T
he Bolognese is what I fondly call a ‘cousin’ breed to the Bichon Frise and the Maltese both beautiful white dogs, and the varied colored Havanese.
Legend has it that the dogs, from which these breeds originated, were once closer related than they are today. On trips through Europe I found paintings of small white dogs in various chateaus and
castles which I believed bore some similarity to the Maltese, my then canine companion of choice, but now I'd like to think that they are pictures of the playful Bolognese.
As I soon discovered, the Bolognese have a European history with ties to Italy, and more
specifically Bologna, thus the name "Bolognese."
These small dogs were taken aboard ships and carried into port to be presented as gifts. The recipient was most likely the wife or daughter of a wealthy merchant or
nobleman, and sometimes they were even given to royalty. The beneficiaries were people with whom the sea captain wanted to find favor and thus establish ‘trade relations.’ Once
these delightful canine creatures were welcomed into a home, the giver of the gift attained a certain level of fondness that would have been otherwise unknown to them, thus furthering their careers
in a most inventive way.
More Information
AKC Foundation Stock Service®:
On March 3, 1999 the Bolognese breed was accepted for recording in the AKC's Foundation Stock Service®.
This service is provided by the AKC to allow selected purebred breeds to continue to develop while providing them with the security of a reliable and reputable avenue to maintain their records.
ARBA Rare Breed Association:
The Bolognese is recognized by ARBA, "The Rare Breed Dog Association," in the Companion Group. http://www.arba.org
UKC United Kennel Club:
The Bolognese was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1995 in the Companion Group. http://www.ukcdogs.com
Bolognese Dictionary
In Europe the Bolognese is known as the Bichon Bolognese.
Bichon: any of a breed of small sturdy dogs of Mediterranean origin.
Bolognese: community in Northern Italy capital of Emilia-Romagna at foot of the Apennines. Population 404,322
The painting at the top of the page is by Connie Bowen, depicting our Estella Expectation lounging serenely with the Bologna countryside in the background.
When Bowen was designing the portrait we asked her to include a dash of white in the far distance, which she did, and that we tell our friends is Remmy running around with total abandon.
For information on puppies
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Pacific Northwest in Washington State.
Minutes from the International Airport
at Portland, Oregon (PDX).
