Papillon breed information

Papillon and Papillon pictures

Papillons are active, lively dogs, although generally not nervous or yappy. They might alert you when someone is at the door but should quiet down immediately when that person has been admitted as a friend. Most Papillons retain their puppy playfulness to some degree throughout their lives. They travel well (car-sickness is rare), and enjoy the attention they draw wherever they go. They are not particularly sensitive to heat or cold; high-strung and timid, amiable loving, nervous, dependent and easy to pamper. He is intelligent, usually health and has proved an able contender in obedience competitions. A Papillon can change homes at any age and if suitably placed, will adjust happily. The Papillon is a breed of toy dog known from the 16th century, when it was called a dwarf spaniel. A fashionable dog, it was favoured by Madame de Pompadour and Marie Antoinette, and it appeared in paintings by some of the Old Masters. He was originally called the Dwarf Spaniel. The name papillon (French: "butterfly") was given to the breed in the late 19th century, when a variety with large, flaring ears resembling the wings of a butterfly came into vogue. There is another variety of papillon, with drooping ears. Its coat is soft, full, and usually white with patches of black or of pale tan to dark reddish brown.

Papillon

Life expectancy: 13 to 16 years
Color: parti-color or white with patches of any color
Eyes: dark, round, medium-sized
Coat type: abundant, long, fine, silky, flowing, straight; flat on back and sides of body
Size: 8 to 11 inches
Health issues: This breed is usually very healthy. Sometimes prone to problems with the kneecaps (patella) in the hind legs, this can sometimes be corrected by surgery. Also fontanel. It sometimes corrects itself but if it does not, the dog needs to be protected. Some have a difficult time under anesthesia. Some problems with inadequate tear production, progressive retinal atrophy
Living conditions: Although they can be good city dogs, they are sometimes not good apartment dogs, because the dog has a strong instinct to protect their property, and many will bark excessively at nearby noises, not making the distinction between casual noises and those worthy of a real alarm.