Bolonka

Bolonka

Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka
Other names	Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka, Bolonka Zwetna, Franzuskaya Bolonka, Russian Lapdogs
Origin	Russia
Traits Weight Male 3.5–5 kilograms (7.7–11.0 lb) Female 2–4 kilograms (4.4–8.8 lb) Height Male 22–27 centimetres (8.7–10.6 in) Female 18–24 centimetres (7.1–9.4 in) Coat Curly or wavy Color Black, Brown, Gray, Red, Wolf-Gray (Tsvetnaya/Zwetna) White (Franzuskaya) Litter size 1–3 Life span 12–16 years
Classification / standards AKC The AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS) is an optional recording service for purebred dogs that are not yet eligible for AKC registration.
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka (Russian: Болонка), also known as the Bolonka Zwetna in Germany, is a rare toy breed of the Bichon type, developed in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Russia from the ancestors of smaller dogs such as the Bichon, Toy Poodle, Shih Tzu, Pekingese and French Bolognese. They include the white version Franzuskaya Bolonka, which is a variation of the Italian Bolognese dog. Franzuskaya means French, Zwetna is the German term for Tsvetnaya and means multicolored, and Bolonka translates as "Bolognese" in a number of Slavic languages. The Bolonka has recently gained more fame by being the chosen breed of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Bolonki are 18 – 27 cm high at the withers and 2-4 or 5 kg in weight. The Bolonka bodily formation resembles a square, with a long coat that has big wavy curls. The Bolonka is moderately boned and should never appear fine-boned. The Franzuskaya Bolonka is white, while the Tsvetnaya and Zwetna are black, brown, gray, red or wolf-gray. The breed is known for its soft, wavy to curly coat in a variety of colors. They have ears that are neither too long nor too short. Male Bolonkas have a distinct beard and moustache that sets them apart from their female counterparts. Bolonka tails are supposed to have the tip touching the back. Similar to other Bichon breeds, Bolonki do not shed. Daily brushing of the coat helps to prevent matting. If a Bolonka's coat gets severely matted, they may develop a hematoma. Bolonka dogs are considered suitable for people with allergies, as they are bred to be hypoallergenic. Breeds that don't shed are more likely to be hypoallergenic, since the dog's dander and saliva stick to the hair and are not released into the environment. The frequent trimming, brushing, and bathing required to keep the Bolonka looking its best removes hair and dander and controls saliva. It is important to note that how hypoallergenic a particular dog is for a particular person may vary with the individual dog and the individual person.