Bolo-Chi Basics

The happy-go-lucky Bolo-Chi brings the petite size of the Chihuahua together with the small but robust Bolognese to produce a great little family dog that is playful, loyal and curious. The easy-going and friendly nature of the Bolognese seems to offset the sassy and sometimes territorial nature of the Chihuahua which results in the Bolo-Chi being a dog that fits in well with kids and other pets.

The Bolo-Chi brings together the petite Chihuahua and the small but robust Bolognese.

Origin

The Bolo-Chi is a relatively new addition to the Designer Dog world and brings together two of the more popular small breeds to create a sturdy, friendly little family dog. The playful Bolognese comes from Italy and dates back to the year 1200 while the Chihuahua is considered the world’s smallest dog and originates in Mexico – possibly as far back as 100 A.D.

Pedigree

Because the Bolo-Chi is not a purebred he doesn’t qualify to be a member of the American Kennel Club (AKC) however the Chihuahua joined the “toy” group back in 1904. The Bolognese did become a member of the AKC’s “miscellaneous” class in their Foundation Stock Service (FSS) in 1999. The FSS is AKC’s record-keeping system for rare breeds that are not yet fully AKC recognized.

Food / Diet

The size and activity level of your Bolo-Chi will dictate his diet. Because of his smaller stature you will want a top quality food with all the vitamins and nutrients needed for an active small dog but without the fillers. Feeding should be frequent small meals throughout the day with healthy snacks and treats that will prevent his tiny frame from packing on the pounds.

The Bolo-Chi is loyal and loving to his family, making him a great companion dog.

Training

The Bolo-Chi combines the intelligence and eager-to-please personality of the Bolognese with the sometimes stubborn and often sassy personality of the Chihuahua. As with many small dogs, you will need patience when training this little guy. Because he can pick up the Chihuahua’s territorial and aggressive nature, early socialization is a must and obedience training should be started when they are young. Lots of praise and rewards-based training is the way to make this little guy shine.

Weight

Your Bolo-Chi is a small dog that will typically weight no more than 6 to 10 pounds.

Temperament / Behavior

The Bolo-Chi is considered to have inherited the easy-going, friendly nature of the Bolognese over the somewhat territorial and cautious instincts of the Chihuahua. He is loyal and loving to his family and his playful, curious personality makes him a great companion dog. He thrives on attention and doesn’t like to be left on his own for long periods.

Common Health Problems

Happily, designer dogs can often by-pass the health issues that plague their pure-bred parents. While the Bolo-Chi tends to inherit the Bolognese’ propensity for skin allergies, he may also pick up the Chihuahua’s tendency toward patella luxation and joint issues. As this is a small breed dog with tiny jaws, dental issues are always a concern so regular brushing and check-ups are important.

Life Expectancy

The Bolo-Chi has a life expectancy of 12-16 years.

Exercise Requirements

Your Bolo-Chi is an active, energetic little dog but because of his tiny stature, it doesn’t take a lot to meet his exercise needs. Short walks versus long are ideal for this pooch and interactive indoor or outdoor playtime will satisfy his need for mental stimulation.

The Bolo-Chi typically inherits the more friendly nature of the Bolognese.

Recognized Clubs

The Bolo-Chi is recognized by the the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA), American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC), Designer Dogs Kennel Club (DDKC) and International Designer Canine Registry (IDCR).

Coat

The Bolo-Chi’s super-fluffy fur is typically hypo-allergenic and in spite of him having a thick double-coat, he is a low shedding dog. This little guy is fairly high maintenance and will require daily brushing to keep his long coat matt and tangle free. Because of a propensity toward skin issues, bathing is recommended only as absolutely needed and with a non-scented dog shampoo and patting dry versus blow drying.

Puppies

Bolo-Chi’s are small dogs and produce tiny puppies that need careful handling to prevent injury. Children should always be supervised and when you begin exercise and walking routines you must be careful not to over-exert small puppy limbs. Because this dog may pick up the Chihuahua’s territorial nature, it’s important you begin socialization and obedience training when he is very young.

Photo credit: graphicphoto/Bigstock; NOPPAKHOON SRIKOOLNA/Bigstock