The Bolosilk is a newly developed dog, a hybrid of the small white companion dog known as a Bolognese and the small Australian Terrier called the Silky Terrier. The Bolognese breed of dog is a little Bichon variety of dog that can be traced back to at least the 13th century in Italy. The ruling class of the area prized the little white dogs, and they were bred by both the Gonzaga and Medici families. Bolognese puppies were sometimes given as valued gifts to visiting royal families and dignitaries. The breed fell out of favor during the industrial revolution, and many of the little dogs were killed with their royal families during revolutions, but breed fanciers in Europe began an effort to restore the Bolognese breed in the 1970’s, and Bolognese dogs were brought to the United States from Russia for breeding purposes in 1986. The Silky Terrier is a somewhat newer breed than the Bolognese; it wasn’t until the late 1800s that Yorkshire Terriers were imported into Australia in order to cross them with the larger Australian Terrier in an attempt to improve their coat quality. By 1906, the Silky Terrier was breeding true to type, and in 1926 a comprehensive breed standard was able to be set. Originally known as the Sidney Silky, these tiny dogs with long, silky hair are Terriers and they are quite adept at hunting and killing mice, rats, and snakes and can be fearless in their pursuit. The resulting crossbreed is a highly intelligent small dog with a single, silky layer of medium to long hair that typically has an energetic and outgoing temperament.
