Bichon Bolognese vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison

Bichon Bolognese vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed ComparisonWest Highland White Terrier is originated from United Kingdom but Bichon Bolognese is originated from Spain. West Highland White Terrier may grow 26 cm / 11 inches higher than Bichon Bolognese. West Highland White Terrier may weigh 20 kg / 44 pounds lesser than Bichon Bolognese. Both West Highland White Terrier and Bichon Bolognese has almost same life span. Both West Highland White Terrier and Bichon Bolognese has almost same litter size. West Highland White Terrier requires High Maintenance. But Bichon Bolognese requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Toy dog
undefined
United Kingdom
Spain
Height Male:
25 - 30 cm
9 - 12 inches
3 - 4 cm
1 - 2 inches
Height Female:
23 - 28 cm
9 - 12 inches
2 - 3 cm
0 - 2 inches
Weight Male:
7 - 10 kg
15 - 23 pounds
27 - 30 kg
59 - 67 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 7 kg
13 - 16 pounds
25 - 28 kg
55 - 62 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 16 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 7
3 - 5
Size:
Small
Toy
Other Names:
Westie or Westy
the Bolognese Toy Dog, the Bolognese, Bolo, the Botoli, the Bottolo
Colors Available:
White
white
Coat:
‎Double
the Bolognese Toy Dog, the Bolognese, Bolo, the Botoli, the Bottolo
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Friendly, Independent
Affectionate, Cheerful, Friendly, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Playful, Social
Grooming:
High Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

west highland white terrierThe West highland white terrier originated from Poltalloch in Scotland. So they were initially called as Poltalloch terrier and after that they were called as Roseneath terrier. They were initially used for hunting fox, badger, otter and in killing the vermin like rats.

The breed history says that Colonel Malcolm of Poltalloch was the reason for the Westie's white colour. This is because in 19th centuryhe went for hunting with his dogs and accidentally he shot his dog as its colour was as fox. So he decided to breed only white colour dogs.

bichon bologneseThe Bichon Bolognese is one of 4 types of Bichon breeds the others being the Havense, the Bichon Frise and the Maltese. The Lowchen and the Coton de Tulear are also listed in this grouping at times. The Bolognese was developed in Italy and is a small, companion animal. They are named after the city of Bologna in Northern Italy. The Bichon Bolognese is considered a toy dog and are considered an ancient breed that lived with Italian nobility. Their precise ancestry is not known and the Maltese is considered its closest relative. They have been known to exist since at least 1200.

The Bichon Bolognese is found in many works of art throughout the centuries. They were the favorite of many an Italian artist since the 17th century including Titian, Watteau, Gosse and Goya. They were known to be owned by Duke Frederico Gonzaga, Madame De Pompadour, Catherine the Great of Russia and Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. Cosimo de Medici gave eight Bolognese to Belgian noblemen. The Duke d’Este was given two as a gift.

Of all the Bichon group – the Bolognese is the hardest to find and the best problem solver. They read body language amazingly well, stick with their owners and are attentive and devoted. Liz Stannard brought them to England in 1990 and they were entered in the breed registry that same year and joined the show ring cycle in 2001. By 2002 they were shown at Crufts, England’s International Dog Show.

Description

west highland white terrier puppy - descriptionThe Westie can be said as that a small dog having the talents of the big dog. They are very popular for their obedience. They are also working as therapy dogs and also some in search and rescue teams. The home having Westie will have fun always and be enthusiastic. They will suit them for country or city living, but they like to live with their family. They are well suitable for apartment living, but some training should be given to them for not barking. They can stay in home when you are at work. Westie can be taken to travel, whether it may be long vacation or a short visit.

They are quick learners and so training them is not difficult. Mistakes of them can be corrected patiently since they don't like harsh activities against them. Westie will definitely bark when he sees something or hear different sounds. He will bark on seeing visitors or even other dogs. Sometimes they will bark for very silly things but when given appropriate training in their young stage, they can bark only for alerts.

bichon bolognese puppy - descriptionLike the other members of the Bichon group, the Bolognese is a compact, little white dog. It is considered a member of the toy group and is stocky in its build. It is a muscled, square dog of medium length with an ovoid skull and large, square, black muzzle. The jaw is well developed, and they have black lips, black nose and black eyelids. They have a straight muzzle with a strong, aligned bite and its eyes are round and wide. They have long, high set ears that hang down to a rigid base. The coat is white, long and shorter only at the muzzle. The coat is fluffy but not fringed.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

west highland white terrier dog - characteristicsThe Westie is friendly with children but not all the time. So some care should be taken while they are near children.

