The Bologco is a hybrid of the Bolognese and the Cocker Spaniel. The mix is a modern designer dog intended as a companion dog and does not have a long and well-known history. As such, owners must look at the history of the breed parents to understand the history of this hybrid. The Bolognese is a toy companion breed of the Water Spaniel family. French and Italian courtesans and nobility maintained the breed, which also goes by the name Bichon Bolognese and is closely related to the Bichon Frise; frise being a French word for frizzy and referring to the soft, frizzy hair on the white coated toy close cousin. This breed’s Italian name, Bolognese, refers to the Italian province of Bologna, where the breed is thought to have developed. The Cocker Spaniel is divided into two breeds, the English and the American Cocker Spaniel and is part of the much larger Spaniel family. The Spaniel family is an old and considerably large one, having been divided into two groups, the Water Spaniels and the Land Spaniels. Cocker Spaniels belong to the land group and are further differentiated by the smaller size. The Cocker Spaniel was bred for its woodcock hunting abilities, which lends the Cocker name. Spaniel indicates Spain, the region all Spaniels developed in before importation. The Cocker Spaniel gained a lot of popularity in the 1800s as a conformation breed, and several Champions arise in both the United States and in America. The popularity and showmanship of the breed turned the focus away from hunting and more for show. However, the Cocker Spaniel still maintains its position in the Sporting Group for its hunting abilities. Today, the Bologco is recognized by American Canine Hybrid Club, the Designer Dog Kennel Club, the Dog Registry of America, and the International Designer Canine Registry. Faithful to both parents, this mix is bred for companionship and has the sweetest disposition. The Bologco is ideally suited to small space living as well, making it a perfect hybrid for apartments.
