Bolognese (dog)
Encyclopedia
The Bolognese is a small breed
of dog
of the Bichon
type
, originating in Italy
. The name refers to the northern Italian city of Bologna
.
, kept as a companion dog
. The eyes are large and dark, as is the nose. The Bolognese's height varies between 25 to 30 cm/10 to 12 in at the withers
. Weight varies between 4 and 5 kg/9 to 11 lbs.
The Bolognese often appears on lists of dogs that allegedly do not shed (moult
). However, such lists are misleading. Every hair in the dog coat grows from a hair follicle
, which has a cycle of growing, then dying and being replaced by another follicle. When the follicle dies, the hair is shed. The length of time of the growing and shedding cycle varies by age and other factors. "There is no such thing as a nonshedding breed."
Frequent brushing and bathing, required to keep the Bolognese looking its best, reduces the amount of loose fur in the environment.
Generally somewhat less active than the Bichon Frise, the Bolognese is nevertheless a playful and friendly breed, which will form a close bond with its owner. It is also intelligent, easy to train, and eager to please, making it an ideal companion dog and family pet, although it may initially be somewhat reserved with strangers. They are good with children. Its life expectancy can be 16-18 years.
, around the 11th or 12th century. Like the Bichon Frisé
, it became popular as a companion dog amongst the royal courts and nobility of Italy
, and other parts of Europe
from the 16th century to the early 19th century, and Bichons featured in several paintings by artists such as Titian
and Goya. They became the pampered companions of the nobility of Italy. One example is that of Cosimo de Medici (1389 - 1464) who took eight Bolognese to Brussels as gifts for Belgian noblemen. Both the Gonzagas and Medicis were known to have bred them. The Duke d'Este gave a pair to King Phillip II of Spain as a gift and he was thanked by the king who wrote, "These two little dogs are the most royal gifts one can make to an emperor." Many famous personalities in history had Bolognese: Madame Pompadour (1721-1764), Czarina Catherine the Great of Russia (1729-1796), and Maria Therese, Empress of Austria (1717-1780). Maria Therese loved her bolognese so much that after its death she had it preserved and it can be seen in the Natural History Museum in Vienna, Austria. With the decline of the aristocracy in Europe, the Bolognese fell from favour and by the end of World War II the breed became almost extinct. But with the hard work of some dedicated breeders in Italy and Belgium the breed was resurrected.
The Bolognese was recognized in 1989 by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale
as breed number 196 in Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs Section 1.1 Bichons from Italy.
Dog breed
Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock....
of dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
of the Bichon
Bichon
Bichon is the name for a type of related non-sporting category dog breeds. They vary in appearance, but all have tails curled over their back, a coat that is hair rather than fur that doesn't readily shed, short snouts, drop ears, and large, dark eyes. They were all bred to be amiable companion...
type
Dog type
Dog types are broad categories of dogs based on function, with dogs identified primarily by specific function or style of work rather than by lineage or appearance....
, originating in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The name refers to the northern Italian city of Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
.
Appearance
The Bolognese is a small, white, compact dog with a distinctive white single coatCoat (dog)
The coat of the domestic dog refers to the hair that covers its body. A dog's coat may be a double coat, made up of a soft undercoat and a coarser topcoat, or a single coat, which lacks an undercoat...
, kept as a companion dog
Companion dog
Companion dog usually describes a dog that does not work, providing only companionship as a pet, rather than usefulness by doing specific tasks. Many of the toy dog breeds are used only for the pleasure of their company, not as workers...
. The eyes are large and dark, as is the nose. The Bolognese's height varies between 25 to 30 cm/10 to 12 in at the withers
Withers
The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal. In many species it is the tallest point of the body, and in horses and dogs it is the standard place to measure the animal's height .-Horses:The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the...
. Weight varies between 4 and 5 kg/9 to 11 lbs.
Coat
The distinctive single coat (i.e. no undercoat) falls in loose open ringlets/flocks all over the body, with shorter hair on the face. The hair's texture is woolly, as opposed to silky, and is never trimmed or clipped. The hair sheds very little, but requires regular combing to prevent matting.The Bolognese often appears on lists of dogs that allegedly do not shed (moult
Moult
In biology, moulting or molting , also known as sloughing, shedding, or for some species, ecdysis, is the manner in which an animal routinely casts off a part of its body , either at specific times of year, or at specific points in its life cycle.Moulting can involve the epidermis , pelage...
