Overview
The Bolognese is one of the old Bichon-type breeds of the Mediterranean, named after the city of Bologna and prized by Italian nobility for centuries. It is a compact toy dog under a cloud of white, cottony hair, with dark eyes and a calm, slightly serious manner.
Compared with the Bichon Frise it is less bouncy and more attached to its people, often following one person from room to room. That devotion matters to a walker: the dog may be anxious when collected from an empty house and will want to stay close rather than range ahead.
Exercise and walking needs
Two gentle walks of fifteen to twenty minutes a day are enough for most adults, with a bit of play indoors. They enjoy a slow potter with plenty of sniffing and meeting people far more than a march.
Do not confuse low exercise needs with no exercise. A Bolognese still benefits from getting out every day and gains weight quickly if it does not.
On the walk
- Recall: Usually good because the dog wants to be with you, and it rarely wanders far. Enclosed spaces are still sensible given the size.
- Other dogs: Gentle and a little reserved. Big, boisterous dogs frighten them. Pair with calm companions or walk alone.
- Lead: A harness, always. The neck is small and the dog is light enough that a lunge on a collar can hurt it.
- Coat and cold: The white, cottony coat is a magnet for mud and leaves, and with little undercoat the dog chills fast. Dry paths after rain and a coat in winter.
Tips for professional walkers
- Allow time for a greeting when collecting; the dog may have been waiting anxiously.
- Pick the dog up if a large, excitable dog approaches off lead.
- Wipe paws and the undercarriage after wet walks; the coat holds water.
- Keep treats tiny and count them; a kilo of extra weight is a quarter of the dog.
What to ask the owner
- How does the dog cope when left, and is there anything that helps when you collect it?
- Any knee or dental problems, both of which show up in small breeds?
- What coat care does the owner want after a wet or muddy walk?