Bolognese
A calm white companion from Bologna, painted by Titian and happiest at your side.
Vital stats
| Size | Small · 25–30 cm |
| Weight | 2.5–4 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–14 years |
| Energy | Low — short walks and indoor play |
| Shedding | Very low — single coat that mats without brushing |
| Coat | Pure white · long, single, cottony flocks |
| Group | Toy · Companion (FCI №196) |
Breed traits
Friendliness
Care
Mind
Temperament
For a toy breed the Bolognese is unusually calm and level-headed: it watches a room quietly, warms to strangers slowly and saves its real devotion for its own people. It's clever and reads mood well, which makes gentle training easy and harsh handling counterproductive. The one firm requirement is company — this is a dog bred over centuries to sit in a lap, and long hours alone don't suit it.
Habits & quirks
Room to room
It follows its person from kitchen to sofa to bathroom door, rarely more than a few steps behind.
Slow to greet
With strangers it hangs back and watches first, warming up in its own time rather than rushing in.
Low gear
A short walk and a little play are plenty; the rest of the day is happily spent dozing nearby.
Left alone
Long solo stretches are the hard part — boredom and pining show up as barking or clinginess.
Care
| Brushing | The single coat sheds little but mats easily; brush and comb through to the skin several times a week. |
| Company | Bred to be a companion, it does best in a home where someone is around most of the day. |
| Exercise | Short daily walks and indoor games cover it; this isn't a dog that needs a big run. |
| Trimming | Book a groomer every couple of months for a tidy-up and bath to keep the white coat clean and manageable. |
Common questions
Do Bolognese dogs shed?
Very little — they have a single, non-shedding coat, which is why many allergy sufferers tolerate them well. The trade-off is brushing: that coat mats quickly without regular grooming.
Are Bolognese good apartment dogs?
Yes. They're small, quiet and low-energy, and a couple of short walks a day suit them. The one condition is company — they don't cope well with long hours alone.
Are Bolognese easy to train?
They're intelligent and eager to please, and respond well to gentle, reward-based training. They can be sensitive and a little stubborn, so keep sessions short and kind rather than firm.