Special talents

They like to chase rodents like rabbits as they are interested in hunting.

Adaptability

They are suitable for apartment living unless they are left alone for a very long time. They love cold weather more than hot.

Learning ability

They can be trained by giving some extra efforts.

bichon bolognese dog - characteristicsThese little white dogs with the shaggy hair are intelligent, loving, playful, loyal, and happy to do whatever you ask them to. They are more reserved than their relative the Bichon Frise. They are great at obedience training and seem to love it. They learn quickly and love to please you, yet they can also be very stubborn. Like the Bichon Frise, they are difficult to housebreak. They need to be with their people who they will develop bad habits and a bad attitude. They are bred to be companion dogs. If socialized when young they are great with strangers after you have indicated that the strangers are ok. They are barking watchdogs but not continuous barkers. They get along with other dogs but are ok by themselves as well. They do get separation anxiety when their people are gone for extended periods of time. They can be very serious and docile, but they love to be with people. They are very loyal and very bonded to their family.

Be sure you are the pack leader as they can acquire Small Dog Syndrome. With this syndrome the dog comes to believe he is the alpha and the humans are his pack. This causes many kinds of problems with behavior including howling when not getting attention, their separation anxiety and destructiveness can also come from this.

Health Problems

west highland white terrier puppies - health problemsItchy skin and pyoderma are common in terriers. Skin diseases such as Seborrhea and epidermal dysplasia are also found in them.

Hair fall

Westies have possibilities of getting yeast infections in skin[Malassezia Dermatitis] and due to that hair loss will be more.

bichon bolognese puppies - health problemsLike others in the Bichon group, they have moving kneecaps (luxating patella’s). They also have some eye conditions. They should be tested for any genetic issues, although the breed is a very healthy one and they do not usually have major health issues.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

west highland white terrier dogs - caringThe puppy should be fed 3 to 4 times per day as it requires a considerable amount for their growth. Cooked chicken breast and turkey are best for them and also vegetables should be given to them. Beef and chicken should be kept a limit as it will lead to itchy skin and allergies.

Feeding the adult

The preferable food for the Westie is home cooked. The home food will only contain all the essential nutrients for the Westie.

Points for Good Health

Eventhough the Westie is suitable for apartment living it is recommended to have a daily walk for him to be active and refreshing.

Games and Exercises

They should be made to play for atleast 30 minutes per day for their health as to not gain overweight. Grown up children can play with them as they like it.

Feeding

bichon bolognese dogs - caringLike other toy breeds do not overfeed the Bolognese. Feed them ¼ of a cup of high quality dry food once a day. Treats are often used for training just be judicious with them.

Health issues

They are very healthy with a propensity toward: Moving kneecaps (Luxating patella)

Hip Dysplasia

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease – This causes the thigh bones to shrink due to a loss of blood supply. It can be repaired surgically.

Periodontal Disease due to their small mouth size.

Exercise and games

They need to walk everyday but they can be couch potatoes. One long 20-minute walk will do or a couple 10-minute walks.

While Bolognese are perfectly happy to lounge around the house, they should also have a daily walk.[7] A suitable walk would be around 20–25 minute a couple of times a day or substitute 10-minute walks a few times a day. They love to play off-lead, whether its in the house or in a fenced in yard or dog park.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. West Highland White Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. West Highland White Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. West Highland White Terrier vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. West Highland White Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. French Bulldog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Beagle vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  7. Yorkshire Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  8. Poodle vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Rottweiler vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  10. Boxer vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  11. English Pointer vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  12. Siberian Husky vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  13. Doberman Pinscher vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  14. American Bully vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Abruzzenhund vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  16. Affenpinscher vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Afghan Hound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Aidi vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Airedale Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  20. Akbash Dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Akita vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  22. Africanis vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. Askal vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Atlas Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Aussie Poo vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Bichon Bolognese vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Bichon Bolognese vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Bichon Bolognese vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Bichon Bolognese vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Bichon Bolognese vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Bichon Bolognese vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Bichon Bolognese vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Bichon Bolognese vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Bichon Bolognese vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Bichon Bolognese vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Bichon Bolognese vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Bichon Bolognese vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Bichon Bolognese vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Bichon Bolognese vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Bichon Bolognese vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Bichon Bolognese vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Bichon Bolognese vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Bichon Bolognese vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Bichon Bolognese vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Bichon Bolognese vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Bichon Bolognese vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Bichon Bolognese vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Bichon Bolognese vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Bichon Bolognese vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Bichon Bolognese vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison