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Papillon Dog Breed Introduction
Papillon Dog ( also known as Continental Toy Spaniel) is a toy spaniel dog breed that originated in France and Belgium. It derives its name from the French word ‘Papillon’ meaning butterfly due to the long and fringed hair on the ears that looks like the outspread wings of a butterfly. There is also another variety of this breed known as Phalene due to the drop shaped ears. Both varieties may be born in the same litter. However, Papillon is the most popular variety. Papillons are sociable and intelligent dogs that have an easy time learning new tricks. However, they are generally reserved around new people. A Papillon Dog is an energetic dog that demands an augmented exercise routine.
Papillon Dog Origin | History
The Papillons have been portrayed in portraits dating back to as early as 1500. They were portrayed in various artworks of Watteau, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Fragonard. These dogs were portrayed always with their doting mistresses. The toy spaniels were favorite companions of court ladies throughout Europe. Traders carried the tiny spaniels in baskets on mules through Spain, Italy, and France. The progenitors of Papillon were toy spaniels that had drop ears. The first small spaniel that had upright ears was developed in the Court of Louis XIV during the 17th century. It was given the name Papillon due to the ears that resembled the butterfly wings. American Kennel Club registered the first Papillon in 1915. Currently, Papillon ranks position 35th among the 155 breeds and varieties registered by the AKC.
Papillon Lifespan
According to AKC, Papillons have a lifespan of 14 to 16 years. However, some may live up to the age of 17 years.
Papillon Grooming
Papillons have a silky, long, and single-layered coat that sheds at low to moderate levels as compared to double coated animals. Therefore, they don’t require much grooming. A Papillon requires weekly brushing using a soft slicker brush or comb to remove dirt, loose hair, and promote new hair growth. Pay special attention to the hair behind the ears, inside the hind legs, and thigh hair which are prone to matting.
This is a relatively clean dog that needs a bath every 6 to 8 weeks unless it rolls into something stinky. Always brush the coat before bathing a Papillon to remove dirt and mats. This is because the mats tend to get messier when they are wet. Use a mild shampoo and conditioner to bath and moisturize the coat. After bathing your Papillon, thoroughly rinse of the shampoo from the coat to prevent skin irritation. Use a clean damp washcloth or unscented canine wipes to clean in the corner of the eyes several times a week.
Trim Papillons nails every 2 weeks since they grow quickly especially the declaw which can curl and pierce the leg if it overgrows. Regular nail trimming prevents overgrowth, cracking, and splitting. Brush the teeth of a Papillon at least twice a week if not daily using a tasty canine toothpaste and toothbrush. Remember to clean the ears on a weekly basis using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove excess wax, dirt, and debris.
Papillon Haircut | Grooming Styles
A papillon has a single coat that should never be shaved due to lack of a thick undercoat. The skin of this pet is also sensitive to the sun. However, the hair can be trimmed for a neater appearance. Some of the haircuts or grooming styles that Papillons parent utilize include:
The long natural haircut – For this haircut, the coat is allowed to grow to its natural length. This also applies to ears and the tail. However, the rear end may be trimmed for sanitary purposes. A long haircut requires regular brushing to keep mats at bay.
The Body Trim – To achieve this grooming style, the hair of the face and ears is retained. Although, the body fur is trimmed a bit shorter but not close to the body.
The shorter cut – The hair on the body is trim short enough to still have an insulating effect against any extreme temperatures.
Papillon Shedding
Papillons shed all-year round at low levels and moderately when experiencing seasonal change in Spring and/or Fall.
Papillon Hair | Coat
A Papillon has a long, silky, and medium-length coat that lacks an undercoat.
Papillon Hypoallergenic
Papillons are not regarded hypoallergenic even though they shed at low levels all-year round and moderately when experiencing seasonal change. Shedding releases dander and hair into the environment which aggravates allergies. Apart from dander and hair, Papillon’s saliva, urine, and mucus also contain a protein allergen that triggers allergic reactions in people.
Papillon Training | Papillon Dog Training
A Papillon is an intelligent dog that is eager to please the human companions they have bonded with. It also has an easy time learning new tricks. To set Papillons for a successful training process, create a working pecking order. This is where the parent identifies him or herself as the pack leader. The owner can do this by feeding the dog after it has settled down, always getting through the door first and eating first before the pet, and allowing the dog to join them in their personal space following an invite. Eating first allows the dog to understand that the parent is the owner of all the valuable resources including food, treats, and toys.
