Seven Essential Facts to Know About Papillons

Toy dog breeds often get looked down upon – figuratively, not just literally. They are also seen as kind of the same type of dog, just with different looks – tiny, loud, think they are bigger than they actually are. Toy breeds vary a lot, however, and the Papillon is a great example of that.

So, what are the 7 things you need to know about Papillons? Is this a good breed for you to bring home? Are they healthy? Are they easy to train? We’ll go over all that and more below.

Here’s what’s special about the Papillon breed

We often view toy breeds as just miniature versions of “real” dogs. And, to an extent, that’s true as most toy breeds are done by picking pups from larger breeds with dwarfism traits and breeding them selectively.

This isn’t a new trend, however, and some toy breeds are much older than others. This is important because such older breeds have had centuries of selective breeding to “clear out” whatever initial health problems the toy breed might have had at first. This also gives such older breeds to evolve into their own dogs and not just into mini versions of other breeds – hence why there isn’t a larger “standard” Papillon to these small dogs.

So, what exactly do you need to know before getting such a tiny dog?

1. Papillons are the noble butterflies of the canine world

The name “Papillon” literally translates as “Butterfly” in French. This, no doubt, is due to their adorably large ears and tiny, long muzzles.

The fact that Papillons bear a French name may make you think that this is a French breed but that’s not exactly the case. Instead, they are descendants from Spaniel breeds of whom they were originally a mini version of. This was done about seven centuries ago, however, hence why Papillons aren’t “mini Spaniels” but have been developed into their own breed.

As you’d guess from the name, Spaniel breeds come from Spain but that’s also not exactly the origin of the Papillon breed. Instead, these dogs were developed mostly in Northern Italy for the noble families of the late Medieval period to have as pets. From there, the breed quickly became popular in France and Spain too and continued to be bred in these three countries for centuries.

Why does this matter in practice? Aside from just being curious, this tells us a lot about the Papillon breed. These aren’t herding or working dogs, they quite obviously aren’t guard dogs. They are descendants of hunting dogs as the Spaniel is a gun dog breed but there are seven centuries of selective breeding dividing the Papillon from the Spaniel. So, needless to say, they aren’t hunters or hounds either.

Instead, the Papillon is a family pet first and foremost. Unlike other working breeds that began being adopted as pets, the Papillon was bred as such from the start. This is what leads to the many wonderful traits we’ll touch on next.

2. These dogs are exceptionally friendly and affectionate

The main personality trait that needs to be highlighted is just how friendly and warm the Papillon is. Small breeds are often thought of as constantly barking and hilariously aggressive but the Papillon is a distinctly social and friendly dog.

Of course, some socialization at an early age is required, as is the case with any other dog breed. However, with even just a bit of socialization, almost all Papillons are guaranteed to get along with the whole family, with friends, guests, and strangers, as well as with other dogs outside.

What’s more, Papillons can also get along swimmingly with cats, other pets, and young children. They are small enough to not pose any danger of accidents so all you need to do is teach your child not to pull the Papillon’s tail and ears too much.

3. The breed needs basically constant human presence and attention

As with any social and affectionate breed, however, the Papillon needs to receive lots of attention too. These dogs are very prone to developing separation anxiety if left alone – more so even than many other breeds we often say this about.

What does this mean for you?

It means that leaving a Papillon home alone is a very bad idea. The dog will almost certainly swiftly get distraught, barking will ensue, quickly followed by potentially destructive behavior and uncontrollable urination out of stress.

So, as you likely want none of the above, the solution is to just never leave your Papillon alone. At least, when possible. This means either having a family member always home or taking your Papillon with you when you’re out.

If you have to leave your pet behind for a bit, there are a few solutions to try:

• Give your Papillon plenty of exercise before leaving – an exhausted dog is a calm dog
• Don’t be out for too long
• Hire a dog walker or a dog sitter
• Arrange for playdates with another pet owner
• Get a second dog
• Make sure your dog has plenty of interactive and new toys to get distracted with

There are other methods such as calming music, hidden treat hunts, and others, but those aren’t always effective.

4. Papillons are quite intelligent and trainable, especially for a toy breed but you should be ready for some potty training

You might not have expected this from a toy breed but Papillons are quite smart. More importantly, they are pretty easy to train too! All it takes is some obedience training early on and you can have one smart cookie pretty soon.

This can seem peculiar at first as Papillons aren’t a working dog breed. So, why are they so easy to train? Simple – they are so affectionate that they have an unending desire to please. They can be food motivated too but the main contributing factor is their inherent pleasing attitude.

Do keep in mind, however, that despite that trainability, potty training is still a pain. That’s just the case with most small dog breeds and the Papillon is no exception.

5. The breed doesn’t have an undercoat and sheds moderately

If you want a low-shedding dog breed, the Papillon is not a bad choice. These dogs shed moderately but they don’t have an undercoat and are so small that you’ll barely notice the occasional loose hair. Additionally, because of the lack of undercoat, there’s no seasonal blowout – just the regular shedding.

So, all you need to do to keep your dog’s luxurious mid-length brown, black, and white hair in check is a bit of brushing a few times a week. Add the usual stuff such as the occasional bath, eye and ear maintenance, nail clipping, and dental hygiene, and looking after a Papillon is not as difficult as its gorgeous locks may make it seem.

6. This is an indoor dog so you need just a bit of outdoor exercise

As a small breed of up to 11 inches of height (28 cm) and 10 pounds of weight (4.5 kg), the Papillon doesn’t need much outdoor time. Two quick trips outside a day for a toilet break plus some playtime are all these dogs need from the outdoors**. The rest of its playtime a Papillon can happily have at home**, making it a great apartment breed.

7. There are a few health issues to look out for but nothing out of the ordinary

As a toy breed, you’d expect the Papillon to have lots of health problems. That’s not exactly the case, however, and these dogs tend to comfortably live up to 15+ years on average or even up to 20! The few potential health issues to watch out for include anesthesia sensitivity , Luxating patella , Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) , and some others.

In short, Papillons are more than just tiny and pretty lap dogs. These lively bundles of joy are incredibly social and well-natured when raised properly. They are excellent companions for kids and families of all types and sizes. Like all small breeds, they can get temperamental and develop a tendancy for barking but that’s only if they aren’t trained and socialized properly. Aside from that, these really are wonderful pets for anyone who wants a small and indoors-mostly dog breed.