Small in size, Bolognese is a cute-looking companion dog, belonging to the family of the Bichon. Besides its stocky and square built, the Bolognese has an oval skull, black, square muzzle, well-aligned teeth, round, black eyes, high-set, long, hanging ears, and a well-set tail curved to its back. These white dogs because of their friendly nature and cuddly look are the perfect pets one could ask for.
Other names | Bichon Bolognese, the Bologneser, the Bolognese Toy Dog, Bolo, the Botoli, the Bottol |
Coat | Long, soft, wooly and fluffy |
Color | White |
Breed type | Purebred |
Group | Toy dog, rare dog companion dog |
Average lifespan/ life expectancy | 12 to14 years |
Size (How big do they get) | Small |
Height | 10 to 12 inches |
Weight | 6 to 9 lbs |
Litter size | 6 to 7 (3 on an average) |
Behavioral Characteristics | Calm, affectionate, playful, alert, intelligent |
Good with children | Yes, older ones |
Do they bark | Moderately low |
Shedding (Does it shed) | Minimal |
Hypoallergenic | Yes |
Competitive Registration Qualification/Information | AKC/FSS, NAPR, ACR, ACA, DRA, APRI, KCGB, FCI, UKC, KC (UK) |
Country | Italy |
The Bolognese developed 100s of years ago in Italy during the 11th and 12th centuries and was immensely cherished by the nobility in the Renaissance era because of its charm and elegance. In fact members of the royalty often gave away the Bolognese as gifts to their near and dear ones. For instance, an Italian king, Umberto, gifted an adorable Bolognese the Belgium princess, Jose, on her birthday. The famous Italian politician and banker, Cosimo de’ Medici, sent eight Bolognese to Brussels for the affluent families. With the decline in the nobility, the number of Bolognese also reduced. Of the few breeders present in Europe who worked towards reviving this breed, Gian Franco Giannelli is one of the most significant. It reached England in 1990 because of the initiatives of Liz Stannard. They were eligible for shows in 2001 and made their debut appearance at the prestigious Crufts in 2002. AKC recognized it in its FSS in 1999 and also granted it eligibility for competing in Companion events from July 2008.
These are a bunch of playful, happy-go-lucky and easy going dogs with an affectionate disposition, loving to be the center of attraction of everyone in his family always, hence emerging as a perfect lap dog and a great companion particularly for the elderly.
In fact, they share a special bond with their master, desiring his attention always and even following him wherever he goes. Being detached from its owner for a prolonged period could trigger separation anxiety in it.
Its small size is not to be deceived as these dogs have a robust nature and the ability to endure.
The Bolo is friendly with strangers, once they sense that their master is behaving well with the new visitor. However, their keen eyesight and alert disposition make them efficient watchdogs who intimate their owners the moment they sense any unusual activity, by communicating through their deep, pleasant voice instead of barking noisily.
The Bolognese Toy Dog is good with children, though those who are aged above 9 years and are capable of handling dogs in a matured and sensible way. However, keep them away from young kids or supervise when the little ones are interaction with the Bolo as it might get yappy or even bite if disturbed or manhandled.
Their intelligence and eagerness-to-learn make training easy, whereas their strong-willed and stubborn nature could be a bit of a challenge. Hence, the trainer must be firm and tactful and also induce positive reinforcement techniques to make training interesting and fun-filled.
Besides a good quality dry dog food, addition of a rich homemade diet having essential nutrients would be a good option. Make sure o do not give your Bolognese too much of treats as it would take a toll on its health.