Today, the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonkas  are becoming more and more 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.  The  Tsvetnaya Bolonkas are very happy and active dogs with amazing variety of colors of crème, 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.

Tsvetnaya Bolnka weighs from 8-10 lbs with its height of ranging from 8-10 inches.  

Tsvetnaya Bolonkas are close to square.  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 hair on the head and muzzle should be the same as all Bolognese. 

Tsvetnaya Bolonka is fairly big boned 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.

The goals to be achieved in breeding include: wide skull and muzzle with hair all-around and full dentition, in particular, full incisors (6+6), non-protruding eyes, and the correct tail set. 

 

  

 

 

Please note: This history draws from the provided in translation by Elvira Romenkova as well as some other sorces. If there are errors, additions, or deletions that need to be made, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Historically, Russia was never known for toy breeds of dogs. This reason for this derives from the older Russian attitudes of utilitarianism. Merchants and farmers would never keep an animal that was not a "working dog" of some kind. The Tsvetnaya Bolonka is a new breed of Toy dog discovered after the Iron Curtain Fell but can possibly be dated back to the early 18th century whena  small sized Maltese type dog from the courts of Louis IVwas presented to Russian nobility as gifts.  A curly coated breed evolved that was similar to the present day Bichon Frise except it was very small and became known as  a Franszuka.

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 Tsvetanay Bolonkas.

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.  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 9also known as the Moscow long-haird 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.

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.