History
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We have many documents regarding the evolution of artificial breeds, that is to say breeds born from mixed ancestry and selections made by humans in relatively recent times.

Regarding the Bolognese it is difficult to acertain how they began because there doesn't seem to exist any specific documentation on the breed.
There is artwork though and other items dating back to many years ago showing this adorable breed, but regarding their ancestry we discover that its roots are left in the mists of time. So we have to research into their beginnings, and realise that many years ago there wasn't a lot to choose in likeness between the Bolognese and the Maltese.

When reading the literature of great Greek scholars and studying the artworks of notable artists of the past, we discover the existence of a tiny white dog which vaguely resembles both breeds, although it doesn't have either a straight coat like Maltese or curly fur like the Bolognese.

The Bolognese was developed centuries ago in Bologna.
Aristotele in fact, in (322 - 384 BC), talks about little dogs for company with the name of 'Melitensis'. The origin of the word 'Melitensis' has been much discussed and there are various interpretations on this. According to someone, Aristotele lived in Malta and according to other accounts it was indicated that he lived in the Sicilian town of Melito, which in those times was an Hellenic colony. In fact the historian Strabone (66 BC- 24 AD), talks about little white dogs that were also bred in Melito.

The philosopher Teofrasto (371-286 BC) gave us another explanation referring to a tiny dog called Maltese. Later around 79 AD Plinio il Vecchio (Plinio the Old) tells of some little Melitei dogs. After that, we completely loose any account of the history of these dogs.

We later find proof of its presence in the XV century, during the Renaissance, when it's often portrayed by famous painters of that time.

In 1496 Carpaccio gave us an important testimony in the painting 'Miracle of Saint Marco's relic cross' The cross is the miraculous relic and it belongs to S.Marco (1496-Academy Gallery, Venice).

We find other traces in many European courts, where the Bolognese soon became a companion dog of noblewomen and a precious object of exchange between the powerful people.

Historical sources document that near the middle of the 6th Century the Bolognese conquers the hearts of both Italian and European aristocracies. These noble owners loved to be portrayed in the company of their precious friends, who by that time had almost become a symbol of refinement and also of a certain status.

Here are some irrefutable proofs of this aristocratic tendency.
The first demonstration is the 'Portrait of mates /consortes', of Lorenzo Lotto (1523-24)
A little later, Titian paints the 'Portrait of Federico Gonzaga', immortalized with his beloved little dog too.
Another instance confirming the high regard of this breed was portrayed in another art work by Titian, where, besides Venus goddess of love and beauty, he paints a tiny white dog that is undeniably an ancestor of the Bolognese. The title of this painting is 'Venus and Cupid with an Organist' Painted 1548 -1550 in Berlin.
Goya was the artist chosen by the Duchess of Alba, to produce a painting of her with her companion dog - 'Portrait of Duchess of Alba' (1795)



As indicated earlier the Bolognese being a status symbol soon became a precious gift that the nobles used to exchange as a sign of love or respect. The Duke d' Este, for example gave a couple of Bolognese to Filippo II of Spain (1527-1598). Louis XV of France (1715-74) made a gift of these dogs to his lover Madame Pompadour. Cosimo dè Medici il Vecchio (1389-1464) presented to the nobles of Belgium eight examples of this breed! A couple of Bolognese were given by Umberto di Savoia to his future wife Maria Josè of Belgium. Also Catherine the Great of Russia (1729-1796) owned a lot of Bolognese.

With the advent of 800 AD, whether due to wars, or the disappearance of the Aristocracy from society the Bolognese tended to go out of favour, or was bred and selected in different ways. In Russia, for example, there is a breed of dog named the Bolonka, a breed that has not much in common with the Bolognese standard, I believe. The Bolonka is not a recognised breed.

To this day ancient lines of Bolognese can be found in Holland, Belgium, France and Switzerland. Mostly in the Belgian and Dutch lines I've noticed quite typical subjects.

The Bolognese, a joyful and intelligent breed were indeed once close to extinction. Italy the motherland of the Bolognese, could not guarantee the breeding and ancestry of the few examples left in their country.

Today, thanks to the hard work of some real dog lovers, the Bolognese isn't at risk of extinction anymore. Even if some Bolognese examples do not approach the standard in a satisfying way and many breeders and judges do not have much idea of how a typical Bolognese should look, we have reached a certain level of a true genetic type within the breed, but there's still a great deal to do !

I hope that this adorable breed continues to be popular in all of Europe, even in countries where he is not yet known, because he is the ideal family companion and gives his owners a great deal of satisfaction!

I can be contacted on e-mail - tumbril-bolognese@hotmail.com or tel. 07548 662 021