Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka

		Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Russia
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka began in the early 18th century. Louis XIV of France presented Bolonka as gifts to the Russian nobility. Later, the ancestors of the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka emigrated to Russia with Napoleon's army and were known as French Bolonka. Russia has never been known for its toy breeds, partly because of its environment and economic need for working dogs. Smaller breeds were considered superfluous and useless, even more so during the Soviet regime. During this time, dogs were not imported into Russia, so breeds were developed through selections from existing breeds. Unable to import dogs from outside Russia, the Bolonka was developed by breeders located in Moscow and Leningrad, who turned to the ancestors of small dogs such as the Bichon, Toy Poodle, Shih Tzu, Pekingese and French Bolognese. with a view to creating a toy lap dog with the right temperament for apartment living. Since 1966, they've been called Tsvetnaya Bolonka. Interest in the specific Bolonka breed revived after the fall of the Iron Curtain. Similarly, thanks to the connection between the Russian and French aristocracy in the 18th and 19th centuries, a dog similar to today's Bichon Frise or Bolognese was brought to Tsarist Russia. These little white dogs were the favorites of fashionable ladies of the day in both countries. After the Russian Revolution, the breed was isolated from French dogs. The small dogs began to be taken seriously as a native Russian breed in the 1950s, and gained in popularity. Export of the dogs was strictly regulated. In 1978, a breeding pair of Franzuskaya Bolonka was sent as a diplomatic gift from the Soviet Union to the GDR. From these and a few others, the white Franzuskaya Bolonka began to be developed as a breed in Germany in the 1980s. Eventually, it was recognized by the VDF (Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen) as a variant of the Italian Bolognese. This was at the same time as the color version was being developed, the Bolonka Zwetnaya (bunte Schoßhündchen, Tsvetnaya Bolonka, Deutscher Bolonka). These are not yet recognized, although they have active breed clubs in several countries.

The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka, also known as Bolonka Zwetna in Germany, is a Bichon-type toy breed developed in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, by the ancestors of small dogs such as the Bichon, Shih Tzu, Pekingese and French Bolognese. They include the white version Franzuskaya Bolonka, which is a variant 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 further renown as the breed of choice for Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Bolonkas measure between 18 and 27 cm at the withers and between 2 and 4 or 5 kg. The Bolonka's body formation resembles a square, with a long coat that has large, wavy curls. Bolonka is moderately boned and should never appear finely 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 or curly coat in a variety of colors. Their ears are neither too long nor too short. Male Bolonkas have a distinct beard and moustache that distinguishes them from their female counterparts. Bolonka tails are supposed to have the tip touching the back. Similar to other Bichon breeds, Bolonkas do not shed. Daily brushing of the coat helps prevent mats. If a Bolonka's coat becomes very swollen, it may develop a hematoma. Bolonka dogs are considered suitable for allergy sufferers, 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 aren't released into the environment. The frequent trimming, brushing and bathing required to keep Bolonka at its best removes hair and dander and controls saliva. It's important to note that the hypoallergenicity of a particular dog for a particular person may vary depending on the dog and the person.

The Tsvetnaya Bolonka is balanced, intelligent, friendly with everyone, and should never be shy or show aggression of any kind. The Russian Tszvetnaya Bolonka was specifically developed as a companion dog and is prized for its sociable, easy-going and affectionate temperament. These specimens avoid exuberant play and will not appreciate physical abuse during play. The Bolonka Zwetna generally perceives all strangers as potential playmates, and without timely socialization, it can become an inappropriate host. However, this breed has been bred with a strong tendency to defend its territory and its favorite humans, so it can become a pretty good watchdog. The Bolonka will not be able to apply the necessary aggression when the situation calls for it, and should not be burdened with the responsibilities of a guardian.

Tsvetnaya Bolonka means "colorful watchdog". The Bolonka has several different nicknames. They have been called Russian colored bichons or Russian lapdogs. In Germany, the dogs have been known as Bolonka Zwetna since the 1980s, or Deutscher Bolonka. Tsvetnaya and Zwetna share the same bloodlines, but the Nordic Kennel Union officially recognizes the Russkaya Twvetnaya and not the Zwetna. In the Czech Republic, the breed is called Barevny Bolonsky Psik (Bolognese color). Sometimes they're mistakenly called Bolognese. The breed's common name in all countries is Bolonka. The Franzuskaya (French) Bolonka is the white version, and is a variant of the Italian Bolognese dog.

Although popular in Germany, Bolonka is not recognized as a distinct breed by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. The white version, Bolonka Franzuska, has been recognized by the VDH (German National Kennel Club) as a variant of the Bolognese. The fact that the Russian Bolonka is not recognized stems from the lack of a national kennel club in Russia after the fall of communism. Without an active national club, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale will not recognize Russian dogs, plus there have been reports of irregularities in record-keeping from present-day Russia. In January 2013, the Nordic Kennel Union officially accepted the Russkaya Twvetnaya Bolonka and not the Bolonka Zwetna, and since then it has been allowed to participate in dog shows in NKU member countries Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The American Kennel Club added the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka to the Stock Service Foundation program in 2015 and assigned the breed to the toys group. Bolonkas are considered the rarest of the Bichon family.