I take a particular interest in the breeds in the gundog group :) I am aware that, certainly previously, they have been subgrouped into : HPR, setter and pointer, retriever, and spaniel. The Kooijkerhonde (sp) is, I think, a duck retriever. But can anyone tell me what the Spanish Water Dog and Lagotto Romagnola do and therefore where they fit in, or do they not fit into the subgrouping at all?

The Lagotto Romagnolo was originally used as a water dog and is from the northeastern area of Italy known as Romagna. As the waterfowl disappeared in their area, they began to be used to find truffles. Truffles, being the most expensive food per ounce in the world, are more valuable than gold. The Lagotto Romagnolo is possibly the only breed with this kind of talent for finding truffles. They also make excellent companion dogs.

The Spanish Water Dog is believed to have the same origins as the old Barbet and has been found on the Iberian Peninsula for centuries. In Andalusia, the Spanish Water Dog is used as a sheepdog and is very common in that area. These dogs have an excellent sense of smell and have been used to assist waterfowl hunters and fishermen.

taken from this site:

http://www.gotdogsonline.com/pictures/gallery/

:)