RTBCA NATIONAL SPECIALTY OCT 9, 2026 HELD IN WEST FRIENDSHIP, MD
the history
early Russian TsveTNAYA Bolonka in their Home Country of Russia
The origins of the Russian Colored Lapdog, begin in 1951 when a group of dog lovers in the city of Leningrad produced a black Lapdog named Tin-Tin from a mating of two coffee and white dogs. At that time, there were very few phenotypically suitable small dogs. The white color dog Trifon was brought to Leningrad from Hungary, and Zhuzhu, coffee-colored, was purchased from the circus that toured at that time in Leningrad. Some foreign small breeds were also used, such as Maltese, Bolognese, Shih Tzu, and some others. By the end of the 1950s, with careful and rigorous selection, mainly by phenotype and later on by the quality of the offspring, a fairly uniform population was obtained, which received the status of a breed group.”
THE HISTORY OF THE BOLONKA IN AMERICA
THE PHOTOS ABOVE ARE SOME OF THE FIRST BOLONKA IN THE US.
Although there were Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonkas imported into the United States before 2000, many did not have registration papers nor were their owners interested in developing the breed in this country. In the year 2000, AKC Judge and Havanese breeder, Ms. Candace Mogavero, became interested in the Bolonka and imported a female, Ladushka Ocharovashka from Elvira Romanenkova. The following year another Havanese breeder, Dr. Patricia McRae, joined Ms. Mogavero and two more dogs were imported, Ladushki Rostok and Ladushki Kudrjashka. By 2002 Ms. Mogavero and Dr. McRae were joined by two more Havanese breeders Ms. Jane Falkenstein and Ms. Nancy Holmes. Three more female Bolonkas, Aljapka, Ladushki TsaTsa, Ladushki Toska, and one male, Ladushki Schlegel were then imported from Russia.
Ms.Mogavero and Dr. McRae formed the North American Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka Club and established a registry. Most of the litters born were under Dr. McRae’s Ahavapicaro kennel name. Ms. Mogavero showed her dogs under her kennel name of Faireland Kennel and promoting the breed.
Over the next few years, more breeders became interested in the advancement of the breed in this country and joined Ms. Mogavero and Dr. McRae by registering their imported dogs. Encouraging breeders to register their litters the NARTB. In the year 2015 the AKC accepted the breed into their Foundation Stock Service. The club’s name was changed to the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka Club of America. On January 1, 2023, the breed advanced to the AKC Miscellaneous Class.
The breed moved to the Toy Group on January 1, 2026.
