doggiestylish

Bolognese History

Originating in Bologna, Italy during the Renaissance, the Bolognese became popular as a companion dog amongst the royal courts and nobility of Spain, and other parts of Europe from the 1500s to the early 19th century. Both Cosimo de Medici and King Umberto gave these fluffy canines as gifts to family, friends and visiting dignitaries. Over the centuries its numbers dwindled as the aristocracy’s power waned, but dedicated breeders eventually restored the Bolognese population. The Bolognese was accepted to the Foundation Stock Services program of the AKC in 1999.

Bolognese Temperament

Bolognese are a friendly, intelligent companion dog. They make wonderful family pets and generally do well with all household pets. They have very keen hearing and will bark when they feel that anything is amiss. They are a playful, intelligent breed that are generally considered easy to train and are eager to learn new tasks, but they are known for being difficult to housetrain. As with most of the companion dog breeds, they live to be with their owners and do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. They are a breed that needs a modest amount of exercise and are a good breed for elderly and disabled persons.

Bolognese Appearance

Bolognese are a very small dog that usually weighs from 9 to 11 pounds and stand 10 to 12 inches at the withers. Their coats have a distinct wooly texture and grows in ringlets with the colour always being white.

Bolognese Grooming

This breed is considered a low shedding breed that might be good for an individual that suffers from dog allergies. Every few months, the dog must be taken to a professional dog groomer for a clipping. The coat of this dog must be brushed a few times a week to keep mats from developing in the fur. Since this dog has floppy, hairy ears, they must be checked and cleaned weekly to prevent infections.

Bolognese Life Expectancy and Health Problems

Bolognese dogs have no known health issues and the average lifespan of this breed is 12 to 14 years.

Bolognese Pros and Cons

This simplified list may help you decide if a Bolognese might be a good fit for your lifestyle.

Do You Want

• a small dog that is easy to pick and and carry around?
• a low-shedding dog that might be good for a person that suffers from dog allergies?
• a dog that generally gets along with everyone and everything?
• a dog that needs a modest amount of exercise?

Do You NOT Want

• a dog that needs trips to the groomers?
• a dog that needs a lot of brushing?
• a dog that can be difficult to housetrain?
• an uncommon dog that will be hard to find and expensive to purchase?

Useful Bolognese Links

The Bolognese Association of America