Bolognese is part of the Bichon group, meaning they are cousins to Bichon Frises, Maltese, Lowchens, Havanese, and Coton de Tulear. Bolognese dogs go their name from Bologna, a city in Italy. It is believed that the breed was created in Bologna. The first recording of this breed was in the year 1200.

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Bolognese was bred in Italy to be companion dogs and truly do make a great companion. These dogs are loving, sensitive, and playful; they make a great family dog for households with older children.

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Owning a Bolognese: 3 Pros and Cons

Bolognese Size and Weight

The Bolognese is a toy dog breed. Males and females are roughly the same size. They are generally between 10 and 12 inches tall and weigh between 5.5 and 9 pounds. At three-months old, puppies typically weigh between 3 and 5 pounds. When they are six months old, puppies weigh between 4.5 and 8.8 pounds. Most Bolognese dogs are fully grown by the time they are nine months old.

Bolognese Common Health Issues

Overall, these are healthy dogs. However, there are a few common health concerns that you should be on the lookout for in your dog.

Like other small dogs, dental issues are a common problem. Scheduling regular cleanings and brushing your dog’s teeth a few times a week will be important to prevent too much tartar buildup, diseases, or the need for tooth extractions.

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Another common disease among these dogs is Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. In this condition, the amount of blood that is able to reach the thigh-bone is less than it should be. This causes the thigh-bone to shrink, which can cause a Bolognese to limp. Typically, you’ll begin seeing signs of this when a puppy is between the ages of 4 and 6 months old. This condition can be treated by surgery.

Hip dysplasia also affects some Bolognese dogs. This is a genetic condition in which the dog’s thigh-bone doesn’t connect with their hip bone correctly. The two bones rub together, which can become painful and may cause a dog to start to limp.

To review, some of the more common health concerns that can affect these dogs include:

• Dental problems
• Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
• Hip dysplasia

Bolognese Temperament and Behavior

These dogs have a very devoted and sensitive personality. They are relatively easy-going and are happiest when they are with their family; they make a great companion dog. If left alone, a Bolognese can develop separation anxiety and engage in destructive behaviors.

While they are very loving, these dogs can also exhibit stubborn traits, which can make training them a bit of a challenge. They are good with children but will do best in a home with older children who are able to appropriately interact with dogs so they don’t accidentally injure the small Bolognese.

How to Take Care of a Bolognese

There is a lot that makes a Bolognese a very unique dog breed. The care you will need to provide a Bolognese will be different from what dogs in different breeds require. Keeping the nutritional needs, health concerns, and other factors in mind when thinking about how you’ll care for your Bolognese dog is important.

The Best Dog Food for the Bolognese

Since this is a toy dog breed, they will not need large amounts of food. However, they do have a fast metabolism, so it will be important to choose foods that are specially formulated for toy breeds. Always choose a high-quality food from a reputable company to protect your dog’s health. If you decide you want to provide your dog homemade meals, be sure to consult with your vet to make sure you are including all the nutrients your dog needs.

Some owners also choose to feed their dog a raw diet. Raw diets include fish and meat. If you choose to go this route, be prepared to put in a little more work when preparing and planning your dog’s meals. Or, try a freeze-dried kibble infused with raw protein. Especially for small dogs that can get dental issues, crunchy, dry kibble is best.

The food a Bolognese eats should be high in both fat and protein. When looking for puppy food, you should also look for a special Omega 3 called Docosahexanoic Acid (DHA). This will help make sure the puppy develops properly.

The A-Z Animals choice of the best dog food for the Bolognese is Eukanuba Adult Small Breed Dry Dog Food.

This food is perfect for your Bolognese’s dental health, with a crunchy texture, special shape, and polyphosphate that mitigates tartar and plaque accumulation. Also, this healthy food made with real chicken offers plentiful chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, clinically proven ingredients to protect the joints. Your hip-dysplasia pron Bolognese will have the best chance at long-term mobility.

