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In a world where the group of small
dogs known as toys and/or companion dogs begin to blur into one generic
fuzzy coated small dog, the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka, or Bolonka,
quite simply redefines the meaning of "companion dog". The Tsvetnaya
Bolonka is a new breed of toy dog discovered after the Iron Curtain
Fell but whose origins can possibly be dated back to the early 18th
century when a small sized Maltese type dog from the courts of Louis IV
was presented to Russian nobility as gifts.
Historically,
Russia was never known for toy breeds due to older Russian attitudes of
utilitarianism. Merchants and farmers would never keep an animal that
was not a "working dog" of some kind. The ancestors of today's Russian
Tsvetnaya Bolonka migrated to the Russian Empire with Napoleon's army
and were known as "French Bolonka". Bolonka simply means "lap dog" and
Tsvetnaya Bolonka means "coloured lap dog". After Napoleon's army
retreated, a few of the breed remained in Russia and became the
foundation stock the present day Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka.
After
World War II, there was a surge of interest in new breeds of dogs and
this interest expanded to include the non-sporting and toy breeds.
During the Soviet regime it was almost impossible to import dogs from
other countries. Gradually new breeds of dogs were developed by
selection from already existing breeds such as the French Franzuska or
Bichon Frise, the Maltes, the Shih Tsu and the Yorkshire Terrier.
However during the Stalin era it was almost impossible to resurrect the
Dog Fancy for anything but working dogs. When Khrushchev came to power
in the 1960s, restrictions of propagating toy breeds lifted somewhat
and the demand for these little dogs grew.
The focused
development of a sociable toy breed was in part a response to scarce
housing and the growth of apartments where keeping large working dogs
was not practicable. However, in an effort to inculcate some "working"
attributes into the breed, guardianship of its territory was inculcated
into the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka. Whenever there was a hobby-breeder
in any one particular town who was interested in selection, new
populations of dogs were created. This is how the Russian toy breeds
came into existence. Today Russian Toy Breeds include the Russian Toy
Terrier, both smooth and long coated also known as the Moscow long-hair
toy terrier and the Tsvetnaya Bolonka. The standards for these breeds
were confirmed by the Russian Kennel Federation (RKF) in the summer of
1997.
At one time the Russian Bolonka (also known as the
French Bolonka or Franszuskaya Bolonka), was also considered an Italian
Bolognese. At a Russian dog show in 1997, an FCI expert from italy,
Mario Perricone, called the russian white bolonkas typical Italian
Bolognese of high-quality and therefore from that point on, white
bolonkas were to be considered as Italian Bolognese and their pedigrees
were adjusted accordingly. The Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka is a small
breed created with localized breeding in Moscow and St. Petersburg
(Leningrad). The breed evolved from mixes of Lhasa-apsos, toy poodles,
shi-tzu, French bolognese and pekingese as well as local small fluffy
mongrel dogs.
While histories of modern dogs are often
undergirded with and driven by fancier preferences, the history of the
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka is undergirded with the necessities and
scarcities encountered living in a Communist State where lap dogs were
considered bourgeois luxuries. The soft looping silky curls of today's
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka were developed in response to and within the
parameters of scarcity and necessity.
The first dogs were,
according to Romanenkova, depressing in appearance as efforts to
develop coat, as well as effective coat care, had to deal with the
scarcity of water and fine shampoos and conditioners used in the west.
For example, harsh homemade laundry soaps with lye as its base were
first used to wash the dogs with a rapid and devastating drying of the
coat. Another example is reflected in the colors of the Russian
Tsvetnaya Bolonka. While there is now a rainbow of colors, black
remains the dominant color having been specifically bred into the breed
in order to accommodate the scarcity of water and shampoo for washing a
long coated dog. Similarly the tear drainage seen in dogs is less
noticeable in a black or dark dog than a white dog. The mats that more
often than not accompany longer coated breeds could not be readily
detangled in the Former Soviet Union therefore breeding programs
encouraged the development of the silky looping curls which have a soft
and downy undercoat possessing soil-repellant qualities that also
decrease the incidence of matting. White Bolonkas or Bolonkas having
large portions of white are concerned examples of albinism in Russia.
