The Bolonauzer is a hybrid of the Bolognese and the Schnauzer. 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 Schnauzer is believed to have developed in the Middle Ages in Germany and dates to the 15th century where the breed was often depicted in wooden carved artwork of Albrecht Dürer. Originally bred to assist of the farm and hunt vermin, the Schnauzer also provided guard protection for farmers on their way to market. The Schnauzer name is a literal German translation of mustache and the German name, Mittelschnauzer translates as a bearded muzzle. Breeding programs help standardize the coat color of black and salt and pepper for this breed. Today, the Bolonauzer is not a well-known hybrid, and little documentation exists on the mix. The Bolognese parent is a rare breed, but the Schnauzer is a well-known, well-loved breed. All three Schnauzer breeds that could potentially contribute to the Bolonauzer character and physical traits are closely related and vary mostly in size.