). However, such lists are misleading. Every hair in the dog coat grows from a hair follicle
Hair follicle
A hair follicle is a skin organ that produces hair. Hair production occurs in phases, including a growth phase , and cessation phase , and a rest phase . Stem cells are principally responsible for the production of hair....
, which has a cycle of growing, then dying and being replaced by another follicle. When the follicle dies, the hair is shed. The length of time of the growing and shedding cycle varies by age and other factors. "There is no such thing as a nonshedding breed."
Frequent brushing and bathing, required to keep the Bolognese looking its best, reduces the amount of loose fur in the environment.
Temperament
These dogs are very intelligent and love the companionship of people but are often quite reserved with strangers, and while not yappy have acute hearing and will generally bark at strange noises.Generally somewhat less active than the Bichon Frise, the Bolognese is nevertheless a playful and friendly breed, which will form a close bond with its owner. It is also intelligent, easy to train, and eager to please, making it an ideal companion dog and family pet, although it may initially be somewhat reserved with strangers. They are good with children. Its life expectancy can be 16-18 years.
History
A member of the bichon group of dogs, the Bolognese is thought to have descended from bichon-type dogs in southern ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, around the 11th or 12th century. Like the Bichon Frisé
Bichon Frisé
A Bichon Frise , is a small breed of dog of the Bichon type. They are popular pets, similar in appearance to, but larger than, the Maltese.-Etymology and History:...
, it became popular as a companion dog amongst the royal courts and nobility of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and other parts of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
from the 16th century to the early 19th century, and Bichons featured in several paintings by artists such as Titian
Titian
Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio Tiziano Vecelli or Tiziano Vecellio (c. 1488/1490 – 27 August 1576 better known as Titian was an Italian painter, the most important member of the 16th-century Venetian school. He was born in Pieve di Cadore, near...
and Goya. They became the pampered companions of the nobility of Italy. One example is that of Cosimo de Medici (1389 - 1464) who took eight Bolognese to Brussels as gifts for Belgian noblemen. Both the Gonzagas and Medicis were known to have bred them. The Duke d'Este gave a pair to King Phillip II of Spain as a gift and he was thanked by the king who wrote, "These two little dogs are the most royal gifts one can make to an emperor." Many famous personalities in history had Bolognese: Madame Pompadour (1721-1764), Czarina Catherine the Great of Russia (1729-1796), and Maria Therese, Empress of Austria (1717-1780). Maria Therese loved her bolognese so much that after its death she had it preserved and it can be seen in the Natural History Museum in Vienna, Austria. With the decline of the aristocracy in Europe, the Bolognese fell from favour and by the end of World War II the breed became almost extinct. But with the hard work of some dedicated breeders in Italy and Belgium the breed was resurrected.
The Bolognese was recognized in 1989 by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale
Fédération Cynologique Internationale
Fédération Cynologique Internationale is an international federation of kennel clubs based in Thuin, Belgium. The English language translation, World Canine Organisation, is not often used.Its goals are described in Article 2 of their regulations:...
as breed number 196 in Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs Section 1.1 Bichons from Italy.
See also
- BichonBichonBichon is the name for a type of related non-sporting category dog breeds. They vary in appearance, but all have tails curled over their back, a coat that is hair rather than fur that doesn't readily shed, short snouts, drop ears, and large, dark eyes. They were all bred to be amiable companion...
- Companion Dog GroupCompanion GroupCompanion Group is the name of a breed group of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds, and does not necessarily include all dogs kept as companions or pets. In some kennel clubs the Companion Group is called the Companion and Toy Group...
- Companion dogCompanion dogCompanion dog usually describes a dog that does not work, providing only companionship as a pet, rather than usefulness by doing specific tasks. Many of the toy dog breeds are used only for the pleasure of their company, not as workers...
- Hypoallergenic dog breedsHypoallergenic dog breedsThe name Hypoallergenic dog breed is commonly used to refer to a dog breed that is more compatible with allergic persons than other breeds, except for the Malti-Poo...
- Toy GroupToy GroupToy Group is the name of a breed Group of the smallest kinds of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds. Toy Group does not necessarily refer to one particular type of dog. Most major English-language kennel clubs include a Toy Group although different kennel clubs...
- Lap dogLap dogA lapdog or lap dog is a dog that is small enough to be held in the arms or lie comfortably on a person's lap. Lapdogs are not a specific breed, but is a generic term for a type of dog of small size and friendly disposition....