Breeds / Toy
Bolognese puppies
A small white Italian companion dog, calm, quiet and closely attached to its people. It is easy to train and suits smaller homes, but it does not cope well with being left alone.
The facts
- Size class Toy
- Country of origin Italy
- Adult weight 2.7 to 4.5 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 6 to 10 lb
- Adult height 25 to 30 cm
- Energy level Low
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Long wavy
- Typical lifespan 12 to 14 years
- Good with children Reliably good
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
Where these come from:
About the Bolognese
The Bolognese is an Italian companion breed from Bologna, related to the other bichon types and kept for centuries by the Italian nobility as a lap dog and a gift between courts. It is a small, square little dog of 25 to 30cm and 2.7 to 4.5kg, covered in a soft white coat that falls in loose flocks rather than tight curls. Its manner is calm and observant, closely attached to its own people, quiet by toy dog standards, and rated at the very top for trainability.
Exercise needs are low: indoor play, short walks and games are enough, which makes the breed a reasonable fit for a flat or a quieter household, including retired owners. The coat sheds very little but needs regular brushing to stay out of mats, whether kept full or trimmed shorter, plus routine ears, nails and teeth. The real risk with a Bolognese is separation. It was bred to be with someone all day, and it copes badly when left alone for long stretches.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Bolognese puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A toy breed puppy at eight weeks is small enough to be genuinely fragile. It can be hurt by a jump off a sofa and by being stepped on, and toy breeds are prone to low blood sugar, so it needs frequent small meals rather than two big ones. Energy is on the lower side for the breed, but every eight week old puppy still runs in bursts and then crashes. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Patellar luxation, a slipping kneecap, found on a patella evaluation
- Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
- Dental crowding and early tooth loss, managed by regular brushing and veterinary checks
From Bolognese breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bolognese/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Bolognese puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Toy for a Bolognese.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 2.7 to 4.5 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other toy breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.