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Papillon

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Troy

Troy

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The Papillon

ANKC Standard

(from http://www.ankc.org.au/home/breeds_details.asp?bid=22 )

Group: Group 1 (Toys)

General Appearance: This dainty, balanced little toy dog should have an attractive head, an alert bearing and an intelligent and lively expression.

Movement should be sound, light and free and not cramped or restricted in any way.

Characteristics: This dainty, balanced little toy dog should have an attractive head, an alert bearing and an intelligent and lively expression.

Temperament: (Not detailed.)

Head And Skull: The skull slightly rounded between the ears, the muzzle finely pointed and abruptly thinner than the skull accentuating the stop which should be well defined. Length from tip of the nose to the stop approximately a third length of the head. Nose should be black.

Eyes: Of medium size, rounded, dark in colour, placed rather low in the head and should not bulge.

Ears: The ears should be large and mobile with rounded tips, heavily fringed, set towards the back of the head far enough apart to show the slightly rounded shape of the skull. The ears must be completely erect or dropped. When the ears are erect they must be carried obliquely like the spread wings of a butterfly, therefore the name, Papillon. When the ears are dropped they must be completely dropped, and this type is known as the Phalene (moth).

Mouth: Scissor bite, upper teeth fitting closely over lower. The lips thin and tight.

Neck: Of medium length.

Forequarters: Shoulders well developed and sloping back. Chest rather deep. Forelegs straight and slender and fine boned.

Body: Level topline. The body should have plenty of length, well formed with well sprung ribs, good length of loin which must not be weak, with slightly arched belly.

Hindquarters: Well developed, good turn of stifle. Legs when viewed from behind, should be parallel. Dew claws on the hind legs must be removed.

Feet: Fine and fairly long, as in the hare. The tufts of hair between the toes extending far beyond them.

Tail: Long and well fringed, set on high, arched over the back with the fringes falling to the side to form the plume.

Gait/Movement: Movement should be sound, light and free and not cramped or restricted in any way.

Coat: Should be abundant, (flowing) but without undercoat, long fine, silky, falling flat on back and sides forming a profuse frill on the chest, short and close on the skull, muzzle and front part of the legs. Back part of the front legs to pasterns, tail and thighs covered with long hair.

Colour: White with patches which may be any colour except liver. A tricolour must be black and white with tan spots over the eyes, tan inside ears and under root of tail and on cheeks. The head marking should be symmetrical about a white, narrow, clearly defined blaze.

Sizes: The ideal height at the withers from 20.3-28 cm (8-11 ins). The dog will appear to be slightly longer than high when properly furnished with ruff and hind fringes.

Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Skull flat or apple shaped. Muzzle overlong or coarse. Nose other than black.

Eyes light in colour, too small or too large, or protruding.

Ears semi-erect or not fully dropped, small, sharply pointed or set too close together.

Mouth over- or undershot to the extent that the incisors do not touch at all.

Wry mouth.

Shoulders straight. Out at elbow. Topline roached, dipped or cobby.

Legs malformed and crooked, cow hocked, too long or too short.

Stifles straight, coupled with weak hindquarters.

Tail unduly short. Too low set.

Harsh, curly or stand-off coat.

Notes: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

QUESTIONS

1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc)

2. Where and why was the breed first developed?

3. How common is it in Australia?

4. What is the average lifespan?

5. What is the general temperament/personality?

6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult?

7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with?

8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods?

9. How much grooming is required?

10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)?

11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of?

12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be)

If you wish to contribute to the knowledge about this breed, please answer the above questions. (Copy and paste them into a new post).

  • Please only answer if you breed or own a pedigree example of this breed.
  • You do not have to answer all questions
  • Please keep posts limited to answering questions or for asking further questions if you require more (or expanded) information.

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Paptacular!

Paptacular!

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1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc)

Have owned a papillon in the family since I was 6 years old, so for about 15 years now. Currently own 2 pedigree paps and exhibit one.

2. Where and why was the breed first developed?

The breed was thought to have been developed in France (hence the French name, papillon meaning butterfly due to the shape of the ears), however some sources point to Belgium and even Spain. The papillon was originally called the Continental Toy Spaniel, or Squirrel Spaniel, due to the way the tail was carried over the back, like a squirrel's. There are two 'varieties' of papillons: the papillon with 'pricked' ears, and the phalene, with dropped ears (phalene meaning 'moth'). It is thought that the Phalene was the original papillon variety, though in more recent times, the prick eared variety has overtaken in popularity.

3. How common is it in Australia?

Papillons are becoming more common, but still relatively unknown to those that don't have a great interest in dogs. They can often be mistaken for a long coat Chihuahua or a Pomeranian by people who don't know of the breed. Paps first came out to Australia in the 1940's or 50's.

4. What is the average lifespan?

It is common for papillons to reach up to 16 years of age, sometimes beyond.

