Papillon: Origin, Personality, Fitness & Health

(Pap)

Also known as: Continental Toy Spaniel, Epagneul nain Continental, Butterfly Dog, Pap, Phalene, Squirrel Spaniel

About Papillon

Country of Origin, History of the Breed The Papillon's Country of origin is a mystery. The dog is one of the oldest breeds and its history can be traced back to 700 years. The word 'Papillon' means 'butterfly dog' in French. The dog got its name because of its big butterfly ears. The drop-eared variety of the breed is known as the Phalene. The dog also appeared in the paintings of the Renaissance period and was favored by the royal families across the European Continent. The credit of perfecting the breed goes to the French breeders.

A General Description of the Dog

The dog has a small tapering head and round, dark, medium-sized eyes. Papillons have a black, small, round nose and butterfly ears, which are either drop ears or carried erect. This breed has a short, pointed muzzle. The tail is long and plumed, which is curled over the back. They have fine-boned, slender hindquarters and forequarters.

Coat

The recognized coat color is white with patches of any other color. Papillons have a thick, long, straight, coat and do not have an undercoat.

Height

Male : 8-11 inches
Female : 8-11 inches

Weight: 8-10 lbs for both males and females

Personality

Temperament of the Dog

Papillons are elegant, energetic and playful. They are friendly with all dogs and humans. They are charming, calm, cute, small and are extremely alert. They greet everyone with great pleasure and are neither shy nor beligerent. Papillons are affectionate and lovable little creatures and are intelligent and obedient and fast learners. They are possessive towards their owners. They love to be cuddled and enjoy romping around. Paillons can pick up tricks easily. They are excellent athletes.

Some bloodlines are difficult to housetrain and are timid and highstrung.

Good with other dogs/ and other animals?

They are friendly with other dogs and animals, but they hate cats.

Good with children?

They get along well with older children. Kids might confuse them with stuffed toys and harm them in the process. Teasing makes them snappy.

Better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?

Papillons are protective of their own domain and might bark a lot at the slightest noise. This is the reason why they are not suitable for the apartment lifestyle.

What kind of home would they do best in - one with kids, or any such specifications?

They do best in households with older children.

How to take care of the breed as a Papillon Puppy? Papillon pups need adequate rest. The pups are to be fed with nutrient-rich dog food. Pups are prone to accidents, so they should be prevented from loitering around unhindered with the help of a a spacious crate. Vaccination and de-worming schedules should be strictly ahered to.

Harsh chemicals, electrical cords should be kept out of their reach and they should be allowed to play at intervals. Hygeine is a must. Chewable toys would dissuade him from chewing up furniture during teething.

Severe hypoglycemia may even be fatal for pups. Hypoglycemic pups should be treated with doses of karo syrup or Nutri-cal and a vet should be consulted if the condition persists.

Trainability

Papillons are easy to train because of their intelligence and obedience. These dogs should be taught to obey commands like, 'sit', 'go', 'heel', 'stay', 'no' etc. They are often trained as watch dogs and therapy dogs. Paillons should be crate-trained. They should be trained to stay in their crates until they are commanded otherwise. They should be taken to a selected spot every day after each regular meal. However, accidents happen and pups are never to be ill-treated. Dogs thrive on positive reinforcement and they should be praised after successful completion of each task.

Activity Level

How active is the breed ?

They do not require too much of an exercise and are active indoors. Short walks are of real help. Papillons are prone to knee joint injuries.

How much exercise does the dog need at every stage of its life?

Puppies should be prevented from over exercising. They might sustain crippling injuries. Moreover, old dogs might also develop similar complications.

Grooming

They need daily brushing to prevent matting and should be shampooed when necessary. Harsh chemicals are to be avoided. Anal glands should be expressed, preferably by a vet, and nails to be clipped and ears cleaned on a regular basis. Owners should buy proper grooming equipment if they do not wish to involve a professional groomer which might prove to be too expensive in the long run.

Health and Care

Genetic Problems

The breed suffers from genetic disorders like Patellar Luxation, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Periodontal, Liver Shunt, Deafness, Epilepsy and Legg-Clave-Perthes.

Breeding the dog and any cautions

A genetic test should always be conducted before breeding the dog. Papillons might have complications during whelping and owners should always consult a registered breeder to breed their dogs.

Litter Size: 2-4 average

Life Span: 16 years

National Breed Club:

British – Papillon (Butterfly Dog) Club – http://www.papillonclub.co.uk
U. S. – Papillon Club of America – http://www.papillonclub.org

Recognition: CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR .