Maintaining the coat of the Bolognese in good condition involves a modest amount of commitment, compared to other long coated breeds. Here is some advice to keep your ‘friend’s’ coat and skin in healthy condition.

Removing Staining
Clean with cotton wool the area around the eyes and moustache daily with a solution of Boric Acid BP solution (1 teaspoon in a cup of boiling water, dissolve by stirring and allow to cool)

Using Boric Acid BP to remove staining

Grooming
Spring and autumn are the main periods when you should give more attention to the coat, this is the time when the dead hairs within the coat can form matts and knots, and once wet would be extremely hard to extricate, so always brush and comb your Bolognese before giving a bath and on a regular basis at other times such as daily or every other day. Proceed to brush from the tail end and gradually up towards the head, I find it useful to use a hard pin brush with nobbles at the end of the bristles.

However remember that not every Bolognese has the same coat texture and thickness. Also the age of the dog plays a big part, i.e. the coat of a puppy is quite different to the coat of an adult, it is less thick and not curly so requires less attention. It is important though to get the puppy used to being groomed otherwise when he has his full coat (at around 11months), you will find it very difficult because your dog will not want to stand still as he is groomed and will not like to feel his coat being pulled.

Typical Comb and Brush. Your can see some of the fur already removed.	Place your free hand at the roots and comb away. Be careful of knots and tangles as not to pull too hard.
Work from the tail to the head. Combing through the feathers on each leg	Once you have used the comb finish up by using the brush

Bathing Your Bolognese
After shampooing and rinsing your dog add some conditioner in warm water to the coat and leave in for 2-3 minutes at the same time comb the coat through, then rinse the conditioner off. This will keep your pets skin in good condition. Put a towel around the coat and pat dry without rubbing. Take your friend to a table and continue to dry the coat with a hairdryer aiming the warm air upwards and opposite way to the lay of the fur, this will help to maintain the characteristic curls. When the coat is dry you can apply an anti-static this is a small trick that will help the formation of the curls.

Ears and Nails
Also as well as looking after the coat one must periodically treat the ears and nails. Unlike human beings some breeds of dog have a large quantity of fur in the auricular canal, and if left in after a time could accumulated dirt and consequently cause the manifestations of otitis.(canker). It is therefore necessary to remove the excess fur, by plucking it out with decision. It may bother the dog a little but doesn’t harm him.

Finally the nails should be cut periodically, being as they are domestic animals they cannot file down their nails naturally. Pay great attention to the vein (the quick), that runs within the nail if this is cut there will be loss of blood and it will cause pain to your friend.

Using blunt ended tweezers to remove the hair from inside the ear	A sample of the downy hair from inside the ear canal
Applying ear drops	Periodically clean your dog's teeth with a suitable tooth brush and paste from your vet or pet shop.
Using Guillotine nail clippers	Using a nail file to smooth and trim

This is all you have to practically do with your dog, which is only the equivalent to us humans having a shower and manicure.

Thanks to model Riccardo of Kashima
(bred by myself and owned by Janice and Irene Evenden)
Photos by www.stevepinchbeck.co.uk