Toy
15 Years
4 Kg
Toy Dogs
Docile, Intelligent
The Bolognese is a small-sized dog belonging to the Bichon family with a characteristic pure white single coat. It is classified under the Toy group of the Kennel Club. It is a very popular pet because of its charming looks, small size and a non-shedding coat which makes it popular among people with allergies. It is squarely built and well-muscled with an intelligent disposition. The breed originated in Bologna in northern Italy where it was kept by wealthy residents as a companion dog. It has a wide flat skull with an accentuated stop, an almost square muzzle, and a large black nose. Its eyes are large, round and dark ochre in colour with well-pigmented eye rims. The ears are long and pendulous, highly set above the head and rigid at the base. The jaws and teeth form a regular scissor bite. The well-feathered tail is carried curved over the back. The single coat is made of long, flocked/ringed woolly hair and is pure white without markings. Hair on the face is shorter than the rest of the body. A male Bolognese stands between 27 – 30.5 cm while a female can be between 25.5 to 28 cm in height. The average weight is from 2.5 to 4 kilograms.
All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The breed belongs to the Bichon family group which originated from Malta and southern Italy. The Bolognese in particular, was bred and developed in Bologna, Italy as a companion dog and was very popular with Italian nobility. However, the exact ancestry of the Bolognese is clouded in doubt as there were no written records that existed yet when the breed was developed. However, the breed has been depicted in artworks as early as 1200. Tiziano Vecellio (Titian), a well-known 16th-century Venetian painter did a portrait of Duke Frederico Gonzaga, 1st Duke of Mantua together with his Bolognese. Tapestry work done by Flemish craftsmen from the 17th century depict dogs similar to the Bolognese. Royalties from the 18th century were also proud owners of Bolognese. The breed was recognized as a different breed in 1860. It was brought to the United Kingdom in 1990 by Liz Stannard and was shown at Crufts for the first time in 2002.
The Bolognese is a fascinating and delightful little breed which enjoys being a part of a happy family. It is described as playful, intelligent, affectionate and fun-loving that thrives on personal human interaction. It does not tolerate being left alone for long periods of time and will typically develop destructive behaviours such as excessive barking and chewing furniture if it develops separation anxiety syndrome. The Bolognese is a perfect pet for a family with a stay-at-home member. Unlike other small breeds, the Bolognese has a calm and submissive character and usually forms a very strong bond to a member of the family, usually the one who feeds it. It is typically wary and suspicious of strangers but it would seldom show any type of aggression and would rather shy away to a safe place in the house. It will also bark at unfamiliar visitors but not in a yappy manner like other toy dogs.
The Bolognese is an intelligent little breed and full of character. It is always willing to learn and eager to please its master. Training must be done by a firm, consistent but gentle owner preferably starting at an early age. Expose the dog to as many different experiences, people, places and animals as possible to develop a calm, happy, well-rounded character in the breed. The Bolognese is quite sensitive by nature so gentle positive reinforcement training will produce the best result as opposed to harsh training methods. Reward the dog for good behaviour and correct him gently but firmly from wrong deeds.
The coat of the Bolognese does not shed or moult seasonally compared against other breeds. It does, however, lose individual hairs similar to humans. Daily brushing will remove loose dead hairs and help keep the coat looking good. Pay extra attention to the dog’s underbelly, legs and behind the ears because the hair on these parts tend to tangle. Monthly trimming is recommended if the dog is kept as a pet as opposed to a show dog which should be kept untrimmed. Trimming should be left to a professional. Bathing, eye and ear cleaning and toothbrushing should be done on a regular basis.
The Bolognese can be affected by any of the following medical predisposition:
It has a typical lifespan of 12 to 15 years with some dogs reaching 16 to 17 years specially when properly cared for and fed a correct diet. The right diet will typically be recommended by the breeder. An adult Bolognese is not a picky eater but it is always best to avoid giving low quality diet. Good quality food with high nutritional value plus the right amount of exercise will keep the Bolognese healthy and happy for many years to come.
Although it is a small breed, the Bolognese still needs plenty of exercise to keep it fit and healthy. It enjoys being taken out for a nice, long walk. An hour of walk on lead around the park or around the block on a daily basis is good enough to keep it happy. An ideal setting for the dog is a fenced yard where it can run free at full speed or play stimulating or interactive games until it decides it had enough. Proper physical and mental stimulation will keep the Bolognese happy.
As a breed with a happy and joyful temperament, the Bolognese is an ideal choice for a first-time pet owner. It goes quite along very well with children and is a wonderful addition to a family that lives in an apartment setting, in a suburban home, or in a large countryside estate. It is fairly active indoors and thrives on human companionship who loves to be involved in every indoor activities. It is generally good with other dogs especially if it is well-socialised at an early age. It will also get along well with cats and other small animals if it is raised with them from a very young age.
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