Bolognese dog

History of origin

If you look at the galleries of palace portraits of the Renaissance and Baroque, then the noble nobles depicted on them can often be seen in the company of cute white dogs with fluffy hair – Bolognese. However, the breed arose long before the Renaissance – the first mention of it dates back to the XII – XIII century – in Italy, in the province of Bologna, from which it got its name (in the name was transformed into “lapdog”). Therefore, it is not entirely correct to call them French lapdogs, as some do now, because this at least causes confusion with another, primordially French breed – the Bichon Frize.

Throughout the Middle Ages, Bolognese was very popular in Europe, from kings and princes, counts and dukes, and the monarchs of different countries presented them to each other as a precious gift as a sign of friendship between powers. That is how the dogs came to Our Country – the French ambassador gave Empress Catherine the Great several bologneses. The empress was known as a lover of dogs – she was fond of breeding rare breeds, so she favorably accepted the offering. White fluffy dogs quickly gained popularity among the nobility.

Today, like hundreds of years ago, bologneses are very popular in different countries of Europe – most often they are started as companions by older people. In our country, these dogs have been known since the Soviet era, but have always been few in number.

Breed description

The Bolognese is a small and very beautiful dog whose body contours fit into a square. She has a very expressive muzzle, which gives a special charm to the contrast between the snow-white coat and black eyes and nose. The expression is cheerful, considerate and intelligent. The ears are hanging, the transition from the rather prominent forehead to the nose is very clear. These lapdogs are folded proportionally, the paws are of medium length, although sometimes it seems that they are somewhat short, but this is solely because of the long hair. The tail is set high, carried proudly up. From the outside, the dog looks like a soft toy.

The coat is silky, curly (not as curly as poodles), very soft and fluffy to the touch. The color is pure white, fawn on the ears is allowed.

Photos

Character

If you can imagine the ideal temperament for a pet dog, it would be the disposition of the Bolognese. Very kind, smart, funny, but at the same time unobtrusive, they are ready to accompany their owner everywhere: whether it’s a trip to the store, a trip out of town or an evening in front of the TV. Bolognese people are happy to interact with people, but this does not mean that they will stubbornly demand that they be paid attention.

Dogs get along well with other pets, the main thing is to make sure that the cat, which often exceeds the size of the dog, does not offend the Bolognese.

Due to the fact that these lapdogs are not as active as, for example, poodles or Jack Russell terriers, they have become ideal dogs for older people who do not have the strength for long outdoor games with their pets, but love to talk with them and be nearby, and that’s all the dogs need.

Care and maintenance

The main object of effort in caring for the Bolognese is its magnificent fur. In order for it to always remain snow-white, fluffy and silky, it must be combed out daily, preventing thin hair from falling into untidy tangles. If it’s raining and muddy outside, it’s better to put on a dog suit for a walk – it’s easier than washing it later, and frequent bathing is not useful. About once every six months it is worth visiting a dog hairdresser – a groomer, or mastering the art of cutting yourself. However, don’t go overboard with this. Many people do not understand that a dog’s coat is a protection not only from the cold, but also from the heat, it seems to them that it is worth cutting the dog’s hair shorter for the summer, and she will not suffer from the heat, thereby exposing her pet to a serious threat of overheating, which leads to serious diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Therefore, in no case do not cut your dogs short! By doing this, you not only do not help them, but also cause great harm to well-being and health, not to mention the fact that they spoil their appearance. It is enough for Bologneses only to give the shape required by the exterior, but nothing more.

Otherwise, there are no difficulties in keeping Bolognese. It is important that the owners are always in contact with them. The worst thing for these dogs is inattention.

Education and training

No matter how cute the Bolognese looks, no matter how they look like teddy bears, these are real dogs. The fact is that in their world there is no concept of decorative or service breeds, even sizes do not play such a role as a dog’s self-confidence. Sometimes it happens that the smallest dog is respected even by huge dogs solely because it does not doubt its own strength for a minute.

That is why the snow-white powder puffs of the Bolognese need the same training as the border shepherd dogs. So, if you want to raise a truly confident and happy dog, teach your little friend all the commands: “no”, “place”, “to me”, “near”, etc. Walk with him at least a general obedience course, and only then you can start teaching all kinds of circus numbers that the Bolognese perform with great pleasure. And in mind and perseverance they have no equal, so working with Bolognese is a real pleasure. The main thing is, in no case do not spoil your dog, otherwise you run the risk of even growing a negative and nervous creature out of this sweetest creature.

Health and disease

Bolognese is one of the healthiest breeds of all existing, we can say that they practically do not get sick. Of course, there are exceptions to any rule, but they are rare. Is it possible to note the allergy inherent in many white dogs to certain foods, so if you notice that after eating, for example, chicken, your dog begins to itch intensely, you should reconsider his diet.

Also, the good health of the Bolognese does not guarantee that he will not pick up such common infections as distemper or enteritis, so annual vaccinations cannot be neglected. In addition, it is necessary to treat the dog from parasites.

Word to the breeder

Breeder Nadezhda Perevozchikova from St. Petersburg shares:

– Bolognese is a demo version of a real big dog. This is a fluffy cloud that fearlessly moves towards adventure, an excellent friend and companion, very active and cheerful. The Bolognese love movement and are in favor of any kipish, except for a hunger strike. Very social, they are happy to communicate with other animals and, of course, people. At the same time, Bolognese perfectly understand when the owner is not up to them. At such moments, the cloud gently settles somewhere in the corner and patiently waits until his person wants to talk again. Despite the natural whiteness, Bolognese is not picky about food. Mine, for example, eat meat and vegetables with great pleasure, quietly grumbling that they are real predators, and let no one be deceived by their appearance. And even a novice dog breeder can handle the care of the Bolognese coat.

Popular questions and answers

We talked about the content of Bolognese with zoo engineer, veterinarian Anastasia Kalinina: