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

Cat on a leash: How to do it?

Cats love fresh air. At least most of them do. However, not all of them have the opportunity to enjoy freedom in nature. Especially cats living in cities spend a lot of time indoors without the opportunity to run freely. That is why cat owners may...

Interactive toys for dogs

It is a well-known fact that every dog likes to play. However, not all dog owners use the option of interactive toys. These toys, in addition to being fun and an outlet for energy, also offer the possibility of development. They have a positive effect...

Dog hygiene: Proper dog care

Our pets are often members of our families, so it goes without saying that we want to give them the same privileges and comforts as anyone else. Although we couldn’t imagine it in the beginning, our canine companions follow us everywhere. On the...

CBD Products: When can they be beneficial?

We usually want only the best for our pets. That is why we often look for ways to improve their quality of life and make sure to support their health as much as possible. We feed them with the best on the market, include regular walks and activities...

Dogdartbee: When a disc is thrown at a target

In this next part of our series dedicated to dogfrisbee, an activity where the dog is thrown a disc, which he then catches and brings back, we focus on the discipline of Dogdartbee. This discipline comes from the Netherlands and its main essence is...

Felinotherapy – When Cats Heal

Like dogs, even cats may have therapeutic effects on patients. This treatment method is called felinotherapy and is suitable for both chronically ill patients, who may need help with coping, and those who suffer from long-term stress. Cats can bring...

Choosing a puppy: What to consider?

Sharing a home with a puppy is a great joy as well as worry. Especially if you have no previous experience with a dog or other domestic animal. Before getting a puppy, you should take into account a number of things, think about them carefully and...