Papillon

Coat & Grooming: The Papillon coat is long and fine with silken hair and no undercoat. Those famous butterfly ears have a delicate fringe to frame their cute face. Their plume tail sits high over the body with a proud posture. Lucky for you, this is a low-maintenance dog. Wash their fur as needed – they don’t commonly develop that classic dog smell found in many other breeds. It’s important to monitor their nails, eyes, ears and teeth for any problems. Small dogs are especially prone to dental problems, so make sure you get in there with a toothbrush daily or as often as you can.

Shedding: Papillons shed a moderate amount, but nothing compared to a larger breed. They were bred to be elegant and cute, so the shedding and drooling are pretty minimal. If you stick to a regular schedule, it’s easy to keep their fur in top shape. Matting and hair loss are not common to the breed.

Training: Papillons are very intelligent and trainable dogs. It’s best to use positive reinforcement and love to reward the correct behaviors. They are smart enough to figure out what you want without resorting to negative training methods too often. Puppy kindergarten is always a good idea to develop good habits early in life. Papillons respond well to instruction, and they are eager to please their human companions. It’s up to you to develop a good temperament in your dog, so take your training regime seriously. Don’t overdo it with long sessions, but remember to stay on a regular schedule to reinforce good habits.

Barking: Papillons aren’t overly chatty with barking, but they will sound the alarm with a quick “hello” now and again. If you can, try to meet the parents or at least one parent of your new Papillon to get an idea what to expect. Early socialization and abundant love are key tools to reduce nuisance barking in your new companion.

Personality: Papillons are one of the most social breeds you can find. They enjoy the company of others including children and other pets. They might act like the boss, but they have a lot of love and affection to give. It’s good to expose them to a variety of people and environments early in life to build confidence and steady nerves.

Temperament & Behavior: Papillons are one of the most social breeds you can find. They enjoy the company of others including children and other pets. They might act like the boss, but they have a lot of love and affection to give. It’s good to expose them to a variety of people and environments early in life to build confidence and steady nerves.

Behavior with Kids: Papillons are a great breed for families with children and other pets. They are very tolerant and willing to be handled. Very small children and people without dog knowledge should have supervision at first with any dog. The Papillon is gentle and friendly, so it generally makes a good family pet. Use caution if choosing a Papillon as a family pet with very small or overly rambunctious children due to their delicate stature.

Protection: If you want a fierce guard dog, you are looking in the wrong place. The Papillon is friendly and loving with human companions. They love to be around their family, so you won’t find them waiting at the door to ward off attackers. This is a dog for companionship, not protection.

Life span: On average, Papillons live to be 14-16 years old.

Inherited Health Issues: Several health conditions have been identified in Papillons that are either inherited or occur at an increased frequency in the breed. Compared to other breeds, Papillons have relatively few associated health conditions. These conditions may include, but are not limited to, the following: Patellar luxation, Black hair follicular dysplasia, Congenital deafness, Neuroaxonal dystrophy, Cataracts, Micropapilla and Progressive retinal atrophy.

Preventive Care: Papillons are prone to developing patellar luxation, which occurs as the patella (kneecap) briefly moves out of place. For the infrequent severe cases of patellar luxation, surgery can be necessary. Since this condition can secondarily lead to the onset of arthritis, fish oil supplements can be beneficial to decrease associated inflammation.

Prior to breeding two dogs, responsible breeders make sure that their dogs have had genetic testing performed to ensure that the genes for neuroaxonal dystrophy and progressive retinal atrophy are not present. If these tests were not performed, you can speak with your veterinarian about having your Papillon tested, if desired.

Feeding a balanced diet with properly measured portions and avoiding excessive treats or table scraps are crucial to keep your Papillon at a healthy body weight.

As a toy breed dog, young Papillon puppies that skip meals or are fed infrequently can develop hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Be sure to feed your small Papillon puppy at least 4 times per day for the first few months, gradually decreasing to twice daily meals as your puppy ages.

Daily Consumption: Average daily consumption for an adult Papillon is 1/4 to 1/3 cup

Energy Level: Frisky, energetic breed that is always ready for action

Exercise: Papillons might look like purse dogs, but they are fearsome competitors on the track and field. Many Papillon athletes took home prizes in the last few decades of championship agility and obedience events. They love to be held and adored, but you shouldn’t let them go without daily vigorous exercise. Take advantage of their trainability and use their intelligence to make their playtime fun for the whole family. Learning new tricks and playing games are some of the Papillon’s favorite activities.

Papillons love to play with toys, but they can choke if you aren’t careful with your purchase decisions. It’s better to pick hard rubber toys over soft fabrics to avoid those little pieces sending you and your little dog to the vet.

Climate: Papillons do well in almost every climate. If you live somewhere very hot or very cold, it’s worth keeping a close eye on your dog’s behavior. If they are panting or shivering excessively, it’s time for a break. Papillons can stand up to almost every kind of weather and conditions that you might throw at them.