Bolonka Zwetna – Colorful Lapdog

The Bolonka Zwetna is the Russian variant of the French Bichon and was created by crossing various small companion dogs. The breed is not recognized by the FCI, in the VDH (German Kennel Club) they have been officially listed since 2011. Bolon is a pure lapdog who is always friendly and happy. The small bundles of fur are therefore well suited as first dogs.

The Appearance of the Dog Breed: What Distinguishes Bolonka Zwetnas from Other Small Dogs?

Bolonka Zwetnas are tiny dogs with the desired height at the withers of 18-24 cm for females and 22-27 cm for males. They weigh a maximum of 5 kilograms and easily fit on your lap on public transport. Apart from the nose and eyes, no detailed features can be seen on the Bolonka: The long hair gives them a square appearance and they can wear different hairstyles that make them appear either fluffy or silky.

Bolonka from head to tail

• The head appears round and the muzzle tapers slightly towards the snout. The snout is longer than the Shih Tzu and shorter than the Miniature Poodle. The entire face is covered with long hair that grows outward. In males, the mustache is clearly pronounced.
• The nose is small, rounded, and does not protrude. Unlike many other dogs, different colors are acceptable for the nose (black, pink, brown, red, fawn).
• The eyes are roundish with brown irises, no white can be seen.
• The neck is of medium length and the back is straight and horizontal. The quality of the bones is important for breeding dogs: they should be relatively strong.
• The tail curls slightly are carried upwards and usually lie on the back. Long, fine hair adorns the tail from the base to the tip, so that usually only a tuft of fur can be seen on the rump.
• The Fore and hind legs are relatively short and slightly angled. The paws are round and small.

Coat and Coloring of the Bolonka Zwetna

Hairstyle tips for long-haired Bolonki:

• Trimmed eyebrows
• pigtails over the eyes
• Trimming all over
• Don’t shave your hair in the summer

Peculiarities of the fur

Due to their relationship to miniature poodles and bichons, Bolonki shed very little, although they have stick hair, which consists of a long topcoat and a dense undercoat. There is no annual change of fur as with other dogs, which is why the mini dogs are also suitable for allergy sufferers and asthmatics. The fur is silky and soft – on some Bolonki, it curls finely, on others, it hangs straight down.

These colors occur in Bolonki

• Monochrome in all colors except white (from champagne and cream to apricot and fox-red to darker brown and red tones, gray and black).
• Spotted or piebald in two colors (light base color with black, red, or brown spots).
• Gray color (Roan): Puppies are born white, the fur later grows back mottled black.
• Sable Colors: Each individual hair is lighter at the base and darker at the tip. The basic color is interspersed with darker strands (red sable, brown sable, gold sable, black sable).
• Many Bolonki’s fur lightens in adulthood. Coffee brown puppies appear more cream-colored as they age, black puppies either remain jet black or lighten to shades of gray.
• Dilute colors such as blue, Isabelle and fawn do occur but are undesirable in breeding as this genetic combination can lead to health problems.
• The merle gene is also problematic in terms of health and is not permitted for breeding. Since it is also carried hidden, breeding dogs with Merle siblings may not be used for reproduction.
• The so-called Irish spotting refers to a black, brown, red, or sable-colored basic color with white markings on the legs, belly, chest, muzzle, and forehead furrow.
• Tan markings on eyebrows, muzzle, the underside of tail, and feet (black and tan or brown and tan).

The Story of the Tsvetnaya Bolonki – Lapdogs of the Rich and Noble

Small dog breeds were not found in Tsarist Russia until the Renaissance. It was only at the beginning of the 18th century that Russian nobles, through good connections to the French aristocracy, came across Tsvetnaya Bolonki, literally meaning “colorful lapdogs”. They descend directly from the French Bichon Frisé. Over time, other companion dogs such as Chinese Shih Tzus, Bolognese, and Miniature Poodles were crossed. In the mid-1980s, the “Zwetnas” became increasingly popular in the GDR and were given their Germanized name. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the Russian miniature dogs also spread to western Europe and the USA.

Nature and Character: A Happy Playmate for Every Type of Owner

In the breed standard of the dog breed, the extremely friendly nature of the Bolonki is emphasized. Aggressive or overly shy animals will not be allowed to breed. The dogs are warm and friendly to strangers and get excited when they meet the animal and human friends. The dogs need some training on this point so that they don’t jump into the arms of every passer-by on the street, wagging their tails.

Characteristics of the Bolonki at a glance

• Intelligent and alert
• Sensitive (adjusts to the mood of its holder)
• Good-natured and lovely
• Curious and never shy
• Playful and active

Who is the Bolonka Zwetna suitable for?

Due to their unproblematic nature and small body size, Bolonka Zwetnas are suitable for every owner who can spend enough time with their dog. Bolon is very people-oriented and does not tolerate being alone very well. Since they all like people and like to spend time with new friends, handing them over to the dog sitter or dog boarding house is usually completely unproblematic if you are unable to take your dog with you. The Bolonka is well suited as an apartment dog and hardly needs any space in the house. When playing, he sometimes overreacts and needs a break from time to time.