Best of Breed

History of the Bolognese Dog

Sarah Rodbard and her Teacup Bolognese Puppy Painted by George Romney in 1784

The Phoenix is a mythical bird that periodically burned itself to death and emerged from the ashes as a new phoenix. The Bolognese breed was a popular breed for the nobility of Europe since at least the Roman era. However, it almost became extinct in the early twentieth century. Like the Phoenix, it is making a comeback thanks to concerted efforts of breeders in Europe and the United States. Our purpose is to help this effort by making Bolognese puppies available to loving people and families.

The Bolognese origins are confused with those of the Maltese, because its distant ancestors are the same little dogs mentioned in Latin by Aristotle (384 - 322 BC) under the denomination of "canes melitenses". Already known in the Roman era, the Bolognese appears most especially among the very appreciated gifts which were made during a whole era by the powerful of that world. Cosimo de Medici (1389 - 1464) brought no less than eight to Brussels as gifts to as many Belgian noblemen. Philipe II, king of Spain from 1556 to 1598, after having received two as a gift from the Duke d'Este, thanks the donor in writing saying "that these two little dogs are the most royal gifts one can make to an emperor". Bolognese are represented in paintings of Titian, of Pierre Breughel called le Vieux and Goya.

One can tell by looking at this beautiful portrait, that historically speaking, the Bolognese dog was much smaller than the AKC “Standard” acceptable size today.  It is Bolognese of Phoenix goal to invite the public to purchase one of their extremely small, “Teeny-Weenie Teacup” Bolognese puppies.  We feel, at Bolognese of Phoenix, getting back to basics and the original size depicted in this and other beautiful paintings clearly shows the overwhelmingly popular acceptable size of the Bolognese in the Renaissance era.

Anika and Camus are beautiful small tinny-weenie Teacup Bolognese.  To view or obtain one of these beautifully historical significant dogs please place your order today.

Mary Alice Davis
bolognese@bologneseofphoenix.com
(866) 925-4553 (Toll Free in USA)
(602) 266-9270 Kennel
(480) 773-9845  Cell