Judy Taylor
The little Bolognese belongs to the large group of bichons, the French name for “lap dog”. He’s small and cuddly and likes to sit on your lap, but he’s not really a lap dog, on the contrary!
Everything You Need to Know About The Bolognese
The fluffy boy has a lovable, cheeky nature with which he takes his people by storm and if possible never lets them go free. He wants to be there everywhere and needs a lot of love and even more cuddles to be happy. If what he gets is not enough for him, he will make himself heard loudly. Sometimes he actually seems offended.
The Bolognese likes to go for walks (but not for long) and play a lot with the children, although he needs a break now and then. When he has had enough romping, he likes to spend the rest of the day on the couch enjoying the attention that is given to him.
At first, he is reserved towards strangers. He acknowledges unusual noises with a bark, all characteristics of a good guard dog. Other animals in his environment are usually not a problem.
Due to his small size, he is the ideal dog for an apartment in the city. The hectic life in the big city is no problem for him. He can’t be bothered. The Bolognese does need regular exercise but is otherwise relatively undemanding when it has its owner with it and a little activity is provided. Since the Bolognese is very docile, you can teach him little tricks, which he then likes to perform to a small audience. This keeps him physically and mentally busy.
The Bolognese’s tousled fur is a little work. Combing and brushing are part of daily care so that the fine hair does not become matted. If the Bolognese is already used to this procedure as a puppy, the adult dog will be happy to stay still while it is combed and enjoy the attention.
Breed Characteristics of the Bolognese
The small family dog is recognized by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) and is listed there in the ninth group as a “companion and companion dog”. Males have a height at the withers of 25 cm – 30 cm, females remain somewhat smaller at 25 cm – 28 cm. The Bolognese weighs between 2.5 and 4 kg.
It has a compact but delicate body and appears somewhat stocky. Its body length corresponds to its height at the withers, so it is built almost square. The tail extends the broad croup and curves over the back.
The Bolognese has a medium-length head, its dark eyes are large, round, and black-rimmed. If you look at his face from the front, it also looks square. The Bolognese’s long ears are set high but are carried hanging down.
Its front and hind legs are both vertical and parallel, and the paws are oval and have black claws. A special feature is the long, pure white, curly coat.
Essence and Character
Although the Bolognese looks like a cute cuddly toy and you immediately want to pick it up and cuddle it, it is a “real” dog in every respect. He has a strong character and is spirited and bright. He is very affectionate and loyal to his family. He doesn’t know aggressiveness. This makes him a great playmate for children. If these are still small, you have to be careful that they don’t overwhelm the little guy with love.
Due to its small size, the Bolognese is well suited to be kept in a city apartment. Here he can always be close to his human and guard the home because he pays attention and reliably attacks unusual events. The cheerful and affectionate Bolognese likes to lie on the couch and let himself be pampered, but he also needs plenty of exercise in the form of long walks and social contact with other dogs.
Bolognese is very intelligent and will listen carefully if you want to teach them something. Because of this, his upbringing is unproblematic. When learning tricks, all his skills are shown. Therefore, he is excellently suited for a dog sport that corresponds to his sizes, such as dog dancing or mini agility.
Care of the Bolognese
Basically, his grooming doesn’t differ much from that of other dogs. The paws must be cleaned after the walk and kept supple with fat cream (especially indispensable in winter because of the road salt). Claw control is also required. Normally, they wear down when walking on hard ground, except for the fifth, high-set claw (wolf’s claw). It has to be trimmed with claw clippers from time to time to keep it from growing into the flesh. If you don’t want to do it yourself, go to the vet or a dog grooming salon.
If the ears are dirty, a drop of ear cleaner is put in and massaged in. The dog then shakes the dirt out. Disturbing hairs in the auricle can easily be plucked out with tweezers (which is painless for the Bolognese).
A check for skin irritation and parasite infestation should also take place regularly so that you can act immediately in an emergency.
Bolognese’s eyes require special care. They weep frequently, and the tears leave noticeable, unsightly marks on their fur. Therefore, the eyes should be cleaned regularly with a soft cloth and some eyewash. Special care creams can also be applied.
