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Bolognese
| Other Names | Bichon Bolognese, Bolognese Toy Dog, Bologneser |
| Nicknames | Bolo, Bottolo, Botoli, Italian Bichon |
| Country of Origin | Italy |
| Weight | 4.5 - 9 lbs. (2.5 - 4 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 10.5 - 12 in. (27 - 30 cm) Females: 10 - 11 in. (25 - 28 cm) |
| Coat | The distinctive single coat (i.e. no undercoat) falls in loose open ringlets/flocks all over the body, with shorter hair on the face. The hair's texture is woolly, as opposed to silky, and is never trimmed or clipped unless kept as pets. |
| Colour | White |
| Litter Size | 6 or 7 puppies have occurred, but the average is 3 |
| Life Span | 12 to 15 Years |
| Origin & History | The Bolognese is a very old breed, so old that it was developed many centuries before written records were kept of dog breeding. As a result, it is almost impossible to make any definitive statements about its ancestry. It is especially challenging to trace the origins of the breed because historically it has often been confused with the Maltese and Bichon Frise. All that can be said with certainty is that the Bolognese is a native of Northern Italy, that it was developed sometime between the Roman Era and the 1200’s, and that it has traditionally been associated with the city of Bologna from which the breed gets its name. The Bolognese is one of the oldest members of a family known as Bichons. 'Bichon' is an archaic French word used to describe small white dogs. Other Bichons include the Bichon Frise, Coton de Tulear, Havanese, Maltese, Bolonka, and the now extinct Bichon Tenerife. The origins of the Bichons are shrouded in mystery, but these are almost certainly Europe’s oldest companion dogs. Because of this confusion, a number of theories have been developed to explain the ancestry of these breeds. One origin holds that the entire group is descended from the Bichon Tenerife, a native of the Canary Islands. Legend holds that these breeds were introduced to continental Europe from those islands by Spanish traders. While this theory may hold true for the development of a few individual Bichon breeds, it would not explain the ancestry of the Bolognese or Maltese as the recorded history of those breeds predates the discovery of the Canary Islands by hundreds or thousands of years. Another origin theory holds that the Bichons were developed in France from the Poodle and/or the Barbet. Both the Poodle and the Barbet are incredibly old breeds which makes this theory quite possible. However, there is little evidence to support this theory and in any case it would not explain the existence of such dogs in Italy thousands of years ago. At one time it was theorized that these dogs may have been descended from East Asian companion dogs that were imported by the Roman Empire, but genetic tests and historical evidence has almost completely debunked this. Of all the theories purported to explain the ancestry of the Bichons, the most likely is that these breeds are all descended from the Maltese. With a definitive historical record that stretches back at least 2,500 years, the Maltese is certainly one of the oldest dog breeds found in Europe, and for that matter the entire world. Known in Greek as the Melitaei Catelli and Latin as the Canis Melitaeus, this breed was very well-known to the ancient residents of the Mediterranean. The Maltese appears in numerous pieces of art, and was mentioned by name by such ancient intellectual giants as Aristotle, Pliny the Elder, Callimachus, and Strabo. Even the most ancient writers debated the origins of the Maltese, but it is most likely that the breed was developed from either Spitz-type dogs from Switzerland or the primitive sighthounds of the Mediterranean such as the Cirneco dell’Etna and the Ibizan Hound. However Bichon-type dogs first came into existence, they became extremely popular in Roman Italy. Along with the Italian Greyhound, the Bichons became the most popular companion dogs in Italy, and were depicted on countless works of art. Some of these dogs possessed the straight silky hair of the Maltese while others possessed a fluffier and curlier coat of the Bolognese. Although it is not clear, it is extremely likely that the Bolognese was developed from the Maltese. The Bolognese may have been developed by breeding Maltese with unusual hair, but it was probably the result of crossing the Maltese with a curly-coated breed. Due to the breed’s age, the most likely potential ancestors were the Poodle, Barbet, Lagotto Romagnolo, or some shared ancestor of those breeds. Although the lack of evidence makes it impossible to prove, these Roman dogs are probably the ancestors of the modern Bolognese breed. It is unclear how the breed became associated with the city of Bologna, but it has been since at least the 1200’s. During that time, the Italian Renaissance was beginning to pick up steam. The Bolognese became the favorite companion of noble families throughout Northern and Central Italy and was frequently depicted alongside them by the great masters of the day. The Bolognese was one of the most depicted dog breeds prior to the 20th Century and appears in the works of artists across Europe. Among the most famous artists to show the Bolognese were