How to Identify a Bolognese Dog

The Bolognese is a breed of dog that originated in Italy; records of this species exist from as early as the 1200s. It was a favorite of the nobility throughout the courts of Europe for many years. The Bolognese is formally called the Bichon Bolognese and is a close relative of the diminutive Bichon Frise, though it is somewhat more reserved and less active than the Frise. This breed is very rare, even in its homeland, and is often misidentified.

Instructions

    • 1

      Examine the dog's general shape and size. This is a toy breed that rarely grows more than 1 foot in height and weighs no more than 9 or 10 lbs. These dogs are also boxy; the length of the body should be equal to the dog's height. The tail is less than half the dog's length and tends to curl over the backbone. The chest is deep and has wide ribs that reach all the way to the dog's elbows.

    • 2

      Examine the dog's fur. The best way to differentiate this breed from the similar Bichon Frise, though not an accurate way to identify the breed, is to look at the fur. A Frise's fur will be puffy and frizzy, of uniform length and very neat. A Bolognese's fur will be white, longer than that of a Frise and fluffy but not frizzy in that it does not stand straight up.

    • 3

      Look at the dog's head. It should be of medium size and of equal width and length. The eyes should be set forward and have black rims around the eyelids. The eyes should be large; no portion of the white in the dog's eyes should be visible. The ears should be wide, short and slightly floppy at the ends. The dog's jaw, though of normal size, should seem to have an underbite, thanks to slightly overdeveloped upper lips.