Ikuko Hisaka, owner of Elfin Bolognese, has loved the breed almost as long as she’s been breeding them. But her introduction to Bolognese didn’t come until later in life. Hisaka grew up in Tokyo, Japan, and moved to the United States in 1987 when her husband’s job transferred them to Portland, Oregon. It would take another two decades for Hisaka to be introduced to the breed. But once she held a Bolognese puppy in her arms for the first time, she knew she’d devote the rest of her life to the breed.
Now, Hisaka has been a Bolognese breeder for over a decade. She’s just steps away from receiving Breeder of Merit status for her breeding program.
Love at First, Fluffy Sight
It wasn’t until January 2011 when she met her first Bolognese in Minneapolis, MN. “I’ll never forget how thrilled I was when I picked up a white, square, fluffy Bolognese puppy,” Hisaka says. From then on, she began showing them in conformation dog shows. Through conformation, she met other Bolognese handlers, as well as breeders. It was at her very first show that her Bolognese won the group, prompting her to delve deeper into the breed, which led to her learning more about breeding and pedigrees.
What she soon found was that the breed, part of the Miscellaneous class, was even rarer than she previously thought. “The Bolognese is an ancient breed of noble origin,” Hisaka says, noting that references to the Bolognese in art and literature date back to the 17th century. Bolognese were often given as gifts by Renaissance nobility as a sign of love and respect. “But the breed was almost extinct by the end of World War II.”
The breed moved into the Foundation Stock Service in 1999, and entered into the Miscellaneous class in 2008, and has been able to compete in conformation and AKC Companion Events since then. However, Bolognese history dates back at least 2000 years, when these Bichon-cousins were in fact favorites of royalty.
Learning Through Mentorship
Aside from the Bolognese’s rich history as a royal favorite, Hisaka loves how happy the breed is known to be. “The Bolognese’s trademark is that it’s known to be happy, playful, friendly, intelligent, and loyal. They’re a lovable family dog that builds strong bonds with their owners,” she says. Through conformation, she met her breeding mentor, who she is still learning from over a decade later. “My mentor still teaches me things that aren’t in textbooks,” she says. “The breeders I meet at shows, regardless of their breed, are all very kind, and always give me helpful information.”
For Hisaka, Bolognese have quickly become her passion. “Since getting my first one, my life has been exclusively focused on my Bolognese, with their health as my top priority, along with expanding the gene pool,” she says. In 2019, one of her females received a Certificate of Merit in Conformation, the first Bolognese to do so.
Hisaka herself is finishing up the paperwork to receive the Breeder of Merit distinction. She’s working to expand the Bolognese gene pool by integrating Champion lines from Italy, Russia, the Netherlands, and England. “Since 2013, I’ve been working to blend the best of those bloodlines to produce the ideal Bolognese,” she says. “Being able to see firsthand if I succeeded in passing on excellent characteristics of the Bolognese to the next generation while maintaining a healthy pedigree is my favorite part.”
Every Experience Helps Her Learn
Since getting into the breed, Hisaka has experienced many historic highs, like her first Bolognese Certificate of Merit. While breeding isn’t always an easy task, Hisaka takes everything in stride as a learning experience. When she started breeding, she found her pregnant Bolognese surrounded by dark green liquid on the floor and rushed her to the emergency vet in the middle of the night. The vet later concluded she had begun to go into labor.
He allowed Hisaka to stay in the exam room with him. She learned a great deal by watching the delivery. “I couldn’t thank this emergency vet enough. The technician taught me one-on-one how to assist the mother dog with delivery,” she recalls. “I tried to learn everything, and wrote down as many notes as I could remember after we returned home, along with a few simple drawings. I still look back on those notes from time to time.”
Though her main focuses are conformation and breeding, she also has her Bolognese take the AKC Temperament Test and participate in Trick Dog and Farm Dog. “I love to see the joy shown by my dogs when they try something new,” she says. Conformation is still her first love, and always will be. But she emphasizes the importance of doing various sports for mental stimulation.
Expanding Bolognese Popularity in the U.S.
Hisaka is incredibly grateful to everyone who’s helped her along the way. She hopes to be that person for others interested in the breed going forward.”I’d really like to thank the many gracious people and good fortune I have been blessed with since I went to pick up my first Bolognese and stepped into the dog world,” she says.
She looks for certain things when connecting potential owners with dogs from her litter. She likes to ask about their lifestyle, hobbies, and activity level. “These pieces of information are an important part of finding an owner who will be the best match for the puppy’s personality,” she says.
Hisaka also looks for owners who want to learn more about the breed. Her best-case scenario is to form a strong relationship with anyone who gets her puppies. She tries to foster an environment where they can ask her questions and lean on her when they need to. “Especially in the early stages of training when the puppies are adjusting to their new environment, I appreciate frequent updates,” she says.
Bolognese aren’t the right breed for everyone. For example, they wouldn’t be good candidates for owners who work long hours away from home, as they’re prone to separation anxiety. Hisaka notes that Bolognese are very devoted to their owners. They don’t do well when left alone for a long time. Though easy-going, this breed loves to be around people and is happiest when with their owners.
The more people who are knowledgeable about the breed, the better. “I hope this adorable breed will spread all over the U.S. and be loved by many people,” Hisaka says.