Failure to establish a hierarchy, the parent will be raising a dog that has a tendency of becoming possessive of its owners. Papillions will take the alpha role eventually developing the small dog syndrome. This syndrome can result to behavior problems like unexpected growling, obsessive barking, nervousness, over guarding, and dog aggression. To raise a well-mannered, friendly, and well-adjusted Papillion, socialize your pet. This training normally starts from the age of 3 weeks when the pup is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after it has settled in its new home. Most parents take their pets home from the age of 8 weeks.
To socialize a Papillon, expose it to a wide range of people, animals, situations, surfaces, sight, places, smell, and sounds such as sirens, baby crying sounds, whistles, vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, and washing machine. While socializing these dogs to other pets, care should be taken with cats that have claws or any rambunctious pets that may injure them. Failure to socialize Papillons properly, will result to distrustful pets that manifest aggressive tendencies towards people and other dogs. Enrolling Papillons in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes provide a controlled environment where dogs can interact.
Puppy classes not only allow the pet parent to identify and correct bad habits but also have access to information and assistance related to Papillons. Use positive reinforcement methods such as petting, verbal praise, and treats with your Pappillon to encourage positive behaviors. Avoid use of harsh correction methods that create a distrustful relationship between the pet and the owner. Keep the training sessions short, challenging, and fun for a period of 5 minutes to avoid boredom and distraction. Start teaching basic commands word such as come, sit, stay, heel, down, and leave it immediately the Papillon joins you home.
Teach one command word at a time until the pooch is well-acquainted before proceeding to the next command word. Papillons owners are cautioned against issuing a command word while too excited or frustrated since it no longer sounds as per usual. Effectively housebreak a Papillon by creating a feeding schedule, crate training, and potty training. A crate is an indispensable tool that allows the Papillon parent to monitor the dog for signs that it wants to eliminate such as circling, sniffing, squatting, restlessness, whining, and trying to lift a leg against the crate door.
To get positive outcomes when potty training, take a Papillon to the delegated toilet area immediately you bring it home, in the morning after it wakes up, every 1 to 2 hours, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, after naptime, following an exciting activity such as car ride and playtime, and before bedtime. From the age of 8 months, the potty breaks will be every 6 to 8 hours. This is because the bladder and bowel muscles of a Papillon strengthens as the puppy matures.
Papillon Personality | Temperament
- Friendly.
- Happy.
- Intelligent.
- Energetic.
- Adventurous.
- Alert.
- Reserved around new people.
- Affectionate.
- Playful.
- Eager to Please.
- Highly-trainable.
Papillon Exercise
A Papillon is an energetic dog that needs daily exercise in form of indoor playtime, walks, and running in a secured yard. Due to their intelligence and high energy levels, Papillons can participate in dog agility, obedience training, and rally obedience.
Papillon Barking
Papillons are alert and vocal breeds that will bark to notify the owner of any changes in their environment which makes them excellent watchdogs.
Papillon Height
An adult Papillon has a height of 8 to 11 inches ( approx. 20 to 28 cm ).
Papillon Weight
Female Papillons have a weight of 7 to 9 pounds ( approx. 3.2 to 4.1 kg ) while their male counterparts have a weight of 8 to 10 pounds (approx. 3.6 to 4.5 kg ).
Papillon Size
A Papillon is a toy-sized spaniel with a height of 8 to 11 inches ( approx. 20 to 28 cm ) and a weight of 7 to 10 pounds ( approx. 3.2 to 4.5 kg ).
Papillon Health Issues
A Papillon is a relatively healthy breed that has a life expectancy of 14 to 16 years. However, they are also affected by certain health issues including dental problems, seizures, allergies, patellar luxation, intervertebral disk disease, Portosystemic shunt, and certain eye problems including Progressive Retinal Atrophy.
Papillon Names
A pet parent may decide to search for a name suitable for the pet before it joins them home or days after the pup joins them home to understand the personality of a particular dog. Owners may get name inspirations from the coat colors and texture, personality, butterfly-like ears, celebrity Papillons, movies, songs, books, historical figures, and nature.
Regardless of where the parent will source the name, he or she should ensure that the name chosen freely rolls off his tongue and won’t make them embarrassed when uttered out loud in the public places. Avoid giving your pet a name that rhymes with the command words to avoid confusion. Papillons and other dog breeds better understand a name that has vowels.
If a pet has a long name, the parent should find a cute nickname for the dog. If your pet shares a name with any household member or guest that frequent your home, it may result to unnecessary confusion.
Male Papillon Names
- Tucker.
- Henry.
- Jack.
- Scout.
- Charlie.
- Milo.
- Gus.
- Bruno.
- Jasper.
- Alfie.
- Finn.
- Leo.
- Max.
- Teddy, etc.
Papillon Litter Size
After conception, a Papillion dam has a gestation period of 63 days before whelping a litter size of 1 to 4 puppies.
Female Papillon Names
- Daisy.
