Description

The Papillon is a small, friendly, elegant Toy dog of fine-boned structure, light, dainty and of lively action. Papillon is distinguished from other breeds by his beautiful butterfly-like ears. Papillon are very devoted to their masters, with a hearty spirit making them desirable for show or companionship. Papillons are hardy and usually long lived. They adapt to almost any climate and are comfortable in an apartment as well as the country. They are good travelers. They love to be with their family. They are friendly, happy and eager to please. They rank the number one Toy Dog in obedience.

Size of Male: Height: 8-11 inches Weight: 7-10 pounds

Size of Female: Height: 8-11 inches Weight: 5-10 pounds

Temperament

The Papillon is sometimes called the butterfly dog – because the ears look like butterfly wings. Papillon is a friendly, intelligent dog that is tougher than it looks, and loves outdoor exercise. A gentle and affectionate dog, the Papillon is lively, vivacious and charming. Playful and amusing, the Papillon can also be calm, patient, gentle and dignified. Steady and silent. Loves to be cuddled but also likes to romp outdoors. The Papillon may be very possessive of its owner and resent outsiders. They are steady, obedient and are not yappers. Papillon can be trained to perform small tricks. Some blood lines can be nervous, high-strung and timid. They can also be difficult to housebreak, but are in general easy to train otherwise. Papillons do best with older, considerate children. They can be a bit dog-aggressive. Good with cats when they are raised with them from puppyhood.

Living Conditions

Although Papillon 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. However, training and socialization with regular exercise can also render a Papillon capable of living indoors.

Upkeep

The lively Papillon thrives on mental stimulation, and it enjoys a daily walk on leash as well as challenging games indoors or out. Papillon is not a breed that can live outdoors. The coat of Papillon needs brushing twice weekly.

Health

Major concerns: none

Minor concerns: Progressive retinal atrophy, patellar luxation

Life expectancy: 12 – 15 years