Dualanese

The Dualanese is a combination of a Bolognese and a Havanese, the latter being the national dog of Cuba. Havanese were developed from the Blanquito de la Habana - "little white dog of Havana" - which are now extinct. It is believed the Blanquito was cross-bred with other Bichon types, including the Poodle, to create the Havanese. They are believed to have been brought on ships along with the early colonists to Cuba and it is assumed that they were the dog of Tenerife, which is the common ancestor to all the Bichon family. The Spanish colonists in Cuba took a liking to the little dogs and kept them as companion pets in their homes. When Cubans fled to the United States during the revolution many left their dogs behind. However some made it to the US and they were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1996 and are now one of the fastest growing breeds of dogs in the club. The Bolognese belongs to the Bichon family of dogs and are named after Bologna in Northern Italy where it is believed the breed was established. Other Bichon breeds include the Coton de Tulear and the Maltese. Bolognese dogs were pampered pets of noble Italian families and were also owned by the likes of Catherine the Great of Russia and the Marquise de Pompadour, the mistress of Louis XV of France. The breed is pictured in tapestry work by Flemish craftsmen as far back as the 17th century. They were later imported to England and exhibited at the Crufts dog show in 2002. The breed is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club.