The
wonderful temperament is what distinguishes the Russian Tsvetnaya
bolonka from most other toy breeds. They are very easy going, not
easily excitable making them a wonderful companion for children as well
as senior citizens. They live amicably with animals exhibiting little
aggression unless they are first agressed against. They are quite
social animals bonding hard and fast to their humans and are quick to
alert to a stranger approaching . Bolonka puppies, like the bejeweled
and sumptuous Faberge egg, are exquisite little charmers. Their
affection knows no bounds . They are happily curious and wonderful
members of the family, getting along well with older dogs, children,
and visitors. Today, the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonkas are becoming
increasingly popular and are being called the Dogs of the XXI century
as more families prefer smaller dogs and legislation is being enacted
deeming some breeds of larger dogs: dangerous.
Bolonkas could
only be found occasionally in the United States prior to 2000. In that
year, after long negotiations with the Russian Kennel Federation and
the President of the National Russian Bolonka Club and agreements to
honor and maintain the standard of the Russian Kennel Federation ,
Patricia McRae of Ahavapicaro Kennel and Candace Mogavero of Faireland
Kennel from Russia her first Bolonka, a four month old female named
Ladushk Ocharovashkai. The following year two more Tsvetnaya Bolonkas
were imported: one female by the name of Ladushki Kudrjashka aka Pearl
for Patricia McRae of Ahavapicaro Kennel and a male named Ladushki
Rostok aka Neko for Candace Mogavero at Faireland Kennel . More
importantly the Bolonkas came with the translated export pedigrees and
legitimate papers from the Russian Kennel Federation needed in order
for a rare breed to acquire American Kennel Club (AKC) recognition.
The
breed is being actively shown on the Rare Breed Circuit where it is
recognized by the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) and Rarities.
A bit more denser in bone that some toys such as Silky or Yorkshire
Terriers, Tsvetnaya, the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka is a very happy and
active dog which comes in an amazing variety of colors including creme,
beige, brown, orange, black and tan, gray and tan, black and gray with
all kinds of shades. A large amount of white is not acceptable. Their
coats are soft, wavy to curly. They are unique in their ability to
adjust their exercise needs to the level in their household.Tsvetnaya
Bolnka weighs from 8-10 lbs with its height of ranging from 8-10 inches
and are close to square in overall conformation.. Their coat is long,
shiny and wavy with big curls with rich undercoat. The coat should not
be too soft or too long like a Yorkshire Terrier. The ears are down,
tightly attached to the head or slightly protruding, but not too short
or too long. The tail set is very important it should be completely
over the back with its tip touching the back. The mustache and beard
are distinguishing characteristics of the breed being more prominent in
males than females.
Tsvetnaya Bolonka is a bit larger
compared to other toy breeds. Because of its wide chest and rounded rib
cage, its weight is two times more than the weight of a Yorkshire
Terrier of the same height. These dogs are known for robust health but
they require extra care because of their coat, eyes and ears. Daily
brushings of the beard and the mustache, ears and the tail are
recommended. Show grooming includes bathing, and with minimal blow
drying so that the breed characteristic curls may reform. The hair
should be lifted off the eyes with a bow or a rubber band.
Revised February 2003 Patricia B. McRae Modern
type of Tsvetnaya Bolonka had appeared in Leningrad (now Saint
Petersburg) in the 1950's by crossing Franzuskaya Bolonka (Bichon
Frise) with Shitz Tzu. Sometimes there were added the bloods of the
small sized bearded dogs of poodles and longhaired terrier type
(yorksire terriers). So, already in the 1960's there was formed the
stable population of breed stock, which was named "Tsvetnaya Bolonka"
(coloured bichon). This breed differs from other in the bichon family
by the coat and sturdy conformation.
The hair is profuse and
dense with well developed undercoat and outer coat forming large curls
or very wavy. There are many different colours, black, brown, black and
tan, brown and tan. Slight fault is some white on the chest and on the
feet.
WRITTEN BY EVGENIY MOSKALEV, VICE PRESIDENT, RUSSIAN TSVETNAYA BOLONKA CLUB