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CLEAR ALLPapillons are named after the French word for butterfly, and it's easy to see why with their large, flared ears and dainty appearance. Also known as small Spaniel dogs, these canines have frequently been depicted in royal paintings throughout history. Their appearance has changed slightly since they first appeared in the 1500s. But they are still the same delightful canine companions who graced the laps of kings, ladies, and other noble people so many years ago.
Papillons became one of the most popular breeds in French dog shows at the turn of the 20th century. They also achieved the same reputation in the United Kingdom and the U.S. The earlier Papillon show dogs were larger compared to their modern counterparts. However, by using selective breeding, a smaller and more radiantly-coloured dog with white patches, called Blaze, was produced. Today, their butterfly appearance is boosted with a white blaze down the centre of their face and nose, and a proportionally shaded face and ears.
Papillons have effortlessly upheld their status as popular family companions over the years, thanks to their outstanding performances in the show ring, high intelligence, and adoration for human companionship. In fact, they rank number 8 out of 79 dog breeds for intelligence.
Aside from being extremely intelligent, Papillons are happy and lively. They have often been described as large dogs with small bodies. They are also outgoing but generally show no signs of aggressiveness. Papillons make great companions because they love long walks, but they are also just as content curling up with their human companion on the sofa. These attentive dogs are eager to please, so they are relatively easy to train.
Papillons are named after the French word for butterfly, and it's easy to see why with their large, flared ears and dainty appearance. Also known as small Spaniel dogs, these canines have frequently been depicted in royal paintings throughout history. Their appearance has changed slightly since they first appeared in the 1500s. But they are still the same delightful canine companions who graced the laps of kings, ladies, and other noble people so many years ago.
Papillons became one of the most popular breeds in French dog shows at the turn of the 20th century. They also achieved the same reputation in the United Kingdom and the U.S. The earlier Papillon show dogs were larger compared to their modern counterparts. However, by using selective breeding, a smaller and more radiantly-coloured dog with white patches, called Blaze, was produced. Today, their butterfly appearance is boosted with a white blaze down the centre of their face and nose, and a proportionally shaded face and ears.
Papillons have effortlessly upheld their status as popular family companions over the years, thanks to their outstanding performances in the show ring, high intelligence, and adoration for human companionship. In fact, they rank number 8 out of 79 dog breeds for intelligence.
Aside from being extremely intelligent, Papillons are happy and lively. They have often been described as large dogs with small bodies. They are also outgoing but generally show no signs of aggressiveness. Papillons make great companions because they love long walks, but they are also just as content curling up with their human companion on the sofa. These attentive dogs are eager to please, so they are relatively easy to train.
These pocket-sized pups weigh just 4 to 9 pounds and stand 8 to 11 inches tall. They have dainty bodies with delicate bones, giving them an elegant appearance. They have gorgeously long and silky coats and distinctive, large ears that stand erect with long, feathery hairs hanging down to make them look like butterfly wings.
Not all Papillons will have pointed ears, though. Those with floppy ears are known as Phalene, which translates to “moth”, the cousin of the butterfly. Both Papillons and Phalenes can be born into the same litter and possess the same lovely personality traits. However, Papillons are aesthetically more desirable among dog owners.
The Papillon’s large ears look enormous against its tiny face. It had dark-coloured eyes with black rimming and a black nose and lips, defining its beauty further. Their soft, fluffy fur is a single coat that can be one of several interesting parti-colour combinations, white with fawn, chocolate, or black markings. The darker markings will be around the face and head, but they will have varying levels of white on their forehead and nose (known as the blaze and noseband).
As well as feathering around the ears, they usually have some on the forelegs and hind legs, too. Their hair is straight and fine and not as challenging to maintain as you would think. They don’t shed much, and you only need to brush them once or twice a week and bathe them very occasionally. Of course, you will need to take them to the groomers for trims from time to time, too.
Papillon dogs are playful and active, and although they love to snuggle and curl up on their owners’ laps, they aren’t one to sleep all day long. Instead, these curious pups like to keep busy, always looking for something to do or some form of entertainment. Because of their high energy levels, they need frequent exercise and play sessions. Still, luckily they tire quickly, so you can play with them indoors rather than take them for a long walk.
Papillons tend to do fine in the heat but are susceptible to cold weather because of their lack of undercoat. Therefore, you should keep your Papillon mainly indoors during the winter.
