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Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka

The breeds · companion

AKC Toy

Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka.

AKC breed page: translates to 'Russian Colored Lapdog'; bred as the ultimate house pet for apartment living; funny, clever, loyal; some are excellent mimics, others monitor the door; does well in obedience, rally, tracking and agility. AKC standard: developed to be the ultimate house pet and companion; friendly to all, no sign of aggression. Wikipedia: a rare Bichon-type toy breed developed in Moscow and Leningrad; sociable, easy-going; a fairly good watchdog but should not be tasked as a guardian..

Breed sets the odds. The parents set the dog. Every number here shows its source, its spread and how sure we are. Nothing on this page is a prediction about one dog.

0INHeightdogs null, bitches null. An ideal from the standard, not a range.
4–11LBWeight, all linesbreed dogs 6 to 11 lb; breed bitches 4.4 to 9 lb.

The body

What the breed is built like. Registry standards give an ideal, not a range.

Height at the shoulder

dogs 8.7 to 11 in · bitches 7.1 to 11 in

Breed clubAKC breed standard, 2021

See the male row. Wikipedia's lower female figure sets low.

Weight

dogs 6 to 11 lb · bitches 4.4 to 9 lb

Breed clubAKC breed standard, 2021

See the male row.

Coat

AKC: long, dense, thick, soft and supple with a well-developed undercoat; large curls preferred or very wavy; well-developed beard and moustache required (complete lack is a disqualification); all colours permitted except solid white, spotted, parti-color or merle. Tail curls over the back and may not be docked. Wikipedia: soft wavy to curly coat in black, brown, gray, red or wolf-gray; the white version is the Franzuskaya Bolonka; males have a distinct beard and moustache.

Breed clubAKC breed standard, 2021

Wikipedia's list of colours rests on references not opened. The AKC standard is the registry source.

Shedding

AKC breed page band: shedding level 3 of 5. Wikipedia: like other Bichon breeds, does not shed.

Breed clubAKC

The two sources differ; both shown. Not sourced from a club or study.

Heat tolerance

2 of 5 · AKC standard: long, dense, thick coat with a well-developed undercoat, in large curls or very wavy; dogs kept in full coat. Muzzle short but not described as flat.

DerivedAKC breed standard, 2021

Derived from coat. A long dense coat with undercoat sits low on the scale; the dog is tiny. Held at 2 as a flagged judgement. Not brachycephalic as described. No heat-illness study was opened.

The dog at home

What the breed asks of a day. The first thing most homes get wrong.

Exercise need

AKC breed page: classic lapdogs that enjoy walks and playtime but do not need a great deal of exercise; can be very energetic and play-driven and should have a good romp at least twice a week; indoor games such as hide-and-seek or a rolled ball. AKC bands: energy level 3 of 5, mental stimulation needs 1 of 5, playfulness 3 of 5, barking level 1 of 5.

Breed clubAKC

No minutes figure in any source read; the RKC does not list the breed. exercise_need_min left out.

Energy

3 of 5

Breed clubAKC

AKC breed page trait score, 1 to 5: a breed-club tendency, never a measurement.

Grooming load

4 of 5 · AKC breed page: brush or comb with a wide-tooth comb several times per week to prevent mats; dogs in full coat may need the face, mustache and beard washed daily; check eyes and ears; keep topknots tied up. AKC band: coat grooming frequency 3 of 5. AKC standard: coat long, dense, thick, soft, supple, with a well-developed undercoat; large curls preferred or very wavy; never deliberately parted; no trimming except the feet for show. Wikipedia: daily brushing helps prevent matting; severe matting may lead to a hematoma.

Breed clubAKC

No RKC band for the breed. Mapped from AKC (several times a week plus a daily face wash) and Wikipedia (daily brushing) as regular, near-daily care (4); the AKC band reads 3. A flagged judgement; disagreement stands in the text.

The work

What it was built to do in the field, and what a test or trial asks of it.

Role

AKC breed page: translates to 'Russian Colored Lapdog'; bred as the ultimate house pet for apartment living; funny, clever, loyal; some are excellent mimics, others monitor the door; does well in obedience, rally, tracking and agility. AKC standard: developed to be the ultimate house pet and companion; friendly to all, no sign of aggression. Wikipedia: a rare Bichon-type toy breed developed in Moscow and Leningrad; sociable, easy-going; a fairly good watchdog but should not be tasked as a guardian.

Breed clubAKC

A companion breed.

How common the problems are

Evaluated dogs skew toward breeding stock; the numbers are still the best there are.

Most common disorders

AKC breed page: routine checks should include eyes, patella and heart; young dogs should not be encouraged to jump until adults (patella injury); keep topknots tied up to prevent corneal abrasions; breeders also screen for liver shunt, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease and PRA, though not often found in Bolonki; drop ears are prone to infection after bathing or swimming.

Breed clubAKC

Registry page only; no VetCompass or health-survey paper was read.

More

akc bands

AKC breed page trait scores (1-5): Energy Level 3; Mental Stimulation Needs 1; Trainability Level 5; Barking Level 1; Watchdog/Protective Nature 1; Good With Young Children 5; Openness To Strangers 3; Good With Other Dogs 5; Shedding Level 3; Coat Grooming Frequency 3; Drooling Level 1; Affectionate With Family 5; Playfulness Level 3; Adaptability Level 5.

Breed clubAKC

Fourteen AKC bands in one row; the selector reads each by name. Breed-club ratings: a tendency, never a measurement.

What to ask a breeder for

The health clearances the breed’s own club and registry name. Reference only: what to ask for, never a statement about any dog’s health.

How to read this page

Every value carries a label. Measured means peer-reviewed data on many dogs. Studied means peer-reviewed, smaller or indirect. Breed club means a club or registry states it. Editorial means expert opinion with no measurement behind it. Where two good sources disagree, both are shown and neither is averaged.

Published when the entry rests on the best information available from no fewer than three independent sources, checked by a second pass that did not write it. 2 sources on this page. Found something wrong? Tell us and the correction is logged with its date.

Also called
Bolonka, Bolonka Zwetna, Russian Colored Lapdog, Russkaya Tsvetnaya Bolonka

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