The Bolognese originates in Italy, as it takes its name from the city of Bologna, situated in the Northern area of Italy. It is a small breed from the Bichon category, generally considered an ideal companion. This breed is small size and is quite stocky. These dogs' coat is always pure white and fluffy. This is a square-shaped dog, with its length and height at withers being generally the same. They are recognized by a whole variety of worldwide kennel clubs: Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the Kennel Club of Great Britain (KCGB), the American Pet Registry Inc. (APRI), the American Canine Registry (ACR), the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA), and the North American Purebred Registry, Inc. (NAPR).
As said before, these dogs are small: their height revolves around 11 inches, while they generally do not weigh more than 14 pounds. As they do not have an undercoat, they are known for being single-coated animals, with flocks of white hairs falling loose and open all over their bodies.. This is one of the reasons for which the Bolognese needs constant grooming: a daily brush is required, alongside a monthly grooming which is also recommended (it can also include special hygiene regarding the eyes, the ears and teeth). Logically, the hair on their faces is shorter.
If one thing is sure about this breed, it is the fact that the Bolognese can be as serious as it is intelligent and loyal. However, they are willing, playful and easygoing animals, even if they are not the most energetic pets (they are, however, very sharp, even if their shyness can be interpreted as something else). They thrive on attention and can develop a very deep relationship with the owner, loving the company of humans that are members of the family or close to it. They can also be friendly with people they do not know, with the sole condition of being kept in contact with strangers from an early age.
As they are only friendly with strangers if their master is friendly at the same time, they make excellent watch dogs. When they sense strange activities, they notify the master on the spot. Also, the Bolognese is not an aggressive breed. As said before, they love the company of the close ones so, naturally, they do not act very well if left unsupervised or alone for a long time, as they can start mourning and howling, being prone to separation anxiety.
These dogs usually live a long life, with an average of about 14 years also they age very well, being active and acting just like pups even if they are well over 8 years old. What is more, genetic health problems are very rare before the age of 10, as they are generally not a breed that risks major health problems this is another argument for why this dog is quite popular. The ideal masters for these dogs are families with children, as long as the children are mature enough to treat the Bolognese in a responsible manner.
