Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka

Tsvetnaya Bolonka means colored lap dog and has many nicknames such as Russian Colored Bichon, Russian Lapdog and Bolonka Zwetna. His ancestry dates back to the early 18th century when Louis XIV presented the Bolonka as a gift to members of Russian nobility. Years later, more ancestors of the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka were brought into Russia when Napoleon’s army invaded. He was called the French Bolonka at that time. Russians really had no need for toy breeds because of the harsh environment and the need for more working dogs. During the Soviet Regime, toy dogs were considered to be unnecessary. Since small dogs were not able to be imported into Russia at this time, toy breeds began being developed from small dogs that were already in the country. The Bolonka was created from small dogs such as the Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Bichon, French Bolognese and Toy Poodle. People in Russia wanted a toy sized lap dog with a mild mannered temperament for apartment living instead of the large or giant working dogs. In 1966, he was officially named the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka. Once the Iron Curtain fell, interest in the breed began to increase. In 1978, the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka was beginning to be exported to other countries. The American Kennel Club has accepted the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka into its Foundation Stock Service in 2014, which is the first step towards becoming an AKC recognized breed. He was accepted in 2017 by the International All Breed Canine Association as a rare breed within the Toy Group.