Toy Dogs

Bolognese Dog – Small But Beautifully Formed

Bolognese Dog – Small But Beautifully Formed

Bolognese – Toy Dog Breed

Bolognese-dog

Image: islavicek/Shutterstock.com

Bolognese - Toy

Name Bolognese - Toy
Size Small
Grooming Easy to Moderate
Training Moderate
Exercise Daily / 25 minutes a day / couple of times a day
Origins Italy

The Bolognese Dog Or Bichon Bolognese

Because Good Things Come in Small Packages.

Bichon-Bolognese Dog

Image: SasaStock/Shutterstock.com

Quick Overview

 

Name:                                                                  Officially it’s the Bichon Bolognese (See Bichon Frise)

Size:                                                                       No more than 30 cm tall

Weight:                                                                No more than 4 kg - tiny

Grooming:                                                          Hypo-allergenic, regular brushing required

Training:                                                               Friendly, eager, easy to train

Exercise:                                                              Minimal, no walking required

Temperament:                                                 Outgoing and happy if correctly socialised

Lifespan:                                                              Up to 15 years

Origins:                                                                 Northern Italy, Poss. Bologna region

Breed Type:                                                        Toy

The History Behind the Bolognese (Spaghetti not included)

The reason we call it the Bichon Bolognese is because it belongs to the family of bichons that are all technical genetic cousins. This group includes the Frise, the Maltese, the Havanese, Lowchen, and Coton de Tulear. They all have roots in ancient Europe and most of them have a long history of nobility or royalty at their heart. Of all of the breeds, it is genetically closest to a Maltese but nobody knows which came first… the Bolognese chicken or the Maltese egg.

While the Frise made its beginnings in the trader boats from the Canaries, the Bolognese made its beginnings somewhere in Northern Italy. It’s thought to be Bologna since that’s where the name comes from, but confirmation of this has been lost through time. We know that they have popped up time and time again in history… King Umberto once gifted Princess Jose of Belgium a Bolognese. Later, the Medici family would send 8 of them to Brussels, as gifts to the powerful families there. In fact, the Bolognese has popped up in history as early as the 12th century.

In the 17th century, the Flemish were creating tapestries rich with these little floofballs, a trend repeated by a Venetian painter named Titian. Both the Madame de Pompadour and Catherine the Great owned Bolognese pups… but they didn’t arrive in Britain until 1990. For thirty or more years, this little dog has graced our shores and our dog shows, making Crufts appearances and all sorts. Nowadays, you can find them in the UK Kennel Club, in the United Kennel Club, in the AKC, and you can even join the danged club… make that one of the clubs.

Fun Facts About your Bolognese Puppy!

Here at Five Minutes Spare, we take pride in finding out the most interesting things about each breed. If you are in possession of a new Bolognese puppy, we have all the best details you can use to amuse people at parties with… Here are the best things about the Bolognese:

  • One of the cutest nicknames for this breed is the Bollo.
  • There is only one recognised colour for this breed and that’s white.
  • The Bolognese almost died out when the monarchies started to become less significant. As a breed, they have nothing but royal blood.
  • Small breeds like this one were treasured as performers in the courts of Europe. They were tiny, cute, and could do a few tricks if well trained. It was this factor that likely endeared them to the nobles in the first place.

The Bolognese is a sweetheart of a companion dog with a refined but playful attitude to life. They’re small enough to be handbag dogs and fuzzy enough to not shed often… Could they be the perfect puppy for you?

Are the Bolognese an Easy Breed to Train?

No, they’re not. Although they can be stubborn on occasion, they would have performed tricks for their royal masters all those centuries ago. Encourage them with treats and watch them try to please you. Give plenty of reinforcement and make sure you get obedience training. Small dog syndrome is brought on by those that don’t socialise small dogs out of fear. Be sure to socialise them and they will be sweethearts.

Do They Need lots of Exercise?

They ought to be walked once a day, but it is non-essential. The walks are a great way for both of you to keep fit and for you to bond with your companion dog. They are so small and light that they will get enough exercise in the garden or if they have a good play a few times a day… but walking your dog can’t really be replaced.

What About Grooming?

These are considered to be shedding-free, but no dog is ever completely hypo-allergenic. However, the Bolognese does have a single coat that is woolly instead of silky. That woolly texture saves it from ending up all over your house. You should brush them 2-3 times a week and the downside is that you will have to bathe them after messy walks to keep them white.

If you want your little Bollo to remain white and pristine then expect to spend a bit of time with them in the bathroom!
Image: cherry williams/Shutterstock.com

Are they a Healthy Breed?

Yes – and they are often long-lived. The average lifespan is 14 years but there are references all over the internet about dogs that are over 15 and still act like puppies. Arguably, the toy breeds are all fairly long-lived if they don’t have any genetic problems… which leads us to where you get your Bolognese from…

Where to Buy your Bolognese Puppy?

If you buy from a registered breeder, they will be able to give you the past familial health history of your dog. If you buy from a puppy farmer there will be no documentation, no history, and no guarantee that the puppy you take home is the puppy you thought you were buying. It might even grow up to be a St. Bernard.

Sadly, you will often come across a Bolognese in dog shelters because of their size. People with small dogs don’t tend to socialise them, which leads to a yappy and angry dog in later life. They end up in shelters. If you ask at your local shelter you may find one fairly soon. Be sure to socialise it as much as you can to break those bad habits.

Not the Breed for you?

If you love the Bolognese but want something a little bigger, there are plenty of other breeds for you to choose from in our Doggy Directory. Let the team at Five Minutes Spare guide you through the best and worst parts of every breed… or the best parts, since they are all Good Dogs and have no bad parts.

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