- Ruby.
- Poppy.
- Coco.
- Amber.
- Stella.
- Casey.
- Layla.
- Abby.
- Penelope.
- Lilah.
- Lulu, etc.
Papillon Dog Food | Food
The amount of food that Papillons feed on depends on their age, activity level, metabolism, size, and body build. Papillon puppies tend to have a high metabolism rate as compared to adults and seniors. Therefore, puppies eat small portions of food 3 or 4 times a day from when they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Papillons feed on a total of two meals in a day for the rest of their lives.
Papillons may feed on a raw diet, home made, dry food, or wet food depending on the budget of the owner and the time of preparation needed. Regardless of the food that the pet feeds on, owners should ensure that a Papillon feeds on the right amount of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, fats, amino acids, and fatty acids to maintain a healthy bone structure and weight. Fresh water should be available for your pet at all times.
If the dog is feeding on dry or wet commercial food, owners should ensure that the first three listed ingredients are proteins from a known source. Commercial food should neither have meat by-products, fillers, preservatives, chemicals, additives, nor generic meat products. Feed a Papillon with formulated dry or wet food for toy-sized puppies, adults, and seniors depending on its age. Check the physique of your pooch to tell whether it is underweight or overweight.
The dog is underweight if the ribs are visible. However, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, a Papillon has an ideal weight. Although, if the ribs cannot be felt after pressing, the pooch is overweight and should be exercised. Owners who want to switch to another pet food should gradually do this over a period of one month by mixing old food with new food. As the week progresses, the amount of old food decreases as the amount of the new food increases until the Papillon is only feeding on the new food.
Apart from Papillon, other dog breeds include:
Boerboel.
Papillon Colors
A Papillon has a white coat with patches of any color or particolored. Some of the colors that Papillons have include red and white, fawn and white, white and chocolate, and black and white.
Papillon Allergies | Skin Allergies
A Papillon suffers from various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Skin allergies – A Papillon suffers from skin allergies due to food, contact, and environmental allergies.
Food allergies – Although rare, a Papillon may suffer from a true food allergy that results to an immune response that is accompanied with a wide range of symptoms including skin issues like hives, sores, crusting lesions, pruritus, and dermatitis as well as gastrointestinal stress such as acute vomiting and diarrhea, weight loss, and bloating. Apart from food allergies, Papillons may also suffer from food intolerance.
Contact allergies – This allergy causes inflammation to a Papillon once the skin comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that affect Papillons include grooming products, lawn chemicals, plastics, bed linens, latex, carpet cleaning detergents, and medications.
Environmental allergies – Apart from Fleas, other environmental allergies that affect Papillons include mites, pollen, ragweed, grass, trees, dust and dust mites, and house molds. Flea’s saliva cause flea allergy dermatitis. This insect usually bites the back legs and underneath the tail resulting to excessive scratching until the skin around the bite area is raw.
Papillon Eyes
A Papillon has dark, rounded, and medium-sized eyes.
Papillon Ears | Dog Ears
A Papillon has large erect ears that have rounded tips. The ears move like the spread wings of a butterfly. However, the Phalene variety has large droppy ears that have rounded tips.
Papillon Tail
Papillons have a long tail that is carried well arched over the body.
Papillon Teeth
At birth, Papillons puppies are born with no teeth. However, the deciduous teeth start growing in from the age of 2 to 3 weeks until the dog has a total of 28 milk teeth at the age of 6 to 8 weeks. From the age of 12 weeks, Papillons start loosing their baby teeth as the permanent teeth erupt beneath them. At the age of 6 to 8 months, Papillons should have a total of 42 permanent teeth.
Are Papillons Hypoallergenic
No. Papillons are not hypoallergenic dogs. They have a moulting coat that sheds at low levels all-year round and moderately when experiencing seasonal change. Shedding allows the spread of dander and hair that triggers allergies.
Are Papillons Smart
Yes. Papillons are smart dogs that easily learn new tricks.
Are Papillons Cuddly
Yes. Papillions are affectionate, loving, playful, energetic, and calm enough to be happy with sleeping in the arms of an equally affectionate owner.
Are Papillons Good Family Dogs
Yes. Papillons are intelligent, loyal, affectionate, alert, friendly, playful, and eager to please which makes them good family dogs.
Are Papillons Easy To Train
Yes. Papillons are eager to please and have high intelligence level which makes them easily trainable.
Papillon Quick Facts
- They get their name from the French word ” Papillon” meaning butterfly due to their ears that looks like the outspread wings of a butterfly.
- Papillons are intelligent dogs ranked 8th out of 138 breeds tested by Dr. Stanley Coren.
- They are intelligent dogs that have an easy time learning new tricks.
