Origins of the Papillon
Although the Papillon originated in Spain, it takes its name from the French word for ‘butterfly’, given to him as his ears are shaped like butterfly wings. The Papillon is one of the oldest breeds of dog recorded in history, going back over 700 years. It was often seen in paintings, sat on the lap of noblewomen during the 13th -15th century. The breed has also been known by other names in the past such as, Dwarf spaniel, Toy spaniel and Squirrel spaniel.
Sizes of Typical Male and Female Papillon
The Papillon is a small sized dog. An adult Papillon typically weighs between 4kg to 4.5kg. The height could fluctuate from 20cm to 28cm. Both males and females tend to be the same size.
Papillon Temperament
The Papillon has great temperaments, and is a great family dog that gets on great with other pets and children. He is a friendly, intelligent, playful, lively, amusing and charming little dog. He loves to cuddle and also enjoys exercising. This breed is steady and obedient; they can be easily trained to perform small tricks. The owner of a Papillon must be a strong pack leader to prevent the breed from developing the ‘small dog syndrome’, which could lead him to growl, obsessive bark as well as being snappy aggressive.
Papillon Coats
This dog breed has a medium haired coat, which requires daily combing. The single coat is silky, which makes it easy for the owner to groom his Papillon. Papillons are usually clean and odourless, and therefore they do not require regular bathing.
Appearance of the Papillon
The Papillon is normally white coloured with patches of any colour; black and sable being the most common. Papillons sometimes come in tricolours; white hair with black patches and also tan spots over his eyes, inside the ears, on the cheeks and on the under tail. To enter the Papillon as a show dog, the Papillon must have symmetrical face markings.
Papillon Puppies
Most good breeders will not let the puppies leave their mothers until at least they are 13 weeks old. Always ensure you acquire your Papillon puppy from a kc registered breeder.
Cost of Papillons
From a reputable breeder in the UK, Papillons typically cost around £400 to £600.
Life Expectancy of a Papillon
Papillons typically live for 13 to 14 years, some could live as long as 16 years.
What Health Problems Papillons Can Suffer From
The Papillon is generally a healthy dog breed but could potentially have certain health issues. These could include; kneecap dislocation (patella luxation) and eye problems (progressive retinal atrophy). It is highly recommended to keep their teeth clean as they can build up tartar very quickly.
Exercising Your Papillon
The Papillon requires to be walked on a daily basis. They can burn off a lot of energy during playing around in the back garden, but this will not be sufficient amounts of exercise. If they are not taken for a walk regularly, this could result in causing them to have behavioural problems. Papillons will also love to have a good romp in an open area, such as a large fenced field or a yard.
Dog Groups related to Papillon
Toy Group
