History Of The Bolognese Bichon

The Bolognese is one of the "Old World Bichons."  Like the other Bichon breeds, (the Lowchen, the Maltese, the Havanese,the Coton de Tulear, and the Bichon Frise),the Bolognese share a common ancestor. A particular "little white dog of antiquity" was mentioned in Latin by Aristotle (384 - 322 BC) under the denomination of "canes melitensi."

These dogs originally became popular in the Mediterrean region. They were even carried on ships as companions, as gifts, and according to some historians may have also served as the "on-board mousers."

Within different areas around the Mediterranean, the 6 different types of Bichons developed. In Italy, as far back as the Roman Empire (from about 750 B.C. to 500 A.D.), the Bolognese were highly prized and considered precious. They were among the most prestigious and appreciated gifts given by the powerful of the world at that time.

During the Middle Ages (from about 500 to about 1500), their popularity continued to grow and they became the pampered companions of the nobility of Italy. As before, the Bolognese was one of the most treasured gifts made by ruling class of that era. One well-documented example is that of Cosimo de Medici (1389 - 1464) who took eight Bolognese to Brussels as gifts for Belgian noblemen.

Throughout the Renaissance, the Bolognese expanded as a favorite of the nobility. Both the Gonzagas and Medicis were known to have bred them. The Duke d'Este gave a pair to King Phillip II of Spain as a gift and was thanked profusely by the king who wrote, "These two little dogs are the most royal gifts one can make to an emperor." As the habit of exchanging Bolognese as gifts among the rulers and their nobility continued, they even reached court of Catherine II of Russia. Empress Maria Sophia of Austria so loved her little Bolognese that she had it stuffed by a taxidermist after it died. It can still be viewed today in the Museum of Natural History in Vienna. The Duke Frederico Gonzaga was painted caressing his Bolognese by the renowned Renaissance artist, Titian, of Pierre Breughel.  The painting is called le Vieux and Goya. Bolognese can also be seen in tapestry work produced by Flemish craftsmen dating as far back as the 17th century.

As history continued to unfold with the Industrial Revolution, the middle and working classes grew, and the dominating social influence of nobility declined. Having been a pampered dog of the courts, the popularity of the Bolognese also declined. Fortunately, throughout the revolutions and wars, a handful of loyal fanciers of the breed continued to keep them.

Among those most successful in maintaining Bolognese were the Russians. Servants of the nobility yhere saved a number of the breed from the destruction which occurred during the Russian Revolution.

A concerted effort to restore the Bolognese began to take root in the early 1970's in both Italy and Belgium. Senora Adele Walchaertz, a Belgian woman living in Massaroas, Italy was given a Bolognese for her birthday, fell in love with the breed, and established a kennel, "Leone Fiammingo".

In Belgium, Mme. Gerda Vansteenkiste revived the Bolognese and restored its popularity in the surrouding countries. She has shown several Bolognese, including the world champion, "Elaine." Elaine produced a world Champion daughter, "Iris de Chaponay," and a European champion son, "Happy de Chaponay." This line of Bolognese contiues today in Belgium as the Van Het Vogelpark Kennel owned by a cousin of Mme. Vansteenkiste.

Dorothy and Bert Goodale brought the Bolognese to North America in 1986. The Goodales played a key role in the restoration of the Havanese in America. It was during their research of the Havanese that they continued to find references to the Bolognese in many out-of-print books. Discovering that there were no Bolognese in America, they began to inquire within foreign breed registries in an effort to locate breeders. The very few European breeders at that time who had Bolognese were in the process of trying to restore the breed themselves and could not spare any to be bred in the United States. The Goodales found that Russia seemed to be the only country in which the Bolognese had not become almost extinct.

At that time the Goodales had the good fortune to find Jan and Birte Warming who were breeding Bolognese in Denmark. Most of the dogs in their kennel had come from Russia and other "curtain" countries. At that time Denmark had no problem trading with the countries behind the "iron curtain" and the Warmings agreed to allow the Goodales to purchase Bolognese from them.

In 1987 the Goodales purchased another Bolognese from Ann Gespaldie in East Germany. Shortly thereafter, they obtained Bolognese from additional lines in Belgium and Portugal. Finally, in April of 1991 they were able to import their first Bolognese directly to the United States from Russia. The Goodales continued expanding their lines with more Bolognese from Italy and Denmark until they had a group with whom they could begin selectively breeding.

The Bolognese breed is registered with the FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale and the KCGB (the Kennel Club of Great Britian). They are also recognized by UKC (the United Kennel Club) as well as the Rare Breed Network.