Portraits of popular breeds at home and abroad: The Bolognese

These brothers of the Bichon are great companions for everyone. They are easy to handle even by someone who has no experience with dogs. They have a great personality, they require almost no care, they are easy to train and have good health. All they need to be happy is companionship and a bit of exercise.

The Bolognese is the brother of the Bichon. For a long time these two breeds were mixed up until the Bolognese dogs assumed their definite appearance in Italy near Bologna. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale FCI recognized the breed in 1934. 

Their life's purpose has not changed over the years. They have always been pets and companions. They were particularly popular with the nobility and the upper class in the 11th and 12th century. In fact, throughout the Renaissance they were considered the most popular gift among the nobility. Even Maria Theresa, Madame de Pompadour and Empress Catherine II owned a Bolognese. 

However, their popularity did not last long. It slowly declined, and after World War II there was only one breeder remaining in Italy; the breed found itself on the verge of extinction. In the 1980s, when only seven Bolognese dogs were registered in the breed registry, the Bonanno couple decided to try to save the breed. However, most of the registered dogs had a serious defect, so they decided to include dogs without a pedigree that corresponded to the breed standard in the breeding process. 

These little, three to four kilo dogs came to us at the turn of the millennium, and today it is a common urban dog in the Czech Republic that is perfectly suited for apartments. It gained popularity thanks to its mild nature. It's a carefree, cheerful dog that loves its family boundlessly and is strongly attached to it. It shows no signs of aggressive behavior, which makes it a great companion and friend for children. Although they are very vital, they adapt well to a slow lifestyle. What they hate, however, is being alone. They easily learn new things thanks to their intelligence, but sometimes they can be stubborn. Positive motivation is best with these dogs, using force won't work. 

The Bolognese will easily adapt to anyone. All they need is long walks, so they'll even be happy with the elderly. But they are also full of energy, so even athletes will have fun with them.

Their stocky, compact body is covered with white hair without an undercoat that resembles hair. They therefore don't shed, which can be a great advantage. They need to get rid of dead hair with combing. Otherwise, they are usually healthy dogs that are not susceptible to diseases. They don't suffer from any of the common small breed diseases.

 

Related articles

Dogs and cats of the world III: Dogs in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka – a holiday paradise in south-eastern Asia, the promised land for travellers. It is no problem to communicate here in English, the prices are relatively low, the locals are poor, but friendly… However, to dog lovers, apart from the fairy-tale...

Cuddling with cats can be healing as well

A pet brings joy, that’s what everybody who lives with one in a joint household knows. With its playfulness and unconditional love, it often distracts us from stressful thoughts and duties. It teaches us to live here and now, to concentrate on the...

Dog history IV: Bobbie

In this series, we will get to know famous dog personalities. Dogs, after all, play an important role in our life, so let us take a look what have they already managed to achieve during the time of us living together. Bobbie walked an incredible 4000...

Cat records

Same as with dog record holders, we will find many cat records as well. For example, do you know, what is the record in the number of cats living under one roof? 

Dog records

Are you interested in how big the tallest dog is, how small is the smallest one or perhaps how many balls a dog managed to stuff in its mouth? Among the typical records such as age or size, we will find also a few more peculiar ones, so let us have a...

The mystery of cat’s purring

Everyone, who has a cat at home, is definitely aware of its beneficial influence. When you are down or worried, nothing beats a purring ball of fur settled on your lap or a cat which massages you with its small claws. However, did you know, that...

Cat trees and scratching posts

It is clear to every cat owner, that a fluffy needs its own place where it will feel safe, where it can laze about, play, scratch and climb. Not every cat will like a scratching post or a tree, but if your cat belongs among those who love it, the...