Papillon

Size
Small (under 11kg)
Exercise
No daily exercise
Training
No training
Size of home
Some outdoor space
Time at home
Mostly home
Grooming
Weekly
Barking preference
Very quiet
Personality
Independent + affectionate

Breeder List

Breeder - Mrs Sharon Spooner (Mondelise)

sharonspooner423@gmail.com
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Breeder - Ms Corinne O'Connell (CALPAP)

oconnellcorinne@gmail.com
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History

Previously known as the Dwarf Spaniel, Royal Toy Spaniel, Continental Toy Spaniel, Epagneul Nain, Little Squirrel Dog and Belgian Toy Spaniel, the Papillon’s country of origin is uncertain.

Theories regarding the breed’s ancestry suggest the Papillon is the lineal descendant of an extinct small breed, an Italian Toy Spaniel.

By the Renaissance, Papillons had become continental court favourites. This little dog has been breeding true to type for seven hundred years, appearing in European art as early as the 1300s.

Madame Pompadour and Marie Antoinette of France, Queen Sophia Dorothea of Germany and Queen Ann of Austria are among the aristocratic ladies who owned Papillons. Royal men also doted on these elegant little dogs: France’s King Henry III is said to have carried his to court in a basket.

Characteristics

This dainty Toy breed should have an attractive head, an alert bearing and an intelligent and lively expression. The Papillon is a friendly, elegant dog with fine bone structure. It is distinguished from other breeds by its beautiful butterfly-like ears. The breed has the build of a normal small dog and should be balanced in all respects but one: its ears should be large, obliquely carried and heavily fringed.

Temperament

As a happy, intelligent and alert breed, the Papillon performs very well in Agility competitions as well as Obedience. But it is just as happy at home on the lounge, as long as it has some simple exercise such as a run in the garden or a walk with its owner. The Papillon is even tempered, but perhaps isn’t suitable for young children due to its delicate bone structure.

Appearance

The Papillon’s ears are unquestionably the outstanding feature of the breed, as indicated by its name, Papillon – French for butterfly. The ears should be large and mobile with rounded tips. They should be heavily fringed, set towards the back of the head far enough apart to show the slightly rounded shape of the skull.

The ears should be either competely erect – carried obliquely like the spread wings of a butterfly – or completely dropped. Papillons with dropped ears are a type known as the Phalene.

The Papillon’s eyes are of medium size, rounded, dark in colour, placed rather low in the head and should not bulge. The breed’s expression is extremely sweet and quite mischievous.

The breed’s coat is white with patches that may be any colour except liver. A tricolour must be black and white with tan spots over the eyes and tan inside the ears, under the tail and on the cheeks.

The head marking should be a clearly defined blaze.

Maintenance

The silky-textured, single coat is not prone to matting. A thorough brush twice a week and, if the dog is kept inside, a bath once a fortnight is adequate to keep the coat in tip top order.

Health

The Papillon is a healthy breed with very few major health problems. Patella luxation is known within the breed, as is Progressive Retinal Atrophy. Responsible breeders are aware of these problems and work to eliminate them from their breeding stock.

Suitability

The Papillon is a people-oriented breed which, coupled with its lively intelligence and engaging nature, makes it suitable for a wide range of activities and lifestyles. It is a wonderful companion dog that will want to be involved in everything you do.

The breed is engaged in a diverse range of activities, including Obedience and Agility, and of course it also makes a wonderful lap dog.

Words: Jean Rimmer on behalf of the Papillon Club of NSW

Image: Kerry Christofi

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Papillon, you may think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Papillon and its needs, and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 02 Jul 2009)

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A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

This dainty, balanced little toy dog should have an attractive head, an alert bearing and an intelligent and lively expression.Movement should be sound, light and free and not cramped or restricted in any way.

Characteristics

This dainty, balanced little toy dog should have an attractive head, an alert bearing and an intelligent and lively expression.

Temperament

(Not detailed.)

Physical Standards

Head and Skull	The skull slightly rounded between the ears, the muzzle finely pointed and abruptly thinner than the skull accentuating the stop which should be well defined. Length from tip of the nose to the stop approximately a third length of the head. Nose should be black.
Eyes	Of medium size, rounded, dark in colour, placed rather low in the head and should not bulge.
Ears	The ears should be large and mobile with rounded tips, heavily fringed, set towards the back of the head far enough apart to show the slightly rounded shape of the skull. The ears must be completely erect or dropped. When the ears are erect they must be carried obliquely like the spread wings of a butterfly, therefore the name, Papillon. When the ears are dropped they must be completely dropped, and this type is known as the Phalene (moth).
Mouth	Scissor bite, upper teeth fitting closely over lower. The lips thin and tight.
Neck	Of medium length.
Forequarters	Shoulders well developed and sloping back. Chest rather deep. Forelegs straight and slender and fine boned.
Body	Level topline. The body should have plenty of length, well formed with well sprung ribs, good length of loin which must not be weak, with slightly arched belly.
Hindquarters	Well developed, good turn of stifle. Legs when viewed from behind, should be parallel. Dew claws on the hind legs must be removed.
Feet	Fine and fairly long, as in the hare. The tufts of hair between the toes extending far beyond them.
Tail	Long and well fringed, set on high, arched over the back with the fringes falling to the side to form the plume.
Gait/Movement	Movement should be sound, light and free and not cramped or restricted in any way.
Coat	Should be abundant, (flowing) but without undercoat, long fine, silky, falling flat on back and sides forming a profuse frill on the chest, short and close on the skull, muzzle and front part of the legs. Back part of the front legs to pasterns, tail and thighs covered with long hair.
Colour	White with patches which may be any colour except liver. A tricolour must be black and white with tan spots over the eyes, tan inside ears and under root of tail and on cheeks. The head marking should be symmetrical about a white, narrow, clearly defined blaze.
Size	The ideal height at the withers from 20.3-28 cm (8-11 ins). The dog will appear to be slightly longer than high when properly furnished with ruff and hind fringes.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.Skull flat or apple shaped. Muzzle overlong or coarse. Nose other than black.Eyes light in colour, too small or too large, or protruding.Ears semi-erect or not fully dropped, small, sharply pointed or set too close together.Mouth over- or undershot to the extent that the incisors do not touch at all.Wry mouth.Shoulders straight. Out at elbow. Topline roached, dipped or cobby.Legs malformed and crooked, cow hocked, too long or too short.Stifles straight, coupled with weak hindquarters.Tail unduly short. Too low set.Harsh, curly or stand-off coat.