The Papillon: French Butterfly


The small, friendly Papillon is an elegant companion dog that originated in France round about the 1500′s. Papillons are dainty little dogs who are alert, lively and light on their feet. Their main distinguishing feature is their beautiful, butterfly-like ears (Papillon means “butterfly” in French). The coat color may be either parti-color or white with patches of any color.
The original Papillons had large, drooping ears, and often appeared in paintings as companions to French and Spanish noblewomen. Over time, an erect-eared type began to emerge which more closely resembled the breed we know today. Erect-eared and drop-eared pups (known as Phalenes) can be born in the same litter and are shown together as one breed.
If you are considering purchasing a Papillon you’ll be getting a happy little dog who is equally at home in the city or country. Papillons love to play outdoors, but their exercise needs can just as easily be met with a vigorous indoor game.
Because they don’t have an undercoat, they don’t need a lot of grooming. A brush down once or twice weekly should suffice to keep the coat in good condition.
PAPILLON FACT FILE |
| Group: Toy Country of origin: France Date of origin: 1500′s Originally bred for: Companion Current function: Companion Size: Small Coat length: Medium Shedding: Yes Grooming requirements: At least once a week Town or Country: Either Ideal home: Apartment / Small or large house Minimum garden size: None Exercise requirements: Up to 30 minutes per day Lifespan: Over 12 years |
If you enjoyed this page on the Papillon, check out some of the other dog breed links below.