft, loose curls that tighten as they mature. Between 9 and 15 months, the adult coat forms. Extra grooming during this phase prevents matting.