Early in 2025, King Charles III announced that he and Queen Camilla had welcomed a new dog into their home.
The news came just a few days after Queen Camilla had announced her own new rescue puppy, Moley, which is a mixed breed. But what breed is the King’s dog?
What dog does the King have?
King Charles has a Lagotto Romagnolo called Snuff. The name is most likely a reference to the dog’s heritage, as the Lagotto Romagnolo originated as an Italian truffle-hunting breed.
Dogs have always been important to the Royal Family across the generations, with Queen Elizabeth II famed for her love of corgis, and Queen Victoria being similarly dog-obsessed, with a raft of different dog breeds in her home over her life.
What is a Lagotto Romagnolo?
Originally bred as waterfowl retrievers in the marshlands of Ravenna in Italy, for many years the Lagotto Romagnolo has been used in the Italian countryside to sniff out truffles, thanks to its excellent sense of smell. While other breeds can be trained to sniff out truffles, the Lagotto Romagnolo is the only purebred dog in the world recognised as a specialised truffle searcher.
Due to its retrieving origins, the Lagotto Romagnolo is one of the best swimming dog breeds, believed to be the original breed from which all water dogs are descended. Its name ‘Lagotto’ comes from the Italian word for ‘lake’: ‘lago’.
The Lagotto Romagnolo might look like a teddy bear, but it’s actually a hard-working, durable dog.
They are a low-shedding dog breed, with a thick, curly, water-resistant coat, so are a good option for prospective owners with allergies that are looking for hypoallergenic dog breeds that don’t shed.
A Lagotto Romagnolo called Orca won Best in Show at Crufts for the first time in 2023.
Top image credit: Getty Images