Titian, Goya, Gosse, Watteau, and Pierre Breughel. It was during this time that the breed began to make regular appearances in the written record for the first time since the Fall of Rome. The friendly and beautiful Bolognese was extremely desirably and fashionable throughout Europe for many centuries, and the Italian nobility often gave these dogs as gifts. In recent years, it has been suggested that Bolognese given as gifts in this manner may have actually been the ancestors of all other Bichon breeds, an idea that is rapidly gaining traction in the canine world. Throughout its incredibly long history, the Bolognese has attracted a large number of famous fanciers. The Gonzagas, one of Italy’s most powerful noble houses, were famed breeders of these dogs. Cosimo de Medici (1389 -1464) brought 8 of these dogs to Brussels to give as gifts to Belgian noblemen and women in the early 1400’s. Philip II of Spain so greatly admired the 2 breed members he had been given by the Duke d’Este in the 1500’s that he wrote, “These two little dogs are the most royal gift one can give an Emperor.” Catharine the Great of Russia and Madame De Pompadour of France both owned these dogs, as did the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. Maria Theresa loved her Bolognese so much that when he died she had him stuffed and displayed at a Viennese museum. The Bolognese remained very popular across Europe from the 1200’s until the late 1700’s. During this time, the breed was regularly crossed with a number of similar breeds, which may or may not be its direct descendants and/or ancestors, including the Bichon Frise, Bichon Tenerife, Maltese, and Lowchen. Both the Bolognese and the Bichon Frise were imported into Russia. The Russian nobility developed their own breeds from these dogs. These small companion breeds became known as Bolonkas, which loosely translates to Bolognese. Unfortunately for the Maltese, aristocratic tastes began to change around the beginning of the 19th Century. By that time, dozens of other companion breeds had been developed in Europe, and new ones had been imported from around the world. The Bolognese fell out of favor and its numbers began to fall. The breed was also severely impacted by the continuous reduction of the nobility’s power and influence which began with American Revolution in 1776 and the French Revolution in 1789. The Bolognese was able to survive by gaining new fanciers. Middle and upper class Europeans began to acquire these dogs, first in an attempt to emulate the nobility and then because they became fanciers themselves. By the 20th Century, the breed had established sizable support in the Netherlands, France, and Italy. The Bolognese was beginning to make a comeback prior to the start of the two World Wars. World War I and World War II devastated Western Europe, and the Bolognese population was greatly impacted as well. Many dogs died as a direct result of the military conflict, and many more perished when their owners were forced to abandon them. The Bolognese did fare better than many other breeds, mainly because its population was spread throughout Europe. By the middle of the 20th Century, the Bolognese was a very rare bred and was on the verge of being in danger of extinction. The Bolognese was saved by a very dedicated and loyal group of fanciers. Breeders across Western Europe, primarily in France, Italy, and the Netherlands began to work towards reviving the Bolognese. Their efforts have largely proved successful, and the Bolognese is once again known throughout Europe. The global population of the Bolognese continues to grow, and the breed is currently being introduced around the world. In recent years, a few Bolognese have made their way to the United States. Although still very rare in the United States, the breed is earning a dedicated following in America. In 1995, the Bolognese was granted full recognition with the United Kennel Club (UKC) as a member of the Companion Dog Group. The American Bolognese Club (ABC) was founded to protect and promote the Bolognese in America. The ABC’s main goal is to have the Bolognese achieve full recognition with the American Kennel Club (AKC). In 1999, the Bolognese took the first step towards full recognition with the AKC when the breed was entered into the Foundation Stock Service (AKC-FSS) the first step towards full AKC recognition. Later, the ABC was selected as the AKC’s official parent club. If the Bolognese breed and the ABC reach certain milestones, it is believed that the Bolognese will eventually move into the AKC’s Miscellaneous Class and eventually into either the Toy or Non-Sporting Groups. The Bolognese is one of Europe’s oldest companion breeds, and is almost exclusively kept as a companion animal. In recent decades, the breed has also found success in the show ring, in competitive obedience competitions, and as a therapy animal. However, it seems that the future of the Bolognese will be primarily as a companion animal, a task at which this breed excels. |
