Hi Arturo,

closely related to the Bichon is the Bolognese (dog) that was popular amongst the nobility of the early Renaissance:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolognese_(dog)

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bich%C3%B3n_bolo%C3%B1%C3%A9s

It look like the hind part of the dog has indeed been shaven.

all the best,

Anton

Anton Ervynck

onderzoeker natuurwetenschappen

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+32 2 553 1830

Afdeling Onderzoek en Bescherming

Onroerend Erfgoed

Koning Albert II-laan 19 bus 5

1210 Brussel

Belgium

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Van: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Namens MUELLER Werner
Verzonden: donderdag 18 december 2014 13:45
Aan: [log in to unmask]
Onderwerp: Re: [ZOOARCH] MISTERIOUS DOG

Hi Arturo, in a German dogbook I found it as Löwchen, or in French Petit chien lion. According to the book, they are widely bred in Belgium, and they are supposedly closely related to the “Bichon à poil frisé”. I’ll send you a scan offlist.

Hope this helps,

Cheers,
Vern.

	Werner Müller Laboratoire d'archéozoologie Université de Neuchâtel Av. de Bellevaux 51, CP 158 CH-2009 Neuchâtel Suisse tel. +41-32-718 31 10 www.unine.ch/ia

De : Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites [mailto:[log in to unmask]] De la part de Arturo Morales
Envoyé : jeudi 18 décembre 2014 13:33
À : [log in to unmask]
Objet : [ZOOARCH] MISTERIOUS DOG

Would any of you dog freaks have an idea of what kind of “breed”/racial group/trunk or other non-conventional taxonomic category, does the dog  in Duchess Katarina von Mecklenburg’s portrait represent?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5fqwz3s0r9u0e2k/18e-Lucas_Cranach_the_Elder_-_Duchess_Katharina_von_Mecklenburg_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg?dl=0

This is the typical child, next-to-impossible-to-answer, question one is  not supposed to ask decent people, but this friend of mine has this peculiar idea that I know absolutely nothing about animals, and although one could say there’s an element of truth in it (as the Brits would put it!), the idiot doesn’t know that I hold the ZOOARCH ace in my sleeve……………….

Cheers to all

Arturo

PS. In case this  matters, the time frame here would be 1510-1560, when the Reformation was at its zenith in Europe.