| The word Papillon is French for 'butterfly.' The | | | | The Papillon is best trained with gentleness and |
| Papillon was named for its erect butterflylike ears | | | | consistency. He wants to please his owners and |
| that frame its face. Apparently the Papillon was | | | | will look to you for rewards both verbal and |
| developed in France during the sixteenth century | | | | edible. The Papillon is usually well represented in |
| from a small, long-eared dog called the Belgian | | | | obedience classes and often surpasses larger |
| Spaniel or Dwarf Spaniel. At the time the spaniels | | | | dogs in learning ability. The Papillon also makes an |
| were popular in Spain, Italy and France. Down-ear | | | | excellent therapy or visitation dog after minimal |
| and erect-ear types exist today and are judged | | | | obedience training. |
| by the same breed standards in AKC shows. | | | | Appearance |
| The diminutive breed was popular with European | | | | The Papillon stands 8 to 11 inches tall and weighs |
| landed gentry and royal courts' ladies for many | | | | about 9 to 10 pounds. The Papillon is has a dainty |
| years before the mutation created the Papillon | | | | and refined appearance with a fine bone structure. |
| known today. The petite Papillon was designed to | | | | His legs are straight and feet are elongated. Its |
| be a decorative lapdog. It has been reported that | | | | eyes are dark and not bulgy. The lip margins, |
| Madame Pompadour and Marie Antoinette owned | | | | nose rubber and eyelid rims are black. The tail is |
| Papillons. Ownership today is not limited to the | | | | long, high set, and arched over the body. |
| upper class. | | | | Grooming |
| Papillons are excellent companions. They are | | | | The coat is long, fine, silky and requires regular |
| hardier than they appear and are comfortable in | | | | brushing. The Papillon does not have an undercoat. |
| all climates. They love the outdoors. The Papillon | | | | The coat falls flat on the back and sides with a |
| probably prefers to romp in the yard or take a | | | | profuse frill on the chest. It is short and close on |
| leashed walk and rather would not be picked up | | | | the skull, muzzle and front legs. The rear of the |
| and held. The Papillon can socialize with other small | | | | forelegs, tail and thighs are covered with long hair. |
| pets and children who have been properly | | | | The Papillon's coat is easy to maintain with weekly |
| instructed in small dog care. | | | | brushing. You will need a plastic pin brush or bristle |
| Personality | | | | brush and comb. You can use a special whitening |
| A Papillon is lively, intelligent and loves to learn. It is | | | | shampoo to make the coat shine. |
| loving and loveable, but is sometimes suspicious of | | | | Brush through the coat with a pin brush, then |
| strangers and prefers the company of its family. | | | | comb with a medium-toothed comb. |