The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka is the rarest member of the Bichon family. Like other Bichon-type breeds, the Tsvetnaya was bred solely to be a companion animal and tends to form strong bonds with “his people”. These little clowns enjoy making people laugh, and their hypoallergenic nature makes them easier to live with for allergy sufferers. Besides their affectionate, loyal natures and amusing senses of humor, they are also extremely smart.
Bolonki (the plural of Bolonka) have stable temperaments and tend to be very easygoing – not easily excitable. This makes them work well in homes with children or the elderly. Tending to form strong bonds, they are inherently loyal dogs with a playful streak. They will bark to alert to new people coming to the door but are, overall, very social creatures. A new person is usually greeted with a happy curiosity. The breed also gets along well with other dogs, cats and small pets. Although he is sturdy for his tiny size, make sure to supervise play with larger breeds to avoid him getting hurt! It is recommended to socialize puppies to people/places/things in order for them to become social butterflies – without early socialization, they may be more independent.
Russian Tsvetnaya were literally bred to be apartment dogs and therefore are easy to keep in small spaces. Their lack of aggression and generally quiet natures also make them neighbor-approved! A note – make sure to teach them the quiet command while young so they’ll understand when it is and is not appropriate to bark! While they appreciate regular walks, it isn’t as necessary as with larger or more active breeds. Just make sure to get them outside a couple times a week to let them stretch their legs and play.
A favorite pastime of the low-energy Bolonka is to sit with his owner on the couch, watching TV. He can do this for hours! As might be imagined, this tiny dog prefers to be with his people and hates to be left alone. Although adaptable to many situations, spending long hours alone is the the toughest for this little guy to master. Besides this trait and the slightly above-average grooming needs, on the whole this breed is normally ok for novice owners.
When it comes to training, the Tsvetnaya Bolonka is willing to please! Just make sure to keep the training firm, yet fair. A Bolonka that hasn’t had any training is in danger of exhibiting “small dog syndrome” (i.e. – the dog is a jerk), so make sure to train! Although rare, the breed is recognized in AKC’s Foundation Stock Service, which means trained individuals can compete in dog sports such as rally, agility, obedience and tracking – just another reason to teach and have fun with the dog!
The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka does need regular grooming and coat care. Although they shed very little, when they do shed the coat can get caught up in the rest of the body hair and tangle. Thankfully, the coat is easier to care for than other long-haired breeds as they were purposefully bred to have loose, rolling curls (easier to manage than stick-straight hair, this was a necessity in Russia when grooming shampoos and tools weren’t easy to come by). As long as the owner brushes on a halfway regular basis, the job won’t be difficult. It is recommended, however, to wash the face daily to keep food particles and dirt from clinging to the beard. This also serves to clean out the eyes, which can get goopy. Furthermore, as with all drop-eared breeds, the ears must be kept clean and dry to avoid infections.
Photo By Svenska Mässan on flickr.com