Does Your Lagotto Have a Ritual No One Else Understands?

Some dogs have commands. Others have habits. And then there are Lagottos – they have rituals. Don't ask why, don't ask how they began. They simply are. And they repeat with a clockwork precision that would put Swiss watches to shame.

When I asked about rituals that only your dog and you know, I had no idea what a colorful world you'd reveal. Some answers were gentle, some absurd, and some… well, let's just say only those who live with a Lagotto will truly appreciate them.

Let's start with the most universal one: the hour before dinner. My human calls it the "pre-dinner panic." In this magical hour, a calm dog transforms into an opera soloist, an actor, a dancer, and a drama queen all at once. Staring. Paw-pushing. Trotting. Circling. And of course, the occasional performance of pretend starvation.

But there are also more personal rituals. Like the Lagotto who every night makes the same exact rounds – sofa, floor, another sofa, bed – before choosing the perfect spot to sleep. Or the one who insists on drinking only from a mug. Apparently, a bowl is just too ordinary.

Some rituals are so peculiar they sound like fables. A dog who wipes its mouth on towels after every meal. Or one who starts eating by taking a few kibbles out, spitting them on the floor, and only then eating them. It's not a disorder. It's a ritual.

Greeting rituals were another fun category. Some dogs grab a toy and run around the house every time someone comes home. Others spin in circles the moment a treat is near. And one insists on playing with a ball after every evening walk – but only the ball. No other toy is acceptable.

And then there are the morning routines. One dog barks before doing its morning poop – and even bites its human afterward. Another barks nonstop at the neighbors whenever they start their car. And a third demands fresh water by barking at the empty bowl.

Some rituals are full of tenderness. A dog who insists on ten minutes of cuddles every morning. Another who creates a special evening vibe with its favorite toy. And one that hides a very specific treat every single day. Eats all the others, but that one must be saved. For emergencies? Maybe. Or maybe it's just his quiet sense of order.

There were so many responses, we could make a whole "ritual calendar" out of them. Every dog has its world, its rules, its quirks. And maybe that's exactly what makes Lagottos the kind of dogs you can't just own. They need to be understood. And if you don't understand them – that's okay. They'll love you anyway.

And so ends my little survey about life with a Lagotto. We may not all be the same, but every response proved that in those everyday little moments, there's something truly special.

Thank you for showing me that.