Papillons are obedient, responsive and eager to learn, making training them a joy. They are also very smart and quickly learn basic commands and tricks. In addition, well socialised Papillons are outgoing and super friendly towards strangers, giving licks and kisses to their new friends. Plus, they will get along swimmingly with other dogs and cats if they receive early socialisation.
Papillons like to stay close to their owners at all times and can develop separation anxiety when their humans are away. However, if they live in a multi-dog household, having other canines around can ease their loneliness somewhat.
When you cannot give your Papillon attention, you’ll need to entertain them another way, with toys and puzzle feeders. They can get bored quickly, which you’ll want to avoid as boredom can lead to excessive barking and destructive behaviours.
The most important thing for a Papillon dog is to have an owner who is always around. Therefore, they do not do well in homes where their owners work full time or are too busy to give them the necessary attention. However, as they are small, easy to look after, and trainable, Papillons often make fabulous companions for retired older people.
Papillons do fine living in apartments and flats, so a garden is unnecessary for this breed, although they will certainly welcome it. If you introduce a Papillon puppy to other animals, it will most likely get along with them. Finally, they are not the best canine to bring into a home full of young, energetic children because of their small, delicate structure.
Their stories
We love happy endings. Discover stories of pets who found their beloved family with the help of The Pedigree Paws <3.
Neo
Russian Blue
We had some concerns purchasing a kitten online but our experience with The Pedigree Paws was great. They connected us with Caroline, the Russian Blue breeder and we had many conversations and received multiple pictures and videos. She answered to all our questions.
The Pedigree Paws verified for us all the vaccinations and health checks to make sure our new kitten was 100% healthy.
Thank you for all your help The Pedigree Paws! Highly recommended!
Jack
Miniature Dachshund
One of the reasons I was hesitant to order a puppy from The Pedigree Paws is because I live in Spain. However they connected me with a very good FCI breeder in Barcelona.
He showed me all the health documents of both parents, their pedigree and answer to all my questions. I am so happy they helped me to find a healthy puppy as finding one by myself was very overwhelming. Contacting The Pedigree Paws was the best decision and I highly recommend them to everybody!
Stitch
Chartreux
From the kittens's selection to the arrival of our Chartreux kitten, The Pedigree Paws was there to assist us. We had great experience with them, and they breeder Alexandra from France with whom they connected us and from whom we got our kitten from. They are very prompt in answering our initial and follow-up questions while our kitten was in transit. Very reliable and trustworthy!
Thank you so much for all your help. We are very happy with our new family member. We will definitely recommend it to all our friends.
Athena
Chihuahua
It's been a few months since we decided to find a Chihuahua puppy to join our family, however we had issues finding a good breeder.
We contacted The Pedigree Paws and they connected us with a very unique breeder in Greece. Many videos and pictures were shown, the breeder shared with us the proof of vaccinations, deworming and her 5 generation pedigree. We were fortunate as George, the breeder was able to deliver the puppy to us personally. We are very pleased with our beautiful Athena. Thank you, The Pedigree Paws, for being truthful and transparent.
Thor
Abyssinian
I feel wonderful having help from The Pedigree Paws finding the dream Abyssinian kitten I was looking for. Thor is the absolute dream! The Pedigree Paws team was really patient and responsible in everything. Lovely experience! They replied to every questions, requirements, and information I ask about the kitten.
Fin
Chihuahua
Thank you for finding for me such a beautiful Chihuahua puppy! I love him so much from the minute I saw him. He changed my world.
Kate, from The Pedigree Paws assisted me through the whole process informing me about everything from health checks to arranging a Pet Nanny to transport Fin directly to my door. So thankful that the experience went so well! I love my Fin.
Emi
Ragdoll
I have always wanted a Ragdoll kitten as it was my dream cat breed, but didnt know how to find one as heard a lot about kitten farms and bad breeders. I reached out to The Pedigree Paws and they were very accommodating and transparent from the start. They offered me few kittens from their list of breeders and when I saw Emi I knew she was the one! We went through the kitten's parents DNA testing as for me that was a priority to have a kitten free from genetic disorders. We sealed the deal and now I have the best kitten I could dream of! Thank you very much for all your help
Shima
Russian Blue
I really wanted a Russian Blue kitten, but was very nervous getting one after reading horror stories about scammers on the Internet. I had my first call with Natalia, from The Pedigree Paws and with her help I was able to connect with the breeder, that I knew I could trust. I am very lucky to have now Shima, she is an absolute joy to live with.
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