History of the Bichon Bolognese
The Bolognese dog breed, also know as the “Bichon Bolognese,” as its name implies appears to have originated from the Bologna area of Italy, and the Bolognese is thought to be related to the Bichon Frise. The Bolognese is thought to have descended from Bichon breeds in southern Italy in the 11th and 12th century. The Bolognese was known to have been used to catch mice.
Cosimo de Medici, an Italian politician in the early 1400’s, provided Bolognese dogs as gifts to European noblemen and royalty that he visited, with the result that the Bolognese became especially popular in Spain and the dog was popular throughout Europe. After receiving a pair of Bichon Bolognese as a gift from the Duke d’Este, the king of Spain from 1556 to 1598, Philipe II, said, “These two little dogs are the most royal gifts one can make to an emperor.”
The Bichon Bolognese only continued to grow in popularity for the next few centuries remaining a favorite of nobles but then its popularity wained. Once a favorite of European royalty, the Bolognese is now a rare breed. At one point there were only 500 Bichon Bolognese known to exist in the entire world. European breeders have brought the numbers up but it is believed that there are only around 1,000 Bichon Bolognese in the United States today.
Physical Characteristics of the Bichon Bolognese
The Bolognese is a low-shedding hypo-allergenic dog. I has a long white coat of a wooly texture which needs to be brushed daily to avoid it matting and frizzing. You do not need to clip or trim the hair of the Bolognese, but it should be groomed monthly. Along with caring for its coat, the Bichon Bolognese needs regular care for its nails and ears.
The Bolognese is a small squarish dog with a broad chest, dark eyes and nose and a tail which curls up toward the back.
The female Bolognese will be nine to twelve inches in height. The male may be slightly taller. The Bichon Bolognese will weigh anywhere from four and one half to nine pounds.
Purebred dogs commonly have genetic disorders, disadvantages caused by years of inbreeding. However the Bolognese does not have any serious inherent health problems. Some Bolognese may develop eye problems so it is wise to have them checked while at the vet.
Temperament of the Bichon Bolognese
The Bichon Bolognese is good with children and enjoys other dogs and pets. The Bolognese is intelligent, affectionate and playful. The Bolognese is obedient and very attached to its owner. Because it is intelligent and loves to please, the Bichon Bolognese is generally easy to train. They love to play and the Bolognese both loves and needs attention. The Bichon Bolognese is alert and will serve as a watchdog, and although it is generally quiet, the Bolognese will bark if there are potential dangers. As a puppy the Bichon Bolognese should undergo training to prevent shyness and to learn how to behave indoors. An excellent indoor dog, the Bolognese does enjoy going outside for a walk and running around in the yard.
Life Span of the Bichon Bolognese
The Bolognese, like many smaller dogs can be expected to live 12-14 years or more.