| Personality | The Bolognese is of small size, stocky and compact, covered with a pure white, long and fluffy coat. Square built, the length of the body is equal to the height at the withers. The head is of medium length, reaching 1/3 of the height of the withers. Its width, measured at the level of the zygomatic arch, is the same as its length. The stop is rather accentuated. The skull of slightly ovoid (egg-shaped) shape in the sagital direction and rather flat in its upper part, has rather convex sides; the protuberances of the frontal bones are well developed. The longitudinal axes of the skull and muzzle are parallel; the frontal furrow is slightly accentuated and the occipital protuberance slightly marked. The length of the skull is slightly more than that of the muzzle. The nose is on the same line as the topline of the muzzle; seen in profile, its foreface is on the vertical. The nose is large and must be black. The muzzle's length is equal to 2/5 of the length of the head; the topline of the muzzle is straight and the sides of the muzzle are parallel so that the fore part of the muzzle is almost square. The lower orbital region is well chiseled. The upper lips are very developed in height; they do not cover the bottom lips, and the bottom profile of the muzzle is determined by the lower jaw. The jaw is normally developed, with top and bottom arches perfectly adapted. The teeth are white, evenly aligned, with strong and complete dentition. Articulation of incisors as scissor bite; pincer bite tolerated. The eyes are set on an almost frontal plan; well opened, of superior to normal in size. Eyelid opening is round; the eyeball must not be prominent; the white of the eye is not visible. The rims of the eyelids must be black, and the iris of a dark ochre color. The ears are high set; they are long and hanging, and rather rigid at their base, so that the upper part of the external ear is detached from the skull, giving the impression of the head being larger than it really is. The neck is without dewlap; its length is equal to the length of the head. The dog being of a square construction, the length of the body, measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock bone is equal to that of the height at the withers. The straight profile of the back, and that of the loin, slightly convex, merge harmoniously in the line of the croup. The withers are not very prominent from the topline. The chest is ample, let down to level of elbows, with well sprung ribs, the height reaching almost half of the height at the withers. The tail is set in the line of the croup, carried curved over the back. The length of the shoulder blades is equal to 1/4 of the height of the withers; in relation to the horizontal, they are slanting and are near the vertical in relation to the median plane of the body. They are well free in their movements. The upper arms are well joined to the body, of an almost equal length to that of the shoulder, but less slanting. The elbows are on a parallel plane to the median plane of the body. Its length is equal to that of the upper arm; follows a perfect vertical direction. The distance from the point of the hock to the ground is slightly less than a third of the height of the withers. The hair is long all over the body, from head to tail, from the topline to the feet. It is shorter on the muzzle. Rather fluffy, thus not lying flat, but in flocks; never forms fringes. Coat colors include pure white, without any patches or any shades of white. |
Care Requirements
| Health | It does not appear that any health surveys have been conducted on the Bolognese, which makes it impossible to make any definitive statements about the breed’s health. However, this dog is regarded as being in exceptional health. Although the Bolognese is certainly not immune to genetically inherited health conditions, it does tend to suffer from fewer of them and at lower rates than most purebred dogs. The Bolognese has been greatly benefitted by having an ancient gene pool and having been spared the worst excesses of commercial (puppy mill) breeding practices. The ABC and other breed fanciers do seem concerned about the development of eye problems and patellar luxation. Most sources seem to indicate that this breed has a life expectancy of between 14 and 16 years although it is unclear what this estimate is based on. Although skeletal and visual problems have not thought to occur at high rates in this breed it is highly advisable for owners to have their pets tested by both the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF). The OFA and CERF perform genetic and other tests to identify potential health defects before they show up. This is especially valuable in the detection of conditions that do not show up until the dog has reached an advanced age, making it especially important for anyone considering breeding their dog to have them tested to prevent the spread of potential genetic conditions to its offspring. |
| Grooming | The coat requires daily brushings, with monthly grooming sessions recommended. This breed sheds little to no hair. |
| Exercise | These are active little dogs that need a daily walk. Play will take care of a lot of their exercise needs, however, as with all breeds it will not fulfill their primal instinct to walk. Dogs that do not get to go on daily walks are more likely to display behavior problems. They will also enjoy a good romp in a safe open area off-lead, such as a large, fenced-in yard. |
| Other Considerations | The Bolognese is a good dog for apartment life. It will do okay without a yard. |
