What is a Bolognese?

Cute as a button, small in size with white fluffy non-shedding hair, these dogs are cousins to the Maltese, Havanese, Bichon Frise’ and Coton de Tulear, and are members of the Bichon family.

Bolognese dogs take its name from the Italian city of Bologna, where they were a very popular companion to the rich and noble. According to Alice Bixler, their history dates back as early as the 11th century and it wasn’t until the 14th to 16th centuries that the Bolognese caught the fancy of nobility. They brought them to the courts of wealthy Medici, Gonzaga and Este, and romped in the throne rooms of Queen Maria Theresa of Austria and Russia’s Catherine the Great. Dedicated Bolognese breeder Cosimo de Medici (1389-1464) gifted several Belgian noblemen with his dogs on a trip to their country. The Duke d’Este sent a pair to Phillip II, King of Spain from 1556-1598, and received a gracious thank you note from the monarch: “These two dogs are the most royal gifts one can make to an emperor.”

How did the Bolognese dogs first come to the United States? We have Bert and Dorothy Goodale of Delta, Colorado to thank, as they imported the first Bolognese dog in 1986. The following year, the couple founded the Bolognese Club of America. The breed is still extremely rare in the country, but it is growing steadily in the US and is recognized by the United Kennel Club and the American Rare Breed Association.

Now there are several wonderful accredited breeders of Bolognese in the United States. They are a dedicated group of people who network together to ensure the quality and standard of the breed.

Buyers beware! As the Bolos gain in popularity, so do the unscrupulous puppy mills and pet stores trying to make a buck selling Bolognese without health checks, and valid pedigrees. These people do more harm to the breed at the expense of the dogs and the unfortunate people who buy them. Stay away from them and support the breed by contacting an accredited Bolognese breeder. These dogs are rare and worth the wait.

To learn more information about the Bolognese breed,
Contact: Bolognesenw@msn.com