Origin
The Bolognese has become a very popular companion dog thanks to their charming looks, their size and the fact these little dogs don't shed thanks to the structure of their flocked coats. The breed originates from northern Italy and is registered with The Kennel Club in the toy group. They are known for their intelligence, their loyalty and the fact they are extremely adaptable being just at home living in a big house in the country as they are in a smaller flat in town. The Bolognese is an energetic dog and as such enjoy being taken out of plenty of interesting walks and they adore being part of a family and being included in everything that goes on in a household.
It is thought that the Bolognese is a descendant of the Bichon, a breed that hails from Malta and southern Italy. They were given their name having been first bred and developed in Bologna, northern Italy and the breed has been around for a very long time, first appearing on the scene in 11th and 12th centuries. During the 15th century, these little dogs were extremely popular with the Italian nobility when they were kept as companion dogs.
The Bolognese first arrived in Britain around 200 years ago when they were imported from the Canary Islands by enthusiasts of the breed. However, these charming dogs are a rare breed both in their native Italy and elsewhere in the world. Luckily, European breeders are now producing Bolognese through careful and selective breeding with an end goal being to increase the numbers of these delightful, loyal and affectionate dogs.
