Bolognese

Other names : Bichon Bolognese, Bolognese Toy Dog

Photo: adult dog of Bolognese breed
Photo: puppy of Bolognese breed
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Life expectancy

The Bolognese has a life expectancy of between 12 and 14 years

Temperament

Size

Small

Adult size

Female Between 10 and 31 in
Male Between 11 and 12 in

Adult weight

Female Between 4 and 9 lb
Male Between 4 and 9 lb
Coat colour
White
Type of coat
Long
Eye colour
Brown

Purchase price

The Bolognese costs between £935 and £1070

Good to know

More details about the Bolognese

Bolognese: Origins and history

These dogs are members of the Bichon family, which includes the Bichon Frise, the Maltese, and the Havanese. Despite their similarities to some of their close cousins, the Bolognese  Bichon is a breed in its own right. Given its name, its roots are likely to begin in Bologna, a city in northern Italy. They have a noble history, being the dog of choice for many 17th century aristocratic families. They also appear in paintings by several of the worlds greatest ever painters, including Titian and Goya. The breed was introduced to UK dog lovers in the 1990s and made its first Crufts appearance in 2002.

FCI classification of the Bolognese

  • Group 9 - Companion and Toy Dogs

  • Section 1 : Bichons and related breeds

Training a Bolognese

These dogs respond well to training, although they will soon grow bored if the sessions are too long, too repetitive, or too complex. Focus on short, fun training sessions and stick to basic dog obedience commands. Anything more than that will probably be beyond the dog's capabilities, and they'll soon lose focus.

Bolognese: Purchase price

The average cost of a purebred Bolognese Bichon is somewhere between £935 if they are not registered at the Kennel Club and £1070 if they are.

You'll also need to budget around £30-40 a month for feeding costs, and the average cost of a basic insurance policy is around £20,00 per month, although this varies from dog to dog. Yearly health checks, vaccinations, and other costs will add to an annual expense of around £900.

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