Toy group · France/Belgium
Papillon
Also called Butterfly Dog, Continental Toy Spaniel, Phalene.
What makes them remarkable
“Papillon” is French for butterfly, a reference to those large, fringed ears.
- Happy
- Alert
- Friendly
- Intelligent
- Adventurous
- Size
- Toy
- Weight
- 2 to 5 kg5 to 10 lb
- Lives
- 14 to 16 years
- Energy
- High
- Trains
- Very High
- Barks
- High
Training
Training a Papillon
Toy breeds. Train them like a dog, not an ornament. Small dogs skip the manners work because they can be picked up.
Sensitive to Tone
Start here
Highly sensitive to tone. Harsh corrections damage trust and willingness to learn.
Harness Intelligence
Among the smartest toy breeds. Excel at agility, obedience, and trick training.
Early Socialisation
Alert nature can become yappy nervousness without proper exposure to new experiences.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Papillon and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred for company. Small in body, and often bigger in personality than the owner expected.
Gets on with
- ChildrenModerate
- Other dogsHigh
- StrangersHigh
- CatsHigh
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 30-45 minutes daily. Active breed that enjoys walks, play, and dog sports.
- Grooming
- Moderate maintenance. Weekly brushing. No undercoat means less shedding than many breeds.
- Drool
- Very Low
- Coat
- Long, Single coat, SilkyWhite with Black, White with Red, White with Sable, Tricolour
- In a flat
- Can work, with enough exercise outside it.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Luxating Patella
Moderate
Kneecap displacement requiring possible surgery
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Moderate
Degenerative eye disease leading to blindness
Open Fontanel
Mild
Soft spot on skull that may not close completely
Where they come from
History
Descended from toy spaniels popular in European courts. Name means "butterfly" in French, referring to their distinctive ears. Featured in many Renaissance paintings.
- Loteki Supernatural Being · Won Best in Show at Westminster in 1999, first toy breed in 40 years
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