Bolo-Chi

The Bolo-Chi is a hybrid of the Bolognese and the Chihuahua. The mix is a modern designer dog intended as a companion dog and does not have a long and well-known history. As such, owners must look at the history of the breed parents to understand the history of this hybrid. The Bolognese is a toy companion breed of the Water Spaniel family. French and Italian courtesans and nobility maintained the breed, which also goes by the name Bichon Bolognese and is closely related to the Bichon Frise; frise being a French word for frizzy and referring to the soft, frizzy hair on the white coated toy close cousin. This breed’s Italian name, Bolognese, refers to the Italian province of Bologna, where the breed is thought to have developed. The Chihuahua is a New World breed, having possibly crossed the Bering Strait more than 30,000 years ago and finding its way to Mesoamerica and modern-day Mexico. The Chihuahua was kept and bred for vermin control by the Aztec and Toltec people for centuries before making its way north again through importation in the 1800s. Originally short coated, the long-haired varieties of Chihuahua may have been cross bred with Silky Terriers. Today, the Bolo-Chi is recognized by American Canine Hybrid Club, the Designer Dog Kennel Club, the Dog Registry of America, and the International Designer Canine Registry. Faithful to both parents, this mix is bred for companionship and is ideally suited to small space living.