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The Papillon is a small dog breed with distinctive large, fringed ears that earned it its name, the French word for butterfly. The Papillon is believed to be one of the oldest of the toy breeds.
Appearance: According to the AKC breed standard, the
Papillon has an abundant, flowing coat, short on the head but
with a profuse frill on the chest. The Papillon has no
undercoat. The tail should be a plume of long hair. The Phalène
is the same as the erect-eared Papillon except for its dropped
spaniel-like ears. The AKC considers the Phalène and the
Papillon the same breed. Countries whose breed clubs follow
the FCI standard consider Papillons and Phalènes two separate
breeds.
Papillons are a white dog with colored markings. Any
colored markings are permitted. The color must always cover
both eyes and the front and back of the ear to give the proper
butterfly look. A white blaze and noseband on the face are
preferred. Size should range from 8 inches to 12 inches at the
shoulder (11 inches in the UK) with the average papillon being
between 9 and 10.5 inches in height and weight in proportion.
Temperament: Even though the breed has the
connotation of a dainty toy breed, many owners will claim that
they act like big dogs in small dogs' bodies. There are
several possible reasons for this. First, the Papillion is
hardy; some people find that their Papillon is very capable of
handling a good five-mile walk. Some owners believe the
reality is that they will resist such an outing if the grass
is dampish or if there are two clouds in the sky that might
lead to rain, but others have experienced them as very
versatile in almost all conditions, although not necessarily
with prolonged exposure. Perhaps they seem to be larger dogs
because to many people Papillons appear not to be prone to
small dog quaking when confronted with a new situation.
In fact, some Papillon owners believe that their dogs
interpret any new event as having been put on for their
benefit, and believe that the dogs do their best to be an
attentive host or hostess. Another aspect of the Papillon that
has led many to believe the 'big dog' assertion is that this
breed is surprisingly athletic. Perhaps people are surprised
that in contrast to its staid and stately representation in
the Old Master portraits, the Papillon is highly energetic and
intelligent (Stanley Cohen, in The Intelligence of Dogs, rates
the Papillon eighth among all breeds).
Provided their genetic structure is sound and they are
healthy, Papillons are built for movement, and most do not
need any encouragement to apply their energy to athletic
activities. In order to make a Papillon coat really shine to
its fullest, it should be brushed once or twice a day, and the
dog bathed at least every two weeks.
History: The Papillon probably originated in
continental Europe and was a favorite at the French court. The
most famous owner was Henry III; documentation of his devotion
to the breed lies in his declaration of the Papillon as the
official dog of the Royal Court during his tenure. Other
famous owners are said to have been Marie Antoinette, and
Madame de Pompadour.
There is evidence that these small dogs were favorites of
European aristocrats, particularly French royalty, during the
time of the Old Masters, as Continental Toy Spaniels (Phalènes
and Papillons) were included in many Old Master royal
portraits from as early as the sixteenth century.
There are many stories about the Papillon. Marie Antoinette
was said to have walked to the guillotine clutching her small
dog under her arm. Tradition has it that her dog was a small
spaniel that had been brought to the French court from Spain
on the back of pack mules. According to the story, her pup was
spared and cared for in a building in Paris still called the
Papillon House. Marie's small spaniel was said to have
descended from a very old drop-eared breed known as the
Epagneul Nain Continental, or Continental Dwarf/Toy Spaniel
that appeared in church frescos and paintings as early as the
13th century.
The Papillon is still officially referred to as the
Epagneul Nain Continental (ENC) in non-English-speaking
countries. The name Squirrel Spaniel also has been used, most
likely referring to an earlier standard in which the tail set
is described as "curling over the back as a
squirrel's." One version of the history of the two
varieties of ear shape in the ENC ("Papillon" to
denote the erect ear and "Phalène" to denote the
dropped ear) is that toward the end of the 19th century, breed
fanciers bred a version of the spaniel whose ears stood up.
This dog was said to have been nicknamed papillon based on
the impressively large, erect ears that resembled the wings of
a butterfly. The drop-eared variety of the breed came to be
called the Phalène (which means "night moth"). Both
types are still bred today and appear in the same litter. The
Papillon variety is much more common, although recently the
Phalène has undergone a resurgence in popularity.
Dog Agility: In recent years, the Papillon has
become a small dog star in the sport of dog agility. This
sport consists of an obstacle course with tunnels, jumps,
A-frames, and narrow bridges that a dog completes at top speed
aided only by verbal and body-language commands from a
handler. Agility requires the dog to spring, scramble, weave,
and turn on a dime.
The breed is considered naturally agile, and Papillons
compete at both national and international trials. Because
many Papillons have intense drive and natural speed, their
tiny turning radius gives them an edge over larger dogs, and
some Papillons are capable of beating even Border Collie
speeds on some courses. At the same time, Papillons excel in
companionship and lap dog sweepstakes, and take it very
seriously. The first dog to ever earn a MACH title in Alaska
is a Papillon.
Others have experienced Papillons as highly
companionable—yet physically active—dogs requiring
appropriate socialization, consistent and monitored exercise,
continued training (which also serves to stimulate their
active minds), and daily, proactive human-to-canine
interaction.
Health: The Papillon is a fairly healthy breed, but
like all dog breeds there are some health problems which are
prevalent. These include:
von Willebrand's disease
Luxating patella
Mitral valve dysplasia - A congenital heart defect
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