The Bolognese breed has a height around 10 to  12 inches (25-30 cm) and a weight around 9 lbs. The coat is white, long, wooly and dense that sheds little; however at least monthly grooming is recommended. These dogs are not prone to health issues; it is a very healthy breed.

This breed loves children – especially older, calmer children – and is very friendly with other dogs and pets in the family. Because of its high intelligence Bolognese dogs are easy to train, but needs consistency and firmness. They do not like to be left alone on each day or for a long period of time, so the best is if someone is always with the dog (otherwise they will start to bark loudly) – therefore it is ideal for big families and for older people.

All in all, the Bolognese breed is ideal for younger and older people as well who would like to have a companion dog or family pet that is very clever and lively.

Both are part of the Bichon group, altough they are originated from different countries: The Bolognese got its name from the Italian town, Bologna, while the Havanese is from Havana, Cuba.
Bolognese dogs were used as therapy dogs. The breeding of Bolognese started int he 11th-12th century, and it is a very popular breed nowadays. It is a very loyal family pet, but should not be kept with very young children, because they might hurt he dog. A Bolognese needs lot of attention, and people around him all the time. Due to their good eyes and ears, they make perfect watchdogs.
The breed Havanese appeared in 19th century and was a popular family pet in the region. They were brought to the US by Cuban refugees in 1960’s. At this time the Havanese was near extinction, but a breeder saved the breed after being brought to the US. This small breed is quite active, loves running and playing, especially likes to show-off. Due to this high energy level, they need a lot of walk and playing, but can behave well indoors too, if we satisfy his high demand of socialization.

Avoid unnecessary vet bills! Do your dog’s basic health check!

Also being a minimal shedder and dander ranks them up high with allergic dog lovers.  However, one must consider taking a huge pinch of salt with those qualities. Owners must also consider that the Bolognese have destructive tendencies when left alone. This is their form of separation anxiety. Incessant barking is also a trait that can irritate neighbors. Although they are hypoallergenic, constant brushing must be done and you will need a huge amount of patience for housebreaking.  Lastly, this dog isn’t quite easy to find or pay for. Waiting list can be long and price tags are extreme for this breed.

Why take your dog to the vet if you can give it a check-up yourself?

The Bichon Bolognese tends to be reserved or shy when confronted with strangers, but they are very loyal to their owners. They are also easy to train. Bichon Bolognese dogs come exclusively in pure white colors.

The Bichon Bolognese were frequently given as gifts to noblemen and kings during the medieval times. Unfortunately, this wonderful dog which was once the favorite of kings is not well known and at one point, the breed was in serious danger of extinction. However, the numbers has been increasing slowly and one can only hope that more of these dogs will be taken up into loving homes.

In appearance, the Bolognese is a small dog breed with a white, distinctive and compact single coat. In other words it has no undercoat. The fur falls in loose open ringlets all over the body when allowed to grow long and shorter hair on the face can be seen. The hair’s texture is woolly, as opposed to silky and is never trimmed or clipped. The hair is non-shedding, but requires regular combing to prevent it from matting. Bolognese dogs who aim for the red carpet as show-dogs of course need much more care. Like its cousin, the Havanese, the Bolognese is also a hypoallergenic doglet, which is good for those dog lovers that suffer from allergies!