Bolognese

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Bolognese is a small dog breed from the Bichon family that originated from Italy. Pronounced as 'Bole-oh-NESE', the name refers to Bologna which is a northern Italian city. They are also called the Bichon Bolognese. They are small, compact square built toy dog with a distinctive white coat.

The dog is curious and comical. They are intelligent and devoted dogs who loves being with their humans. They make wonderful family dogs. They also shed very little to none making them hypoallergenic dogs. Grooming these dogs could be a challenge as it requires to be done on a daily basis to keep them looking good and tangle free. They can be difficult to housebreak so consistency and patience is a must for training. These dogs are known to be generally healthy with no known health issues to date.

Color

The dog's coat color is almost always pure White although a few of them have blonde markings.

Coat

The Bolognese's single coat has loose open ringlets and flocks all over the body. The face has shorter hair. The texture of the hair is woolly and not silky that is never trimmed or clipped. They shed very little to none but it requires regular daily combing to keep it looking at its best and tangle free.

Personality

These are very intelligent and affectionate dogs who love the companionship of people. They bond very closely with their owners which mean that it can make it difficult to leave them on their own. They are quite aloof when it comes to strangers. They are not yappy or aggressive dogs but they will instantly bark at unfamiliar noises. The Bolognese is a playful and friendly breed although somewhat less active than the Bichon Frise. As they are bright dogs and eager to please, they are easy to train, making them suitable as a companion dog and family pet. They get along well with children.

Care

The Bolognese's requires brushing daily along with monthly grooming to keep their coats looking good and matt-free. Especially in areas like the stomach, behind the ears and the legs. Hair should also be removed from the ear canals. Without proper care, this dog could become a matted mess. If daily brushing would not be possible, frequent trimming is required to keep the coat short, neat, clean and healthy. They shed little to none making these dogs hypoallergenic, suitable for families with allergy issues. These dogs are generally healthy with no known health disorders to date. With proper maintenance, nutritious food and regular shots from the vet, the dog can live up to about 14 years on the average.

Training

These intelligent dogs are fairly easy to train as they love to please their owners and find learning easy. They excel at manipulating to get their way. They are alert and obedient. However, crate training might be necessary as like the Bichon, they are difficult to housebreak. Sometimes a doggy door could be necessary.

Activity

These little dogs are highly active dogs that need their daily exercise. Play can be enough to drain their energy but as with any breed it will not satisfy the dog's primal instinct to walk. Destructive behavior can be developed when dogs do not get their daily walks. They will enjoy playing around off leash in an open yard but make sure that it is a securely fenced yard. They can live in apartments or small spaces as long as they are given enough exercises and sufficient walks.