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Bichon Bolognese is originated from Spain but Smooth Collie is originated from United Kingdom. Bichon Bolognese may grow 52 cm / 20 inches shorter than Smooth Collie. Both Bichon Bolognese and Smooth Collie are of same weight. Both Bichon Bolognese and Smooth Collie has same life span. Bichon Bolognese may have less litter size than Smooth Collie. Bichon Bolognese requires Low Maintenance. But Smooth Collie requires Moderate Maintenance
The 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.
When you see the Smooth Collie you just assume that you’re looking at a long-haired Lassie-type Collie that was sent to the groomers.
The Smooth Collie has always been used for herding purposes and is a short haired version of the Rough Collie. The early history of this dog is unknown and there are quite a few stories surrounding its history.
It seems as though the dog’s history started during the reign of Queen Victoria who is believed to have owned these dogs.
In some countries it is thought that the smooth- and rough collie are one and the same while in other countries they are classified as separate breeds. The dog hails from the United Kingdom and they classify the Smooth Collie as a separate breed from the Rough Collie.
Like 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.
The Smooth Collie is a medium to large sized dog, ranging in size from 51–56cm and weighing anything from 18kg to 30kg.
The Smooth Collie is slightly longer than it is tall and he has a deep chest. Most people are very familiar with the sweet, gentle expression of the Collie dogs.
The dog also has the long slender head, the semi-erect ears and a long tail. The coat of the Smooth Collie is dense and long with the outer hair being straight and harsh. The Smooth Collie comes in different colors – fawn, reddish brown, white,grey, black and tan.
The Smooth Collie is generally an amicable dog, sociable and friendly. He loves his human family and wants to be constantly with them, showing signs of separation anxiety when left for long periods on his own.
He is intelligent too so that he is easily trained. He is totally non-aggressive but that doesn’t stop him from being an excellent watchdog and he’ll alert you to strangers approaching you or your home.
They’re also energetic dogs and will require regular exercise. Although these Smooth Collies make splendid family pets, they are still used for herding purposes.
These 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.
Not only is he intelligent, he is playful and energetic too, making a good pet for children and tolerating other pets too.
Add to that the fact that he is a a good watchdog and wants to protect his family. Sweet and gentle, the Smooth Collie is guaranteed to make a wonderful addition to your family.
Like 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.
Your gentle smooth haired collie can live to be 12 to 14 years of age if he enjoys a good life, but like with other dog breeds, they can also be susceptible to certain common dog illnesses.
This is when the chromosomes that determine how the eyes develop are mutated, so that the blood vessels that nourish the retina and absorb scattered light are underdeveloped. When this mutation occurs it is in both eyes, but one eye could be more severely affected than the other.
Your vet will do a complete examination of your dog’s eyes to find out what the extent of the defect is.
This is a life threatening problem where the stomach twists. It is more prevalent in deep chested dogs. It can help by feeding your dog two smaller meals a day instead of one larger one which he gobbles up quickly.
Also known as Gray Collie Syndrome, this rare disease affects the neutrophils of a dog, which are an important part of the immune system. Bacterial infections and a shortened lifespan are your dog’s lot with this illness.
Like 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.
They are very healthy with a propensity toward: Moving kneecaps (Luxating patella)
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.
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.
Your Smooth Collie deserves the very best food there is because of the wonderful companionship he provides you with. You want him to enjoy good health and a long life with you.
If you buy one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure it is one of the best – packed with vitamins and minerals and good, natural ingredients.
Follow the instructions on the packaging for portion sizes. Also include some plain, wholesome dog food made at home. The perfect example of this is boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots all chopped up and added to your dog’s dry kibble as a treat twice a week. No need to add in exotic spices. Avoid onions.
Try and include some raw meat into the diet once in a while too. Make sure your Smooth Collie has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.
This is one of the best things you can do for your Collie, eliminating the possibility of your pet becoming a parent of unwanted puppies.
Brush your Smooth Collie twice a week. He is a moderate shedder but has a couple of heavier shedding periods.
While brushing your pet, check inside the ears for signs of infection, check that his eyes are still bright and alert and check inside his mouth for bad teeth. He can’t tell you about a rotting tooth and this can cause a host of other problems for your dog.