Eukanuba adult small breed dog food is available on amazon.

Eukanuba Adult Small Breed Dry Dog Food, 15 lb

• FOR SMALL BREED ADULT DOGS: Eukanuba Adult Small Breed Dry Dog Food is complete and balanced nutrition for small breed dogs over 12 months old and weighing up to 23 lb
• MUSCLE & JOINT SUPPORT: A combination of animal protein, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate promotes lean muscle development and joint health in active small breed dogs
• HEALTHY BRAIN FUNCTION: DHA and vitamin E support healthy brain function and help keep small dogs sharp
• SUPPORTS ACTIVE DOGS: Optimal levels of fats and carbohydrates fuel an active lifestyle
• HIGH-QUALITY PROTEIN: High-quality chicken is the first ingredient for protein that powers their day

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Bolognese Maintenance and Grooming

These dogs are known for their fluffy white coat. While their hair doesn’t shed, and they are a hypoallergenic dog breed, they are a pretty high-maintenance dog. Their white curly hair will require frequent brushing and bathing to keep it clean and well-maintained. Ideally, you will want to brush your dog three or more times every week. You may also want to take them to a groomer to keep their coat shorter for easier maintenance or consider trimming it yourself.

Their nails should be trimmed once every month. You should also regularly check their ears to look for dirt or buildup. As a toy dog breed, Bolognese may be more prone to dental issues, so be sure to brush their teeth on a regular basis too.

Bolognese Training

Bolognese is an intelligent dog breed which makes them relatively easy to train. Positive reinforcement training methods will be most successful with this breed. However, they may become easily bored if you are too repetitive. Adding some variety into your training can help it to be more successful.

Bolognese Exercise

Bolognese dogs do not require near the amount of exercise that some other breeds need. Most times, they will be content hanging out with their owners in the house. However, it is important to take them out for a walk every day for about 20 to 25 minutes.

Bolognese Puppies

Because of their small size, you will want to be especially careful with your Bolognese puppy to avoid accidentally inuring them. It will also be important to begin training your new puppy as soon as you bring them home.

Puppies have very small stomachs, so they will need to eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. Puppies between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks should eat four meals each day and puppies between the ages of 3 and 6 months should eat three meals each day. By the time your dog is 6 months old, you should be able to switch to feeding them twice a day.

Bolognese Dogs and Children

A Bolognese can make an excellent family pet. Bolognese are loving and enjoy spending time with the people in their family. However, they are best suited for families that no longer have toddlers around the home. Young children that haven’t yet learned how to appropriately interact with a dog could injure a small dog like a Bolognese. It is always important to supervise children when they are around a Bolognese to prevent an accidental injury of either the child or the dog.

Dogs similar to Bolognese

Bichon Frises, Maltese, and Havenese are three dog breeds that are similar to these dogs.

• Bichon Frise: Bichon Frises and Bolognese dogs are both small, white fluffy dogs. Both breeds are affectionate and may develop separation anxiety if left alone for too long. A Bichon Frise is larger than a Bolognese though. The average weight of a Bichon Frise is 10 pounds, while the average weight of a Bolognese is just 6.75 pounds.
• Maltese: Maltese and Bolognese dogs both originated from Italy. They both have white coats that do not shed. A Maltese is slightly less intelligent than a Bolognese and may be more difficult to train. Both breeds are very social and affectionate.
• Havanese: A Havenese is a companion dog breed, like a Bolognese. Bolognese is all white in color, but Havanese dogs may be white, black, reddish-brown, or other colors. Both breeds are easy to train and have a pretty strong impulse to protect their territory.

Popular Names for Bolognese

Looking for the perfect name for your Bolognese? Here are a few to consider:

• Luna
• Lily
• Roxy
• Zoe
• Gracie
• Bailey
• Milo
• Oliver
• Tucker
• Winston

Last update on 2022-07-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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