Bolognese dog
{{Short description|Italian breed of dog}}
{{Infobox dog breed
| name = Bolognese
| image = Male adult bolognese dog (cropped).jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = A Bolognese without a show cut
| altname = Bichon Bolognese
Bolognese Toy Dog
Bologneser
Bolo
Botoli
Bottolo{{Cite web |url=http://www.gopetsamerica.com/bolognese/bichon-bolognese.aspx |title=from Go Pets America, Inc, retrieved 2009-04-16 |access-date=2009-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501204653/http://www.gopetsamerica.com/bolognese/bichon-bolognese.aspx |archive-date=2017-05-01 |url-status=dead }}
| nickname =
| country = Italy
| weight = {{convert|2.5|-|4|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}
| maleweight =
| femaleweight =
| height =
| maleheight = {{convert|27|-|30|cm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| femaleheight = {{convert|25|-|28|cm|in|0|abbr=on}}
| coat = long and fluffy
| colour = white
| litter_size =
| life_span = 14.9 years
| kc_name = ENCI
| kc_std = https://www.enci.it/media/2463/196.pdf
| fcistd = http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/196g09-en.pdf
| note =
}}
The Bolognese ({{IPA|it|boloɲˈɲeːze|pron}}) is a small dog breed of the bichon type, originating in Italy. The name refers to the northern Italian city of Bologna. It is part of the toy dog group and is considered a companion dog.
History
File:DocFile Bolognese (cropped).jpg
They belong to the Bichon family group, which includes the Bichon Frisé, Bolognese, Maltese, Löwchen, Havanese and Coton de Tuléar.[http://britishbologneseclub.co.uk/new/?breed-information,7 Breed information, British Bolognese Club] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714205938/http://britishbologneseclub.co.uk/new/?breed-information%2C7 |date=July 14, 2014 }}
The precise ancestry of the Bolognese is unknown.{{cn|date=August 2022}}
Bolognese dogs may be seen in tapestry work produced by Flemish craftsmen dating as far back as the 17th century. The Venetian painter Titian painted the Duke Federico Gonzaga with his Bolognese. The breed is also seen in paintings by Goya, Gosse and Watteau. Other notable owners of the breed include Catherine the Great of Russia (1729–1796), Madame de Pompadour (1721–1764) and Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
The breed was brought into England in 1990 by Liz Stannard and is first shown during that year in the breed registry. In 2001 the breed was able to be shown at all shows with their own classes. They were at Crufts, an annual international dog show, for the first time in 2002.{{cite web|title=Bolognese: Did You Know?|url=http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bolognese/detail/#didyouknow|publisher=2012 American Kennel Club|access-date=April 13, 2012}}
Description
The fur is always white.{{Cite web |title=Bolognese - Dog Breed Information |url=https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bolognese/ |access-date=2025-01-17 |website=American Kennel Club |language=en}} 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 unless kept as pets. The hair sheds very little, but requires regular combing to prevent matting.
Health
A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 14.9 years for the breed with a sample size of 32, compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.{{cite journal | last=McMillan | first=Kirsten M. | last2=Bielby | first2=Jon | last3=Williams | first3=Carys L. | last4=Upjohn | first4=Melissa M. | last5=Casey | first5=Rachel A. | last6=Christley | first6=Robert M. | title=Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death | journal=Scientific Reports | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=14 | issue=1 | date=2024-02-01 | issn=2045-2322 | doi=10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w | page=| pmc=10834484 }}
Gallery
File:Desirée dell'Antica Storia da Chiesanova.jpeg
File:Bolospillo.JPG
References
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{{Toy dogs}}
{{Italian dogs}}
{{Authority control}}