His Majesty King Charles has been given the gift of a new puppy from a rare truffle hunting breed, and he is said to be ‘besotted’ with his four-legged friend
The King is said to be “besotted” with his new dog, which is from a rare Italian breed called Lagotto Romagnolo. He reportedly received the pup as an unexpected gift about a month ago.
After more than two decades without a dog, His Majesty is said to be overjoyed with his new four-legged friend, whom he has affectionately named Snuff.
Although they were originally used for duck hunting in marshy areas of Italy’s Romagne region, the breed is now best known for sniffing out truffles. Although the King and Queen are due to make visit to the Ravenna area of Italy in April, it is believed that the gifting of Snuff is unrelated, with Palace sources indicating it was a private present.
![The Lagotto Romagnolo is rarely-seen in the UK [Stock Image]](https://i2-prod.aberdeenlive.news/article9986832.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200e/0_A-dog-portrait-by-the-coast.jpg "King Charles gets first new dog in decades and gives him adorable name 7")
A Palace insider shared with The Sun: “Charles is besotted with his puppy. He hasn’t had one since Tigga. The breed is a truffle-hunter. Charles enjoys mushroom foraging, so they have a lot in common.”
The UK Kennel Club describes the lagotto as having originally been a “curly coated duck retriever” but with changes in their natural habitat, they have become adept at truffle hunting.
“The acute scenting powers of the lagotto have been utilised in truffle hunting and this is now his primary use in his native land,” the Kennel Club notes. Recognised by the Italian Kennel Club in 1991, the lagotto is relatively new to the UK, where it has demonstrated its retrieving skills in gun-dog working tests, reports the Mirror.
This news follows Queen Camilla’s announcement that she had adopted a rescue dog named Moley.
During her visit to Canterbury last month to unveil a life-size bronze statue of the writer Aphra Behn, Camilla disclosed she has welcomed a new dog into her life. The trip included a stop at the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, where she celebrated the city’s dedication to heritage and literature.
It was here that she encountered and affectionately stroked a guide dog belonging to a partially-sighted museum group. As she bent down to pet Fergie the Labrador, the Queen commented on the ‘affectionate’ nature of guide dogs.
“I’ve just got a new puppy, she’s eight weeks old,” she told group member Susan Mason, 66, who is partially-sighted. When asked about the breed by Ms Mason, the Queen chuckled and replied: “You may well ask, a bit of everything. It’s a rescue dog. It’s called Moley – it looks just like a mole.”
It is believed Moley was born on Boxing Day and that Camilla adopted her from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
Moley’s lineage is uncertain, with a mother who is half Jack Russell and half mystery, and an unidentified father. Her Majesty had experienced loss recently when her beloved Jack Russell Terrier named Beth passed away in November.