.: About the Bolognese breed
After we both fell in love with the Bolognese breed in 2009 we were lucky enough to be able to give a lifelong home to our first baby Bolognese "Shiarita Springtime Dream at Bellablake" or "Lottie" as we affectionately call her.
What a delight these little dogs are to live with, they are highly intelligent, eager to please, playful & fun yet laid back & never a nuisance unless they want something!
Our Lottie is pretty quiet & independent, not a yappy type of dog at all. We get greeted by waggy tails & a few barks if we have been out of the house & she will bark to alert you that something is out of place or that someone is knocking on the front door. She is soon to settle down again once she has done her bit.
Marczipan & Gigi are the love sponges! They will cuddle up with you for hours on end. Gigi is a real character when she plays & will not take no for an answer from the other doggies.
.: Bolognese Breed Standard (interim)
General Appearance
Small white Toy dog with square, compact outline and distinctive coat.
Characteristics
Intelligent, companionable.
Temperament
Friendly but reserved with strangers.
Head and Skull
Wide flat skull. Nose to stop slightly shorter than from stop to occiput. Accentuated stop. Nose large, black.
Eyes
Large, round, dark with well pigmented rims.
Ears
Set on high, long, pendulous, carried away from head giving a broad appearance to head.
Mouth
Jaws level, with perfect, regular scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck
Clean, medium length.
Forequarters
Shoulders well laid, legs straight with slightly sloping pasterns. Elbows close to body.
Body
Well sprung ribs, brisket reaching to elbows making half overall height at withers. Level back, loins slightly arched. Point of shoulder to point of buttock equals height at withers.
Hindquarters
Well muscled, moderate turn of stifle, hocks well let down.
Feet
Oval, black nails and pads.
Tail
Set on at level of croup carried curved over back. Well feathered.
Gait/Movement
Normal and smart. Legs moving parallel. Ambling highly undesirable.
Coat
Long, flocked without curl covering entire head and body. Shown in natural state.
Colour
Pure white without markings, not even simple shadings. Lips, eyelids, nose and nails black.
Size
Dogs 27-30.5 cms (101/2-12 ins). Bitches 25.5-28 cms (10-11 ins).
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.