All You Need To Know

The Maltese is a small breed of dog in the Toy Group. It descends from dogs originating in the Central Mediterranean Area. The breed name and origins are generally understood to derive from the Mediterranean island nation of Malta; however, the name is sometimes described with reference to the distinct Adriatic island of Mljet, or a defunct Sicilian town called Melita.

A Bichon Frisé (meaning curly lap dog) is a small breed of dog and a member of the Bichon family. They are popular pets, similar in appearance to, but larger than the Maltese. The Bichon Frisé is a member of the Non-Sporting Group of dog breeds in the US and a member of the Toy Dog group in the UK.

The Coton de Tuléar is a breed of small dog and is of the Bichon family, linked most closely to the Bichon Tenerife, and Tenerife Terrier. It is named after the city of Tuléar in Madagascar, and for its cotton-like coat.

The Bolognese [boloɲˈɲese] is a small breed of dog of the Bichon type, originating in Italy. The name refers to the central Italian city of Bologna. It is part of the Toy dog group and is considered a companion dog.

The Havanese, is a breed of Bichon, is the national dog of Cuba, developed from the now extinct Blanquito de la Habana (“little white dog of Havana”). The Blanquito descended from the also now extinct Bichon Tenerife. It is believed that the Blanquito was eventually cross-bred with other Bichon types, including the Poodle, to create what is now known as the Havanese. Sometimes referred to as “Havana Silk Dogs”, this was originally another name for the Blanquito de la Habana.

Bolonka (Russian: Болонка) — refers to small breeds of dog of the Bichon type, originally from Russia, developed from the Bichon Frisé and further developed in Germany. They include the Franzuskaya Bolonka (Bolonka Franzuskaya) and the Bolonka Zwetnaya (bunte Schoßhündchen, Tsvetnaya Bolonka). Franzuskaya means French, Zwetnaya means multicolored, and Bolonka translates as “Bolognese” in a number of Slavic languages.

The Löwchen or Little Lion Dog (German: Löwchen “little lion”, French: Petit chien lion, “little lion dog “) is a breed of dog and member of the Bichon family. A small dog, they are considered by some registries as a toy dog and by the American Kennel Club as a non-sporting dog.