Home / Breeds / Lagotto Romagnolo / Similar breeds
Put first for Lagotto Romagnolo, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever stands out through the same family, the same group, plus the same size class. It stands 16 to 19 inches tall, weighs 24 to 35 pounds, and lives 15 to 17 years. The list continues with English Springer Spaniel and German Spaniel, both near on several counts, though neither aligns quite as closely.
What follows works through the list one breed at a time, naming the shared ground and the split for every match.
On the numbers held for both breeds, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever lands nearest to the Lagotto Romagnolo. Both sit in the sporting and gundogs grouping and carry the Sporting group label. The records give both the same working background: gundog work and retrieving work. Both stand in the medium class, 17 to 21 inches next to 16 to 19 inches. Years divide them more than size does, 12 to 14 years versus 15 to 17 years.
Go deeper: the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever profile or breeds similar to the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
Next in line, and nearly as close, is the English Springer Spaniel. Each is filed with the sporting and gundogs and classed in the Sporting group. The records give both the same working background: gundog work and retrieving work. Height barely divides them, 19 to 20 inches against 16 to 19 inches; both are medium dogs. The life ranges pull apart, 12 to 14 years next to 15 to 17 years.
Go deeper: the English Springer Spaniel profile or breeds similar to the English Springer Spaniel.
The German Spaniel earns its place in this set on the recorded numbers. Both records read the same way: sporting and gundogs at family level, Sporting at group level. A shared past runs through both: gundog work and retrieving work. Both stand in the medium class, 18 to 21 inches next to 16 to 19 inches. Years divide them more than size does, 11 to 14 years versus 15 to 17 years.
Go deeper: the German Spaniel profile or breeds similar to the German Spaniel.
The Small Münsterländer rounds out the closest matches. They share the sporting and gundogs family shelf and the Sporting group label. The function lists agree on gundog work and retrieving work for the two of them. Size nearly matches, both medium: 19 to 22 inches against 16 to 19 inches. The clearest gap is longevity, 12 to 14 years against 15 to 17 years.
Go deeper: the Small Münsterländer profile or breeds similar to the Small Münsterländer.
The Vizsla earns its place in this set on the recorded numbers. Family and group agree: the sporting and gundogs grouping, and the Sporting group, cover both. Where they part company is size: the Vizsla stands 21 to 24 inches to the Lagotto Romagnolo at 16 to 19 inches.
Go deeper: the Vizsla profile or breeds similar to the Vizsla.
The Wirehaired Vizsla belongs in this company on the strength of its record. Build splits them more than anything else, 21 to 25 inches next to 16 to 19 inches.
Go deeper: the Wirehaired Vizsla profile or breeds similar to the Wirehaired Vizsla.
| Breed | Size | Height | Weight | Lifespan | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagotto Romagnolo | Medium | 16 to 19 in | 24 to 35 lb | 15 to 17 yrs | Sporting and gundogs |
| Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | Medium | 17 to 21 in | 35 to 50 lb | 12 to 14 yrs | Sporting and gundogs |
| English Springer Spaniel | Medium | 19 to 20 in | 40 to 50 lb | 12 to 14 yrs | Sporting and gundogs |
| German Spaniel | Medium | 18 to 21 in | 40 to 55 lb | 11 to 14 yrs | Sporting and gundogs |
| Small Münsterländer | Medium | 19 to 22 in | 40 to 60 lb | 12 to 14 yrs | Sporting and gundogs |
| Vizsla | Medium | 21 to 24 in | 44 to 60 lb | 12 to 14 yrs | Sporting and gundogs |
| Wirehaired Vizsla | Medium | 21 to 25 in | 45 to 65 lb | 12 to 14 yrs | Sporting and gundogs |
Tallest among the options here is Wirehaired Vizsla, at 21 to 25 inches, a clear step up on height when all the picks are lined up together.
On the recorded traits the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever scores highest: a shared family, the same group, a matching size class and shared working roots. The English Springer Spaniel is next in line.
The English Springer Spaniel is the larger dog in the records, 19 to 20 inches and 40 to 50 lb next to 16 to 19 inches and 24 to 35 lb.
For lifespan the Lagotto Romagnolo leads its own list, 15 to 17 years against the best of the matches, the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever at 12 to 14 years.