The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka has a loving and affectionate character to it’s family and is great with children. This dog was made for the city life! It was originally bred to be an apartment dog.
This breed gets along well with other pet like dogs and cat. Clever and smart, the Bolonka perform well in a training such as tracking, agility, obedience and rally. This breed recently gained fame by being a chosen breed of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka History
This originated during the 1800s with the rise of the French revolution this dog made it’s way to Russia. From there other dogs made their way into nobility and these Toy dog breeds evolved as more dogs made their way to Russia. This dog was known as the French Bolonka. In Germany this breed was called the Bolonka Zwetna.
In the late 1800s during the Stalin regime only promoted working dogs. Because of this many of the smaller dog breeds populations dwindled such as this. Laws were written to promote working dogs. In the 1960s when Khrushchev came to power the restrictions were eased on these smaller dogs and the breed grew.
During these times the Bichon, French Bolognese, Pekingese, Toy Poodle and Shih Tzu were used as stock in creating this breed as well as small, local, fluffy mongrel dogs of the Moscow and St. Petersburg. Dog breeding was centralized by the government at the time.
The government at the time allowed this dog over other breeds such as the Russian Toy. This dog was also bred to be practical. It was bred to have the easy to care for curls. Dog care products were not available in the area and at the time so it was beneficial to have easy to care for fur. In addition this dog was also bred to be a guardian. After the iron curtain fell in 1991 interest in smaller breeds such as this became popular in Russia.
Where did the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka Come From?
The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonkas history started back in the 1800s when King Louis IV of France gave small Maltese-type dogs as gifts to Russian royalty. The French brought more dogs into the country when Napoleon invaded.
These dogs bred with the french dog population to create the French Bolonka. In Germany this breed is called the Bolonka Zwetna.
What Were They Bred For?
Tsvetnaya Bolonka was originally developed to be a companion dog or horse pet for apartment living among nobility. It was also bred to be easy to care for, and to provide guardianship to families. Breeders also refined this dog breed to live in apartments as at times housing was scarce at the time.
Are They a Pure Breed?
Yes
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonkas at a Glance
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This dog is a smaller breed that is still also square and stocky. This breed should never appear to be frail. This dog has cute furry paws and an eager expression!
This dog breed has soft wavy curls that can be black, brown, gray, red, or wolf-gray in color. These dogs have ears that hang down with the same fur as the rest of the body. The tail curls back and should touch it’s back. The male dogs have a beard and mustache and the females do not.
Breed Standard
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka Size
- Male: 9-11 inches
- Female: 7-9 inches
Height measurements are always from the ground to the highest point of a dog’s shoulder blades. The highest point on a dogs shoulder-blades are known as the withers.
Weight
- Male: 8-11 pounds
- Female: 5-9 pounds
Grooming
These dogs do not regularly shed! They do need grooming however. They will occasionally need it’s mustache and beard groomed and cleaned. Giving them the occasional bath will keep them clean.
Nails
Check their nails to make sure they are not split or cracked and trim as needed.
Ears:
Check their ears to make sure they are not full of debris or wax and clean as needed.
Do They Drool?
Yes. The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka is an average drooler.
Best Climate for the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka
This breed prefers regular to warm weather conditions.
Temperament
The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka is even-tempered. Breeders created this dog to be a companion. This dog is very alert and intelligent. Because of this it is friendly without being shy or too aggressive. It’s naturally easy going and social. This dog is very open to all and needs trained to keep it’s friendliness in check.
This Russian dog is a fairly good watchdog and will defend it’s territory and family if prompted but is better at alerting people to danger or unwanted guests. This dog is too small for a physical confrontation.
How Easy are They to Train?
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka is more independent than is usual for a toy breed. This breed requires early socialization with people. They are very friendly with children and other animals, though supervision is always a good idea for new introductions.
In addition, Bolonki may like to alert you to everything that is happening around them, so training them to understand when vocalizations are appropriate may be necessary. This breed is very clever and smart and does well in obedience, rally, tracking, and agility when trained with a firm, but gentle, hand.
This dog is a very independent breed. It’s easy to train for complex tasks and games such as rally and agility courses. Make sure to train this dog with consistency. The trainer must be firm but gentle.
Training these dogs early to correctly socialize will keep this dogs greetings in check when meeting new people.
Do They Tolerate Other Pets?
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonkas can live pleasantly with other dogs, cats, and other pets in the household.
Are They Good for Families?
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka were originally developed as companion dog and ultimate house pet for apartment living. This dog is sweet, loving, intelligent, and willing to please, he is friendly to all and shows no sign of aggression. They are great with children and are good gaurddogs for families.
Do They Have a Strong Prey Drive?
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonkas has an average prey drive but they can be trained to keep this in check.
Are They Social With Other People?
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonkas are playful, happy, and need a social interaction. This breed loves meeting new people and shows affection towards anyone. They do alert families whenever new people show up. They can be overwhelming if not trained properly.
Is The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka Good for New Owners?
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka can become aggressive, irritable and territorial around new people, this breed is not recommended for a novice owner.
Health
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonkas are a healthy breed but their are some routine health checks you should do with your vet to keep this dog healthy. To avoid patella injuries, young dogs should not be encouraged to jump until they are adults. Keeping topknots tied up will help to prevent corneal abrasions to the eyes.
The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka Lifespan
12 – 16 years
Health Issues
Although Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonkas is healthy, responsible breeders also screen their stock for health conditions such as liver shunt, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease and PRA. In addition as these dogs age they should be checked for eye issues, patella, and heart issues.
Exercise
As classic lap dogs, Bolonki enjoy walks and playtime, but do not require a great deal of exercise. They can be very energetic and play driven, however, and should have a good romp at least twice per week. In addition to walks, exercise can also come in the form of indoor activities, like hide-and-seek, chasing a ball rolled along the floor, or learning new tricks.
This dog is an apartment breed that do not require a lot of exercise. This being said they still need to get good exercise to stay healthy. Getting exercise every few days will keep your dog extra healthy. You can keep these dogs busy with indoor play such as tossing a small ball around or using other automatic fetch toys.
