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Papillon: Origin, Personality,
Fitness & Health
(Pap)
Group: Toy for KCGB and Toy for AKC
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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 .
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