Pet Dogs and Cats

By » adopt · don't · breed « on Dec 22, 2009

By Curly Q on Dec 22, 2009

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.

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 white with colored markings. Any colored markings are permitted. However, 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. The 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.

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 new situations. In fact, some Papillon owners believe that their dogs interpret any new event as having been put on for their benefit, and that the dogs do their best to be attentive hosts or hostesses. Another aspect of the Papillon that has led many to believe the 'big dog' assertion is this breed's surprising athletic ability. 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 Coren, 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. As puppies, papillons have silky, medium length fur. They go through an "Ugly Baby stage", in which they lose much of their baby fur and grow in their adult fur.

The Papillon originated in Spain and was perfected by the French 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.

The Papillon is a highly athletic breed.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.

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.

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
Progressive retinal atrophy

By Gummie Bubbles on Dec 22, 2009

The Papillon is sometimes called the butterfly dog – because the ears look like butterfly wings. It is a friendly, intelligent dog that is tougher than it looks, and loves outdoor exercise. A gentle and affectionate dog, lively, vivacious and charming. Playful and amusing but can also be calm, patient, gentle and dignified. Steady and silent. Loves to be cuddled but also likes to romp outdoors. They are steady, obedient and are not yappers
Although they can be good city dogs, they are sometimes not good apartment dogs, because the dog has a strong instinct to protect their property, and many will bark excessively at nearby noises, not making the distinction between casual noises and those worthy of a real alarm.
Daily combing and brushing of the long, silky, single coat is important and fairly straightforward. These dogs are usually clean and odorless

cool fact:
The Papillon is one of the oldest breeds of dog, with a recorded history in Europe going back nearly 700 years.

i hope this helps

By WPMixer on Dec 22, 2009

trimmed this video and made a ringtone 0:00 – 0:12 on Tube 2 Tone

By Wordpress on Dec 22, 2009

it’s UK!

By Allan R on Dec 23, 2009

Is it easy to train?
> Yes, papillons are very easy to train. They are probably the more trainable of all the toy breeds. Very intelligent.

How's hard to keep up with it (daily walk, grooming…etc)?
> Depends on what you consider "hard". I don't consider a daily walk "hard". They do need brushed several times a week, too.

How aggressive can it get (biting, barking at it's owner)?
> If properly trained and socialized, the dog should not be aggressive. They are not an "aggressive" breed, they should be quite friendly.

If it does become aggressive, is there anyway to make it stop?
> Training and socialization and you shouldn't have a problem to begin with.

=== === ===

WHAT ARE THEY LIKE?

Papillons are great little dogs, I adore them. But they aren't for everyone.

*** If you want a calm lapdog or a cuddly dog, do NOT get a papillon. It will not be a good fit for you. ***

Top 10 reasons why NOT to get a papillon:
http://pap911.rescuegroups.org/info/display?PageID=2924

Papillons have very friendly, adventurous temperaments. From the AKC breed description, "Happy, alert and friendly. Neither shy nor aggressive."

Papillons are very intelligent (sometimes too much so for their own good!). They are in the top 10 most intelligent dogs breeds.

One of the "most trainable toy breeds".

They come in a rainbow of colors to choose from:
http://www.braylorspapillons.com/colors.htm

And they stay small. The breed standard calls for dogs 8-11 inches. (Over 12 inches is a disqualification from the show ring. Over 11 inches is a fault in the show ring.)

They are a very demanding and dependent dog. They may not like to cuddle, but they like to be around you and they LOVE to play. Paps will literally come up and launch one of their toys at your face to get you to play with them.

They are also tricksters and will find ways to try to manipulate their owners. If they aren't supposed to have something, they'll try to make it look like they have one of their toys and hide the "forbidden object" behind it.
My pap also tricked my parents poodle when I was dog-sitting for them a few months ago. She would run to the door and bark so the poodle would drop the toy it had to check out what the commotion was about, then my pap would run back and steal the dropped toy.

Papillons NEED to be stimulated. They are not dogs that can be left to their own means. They need training and thrive when they have a "job", such as obedience or agility. (If you want to get into agility, they are the top choice in their height category. They can even beat border collie times on some courses, but due to size difference, they will never be competing against border collies.)

Also be aware that they are athletic dogs and can achieve things you wouldn't normally think a dog that size can. For example, my papillon can jump high enough to steal things off the kitchen counter. She can jump at least 4 feet into the air.

Papillons do and will bark. They are a vocal breed and are alarm barkers so if they hear something, or if anything seems out of place, they see it as their job to alert you to it. (I have found the "thank" method works best for handling barking. When the dog barks, call it to you and say "thank you", then give the dog a treat or praise. It will eventually learn to only bark a couple times to alert you, then it will stop barking come to you for it's reward.)

Papillons come in 2 varieties, the "butterfly" (papillon) and the "moth" (phalene).
http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/breedinformation/toy/papp.html

(Of course, every dog is different. You may find a papillon that is calmer than average, or one that is less vocal than average, etc.. This is just the 'general' information on them.)

—

GROOMING

Paps require regular grooming, but it's not extensive.

In addition to the regular dog stuff (clip nails, brush teeth, etc), they need brushed a couple times a week. Also, the hair between the pads on their feet gets long, so that needs trimmed, which I do monthly. I use a bristle-brush on the fur.

Here is some information about grooming papillons):
- http://www.papillonclub.org/Education/grooming_trimming_the_papillon.htm

—

WHERE TO GET ONE?

If you are wanting to get a puppy from a breeder, check out the following link:
- http://www.papillonclub.org/pcabreederslist.htm

You can also find a reputable breeder by attending some dog shows and agility competitions. You will find papillons in both places and can get some good recommendations for quality breeders from there.

Papillons are starting to show up more commonly in puppymills, so be wary and make sure you are getting one from a reputable breeder.
Here are some helpful links for identifying good versus bad breeders.
- http://www.wonderpuppy.net/breeding.htm

If you are okay with getting an older dog (which can have it's benefits, like it's already housebroken, already done teething, likely has some training, etc.), then you may be able to get a dog from a papillon rescue group.

By Scrapbooking on Dec 22, 2009

now why does run, forrest run, come to mind?

By Health Tips and Advice on Dec 22, 2009

this is such an awesome song:O i can’t believe i found it cause i didn’t know the artist or title of it.. but yea i found it:D woohoo!!

By WPBlog Shop on Dec 23, 2009

look at 1:05 . there´s a sign “disney hall” – that´s in Downtown Los Angeles

By spursfan0101 on Dec 24, 2009

Not a beagle. They are very noisy, and if you're staying in a dorm or apartment, that can get you into trouble.

Spaniels are good, but you need to keep their ears very clean. They can get infected easily.

Chihuahuas need to be trained very well. They can become very protective of their owners, toys, food, etc. They can bite if this happens. Plus, they're very tiny, and can be stepped on by a careless friend.

I suggest going to the library and finding a book on dog breeds, or looking them up on google and find information that way. None of us can really help you. You have to follow your own heart and find the dog that you know will work.

I think you should go to petfinder.com or your local shelter and adopt a forever friend there. =D

*edit*
I agree with the others on here about your time. You need a few hours of day to devote to the dog, and need to exercise any kind of dog daily or twice daily. Do research and decide if you really have enough time. The dog will live for you only. Remember that. Make sure you have enough time to show him/her you care.

By Disease Information Health Tips on Dec 24, 2009

I’d say USA, look at 0:24. You’ll see a speed sign at the right side of the road saying 25mph.

By Free Blog on Dec 25, 2009

forti!!|.