5. What is the general temperament/personality?

Papillons are curious, energetic, loyal, smart, loving and a joy to live with. Of course every dog is different, however most papillons exhibit these traits. Some can be yappy, however I have my boy who rarely says a word! :rofl:

6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult?

Paps are quite energetic for a small dog. They have their little bursts of energy. Sometimes a good game of ball can do the trick, or else a good stroll with you is something they enjoy. They can walk a lot further than you think! Papillons also excel in agility and flyball.

7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with?

I believe paps can suit a first time dog owner. In this instance, a mature adult may be best, as small puppies can be fragile, and can sometimes take a while to toilet train. As long as the owner does their research into the breed, I think that a papillon would definitely be suitable.

8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods?

Our first papillon was an only child for about 10 years. He was a good boy, rarely destroyed anything! :D Having said that, other 'siblings' of his have eaten shoes, cords, magazines etc. They will often spend a lot of the day asleep, but it is important to keep their busy minds occupied. A variety of toys, such as Kongs or treatballs should keep them amused. Or a playmate. :D

9. How much grooming is required?

The coat is single layered, fine and silky. It doesn't need frequent washing (maybe every 3-4 weeks), however, always brush before a bath as well as after, to avoid water tightening any knots that may be in the coat. As for brushing, I would probably spend 10 minutes every day or every 2nd day going through the coat. It is important to check for matts, especially behind the ears and underneath (roll onto his back to check for matts on tummy/groin area).

10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)?

I wouldn't recommend a puppy for families with small children, unless the parents will supervise all times when the dog and children are together. Papillon puppies are very fine in build and fragile, so it wouldn't take much for a child to fall and land on a puppy. :eek: For the elderly or infirm, a mature papillon would be an ideal companion.

11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of?

Luxating patella is the main concern. I would also be wary of eyes and some cases of Von Willebrand's Disease have been allegedly seen in the breed in Australia in recent years.

12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be)

I would ask a breeder whether the patellas of the puppy are sound, as well as the parents. PRA in the eyes is more of a problem overseas than in Australia, however I would ideally like the parent's eye results.

:love:

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Paptacular!

Paptacular!

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Hi MTD

There is generally no clipping or stripping of the coat for shows. The only scissoring I do it to trim the fur between the paw pads (but not trim around the foot itself, they are meant to have the tufts coming from between their toes) and scissor up the hocks to tidy up, if needed.

I use a basic shampoo, a whitening shampoo and a conditioner in a before-show bath. Conditioner is very important to keep the coat soft, as it should be.

I use Animal House shampoos. :rofl:

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Mrs Johno

Mrs Johno

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i wont answer all the questions, pappylove did a pretty good job of that :)

1.What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc)

owned for about 4 years, yep im only new to paps, this is my first year as a breeder of papillons , i have owned and bred other breeds over the years

3. How common is it in Australia?

not very common in my neck of the woods, i only know of one other person in my area with them, im sure there are more hidden away, most people dont know what they are, having said that very few people only ever have one , they are addictive

5. What is the general temperament/personality?

i find them to be loving, loyal and generally outgoing, however like all breeds they can differ, i have one who was very timid as a pup, and i thought perhaps she hadnt been handled much, but she has never grown out of it

6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult?

i dont "exercise" mine mainly due to the amount of unfenced dogs in my area, mine just have free run of the yard and i find this is enough for them,

7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with?

yes

8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods?

yes, my boy was solo for the first 2 years and i didnt get the girls for him i got them for me :rofl:

9. How much grooming is required?

i bath them maybe once every month or 2 and a brush once a week , they hardly ever knot or matt

10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)?

most people say they shouldnt be for small children , my kids are 4yo and 7yo and i find them fine however they have grown up with dogs, i wouldnt recommend them for children as a first time dog unless theyd have full supervision , and my only concern with the elderly is they tend to be under foot more often than not which can cause you to trip on them but no more or less than other breeds

i think the nsw councils rule of not selling unmicrochipped puppies is bloody stupid, i dont think paps or any other small breed should have to go through that at around 6-8 weeks, id prefer they were done at 6 months when they are a bit bigger

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Prydenjoy

Prydenjoy

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1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc)

I got my first Papillon 5 years ago, and also own a 2 year old now

3. How common is it in Australia?

Most people here have never seen one before, there are a couple around that I have heard about but not many

5. What is the general temperament/personality?

Happy go lucky, zoomy, playful. They do vary greatly though and I have come across some nervous Paps, in particular those who weren't socialised from an early age. Early socialisation is imperative for this breed, as is treating them as a "dog" ie not carrying them everywhere and allowing them to get "small dog syndrome". If treated like a big dog they will behave just like a scaled down big dog, only you get the bonus that they eat less and can go everywhere with you!

6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult?

They are a very intellegent breed and thrive on training/agility to exercise their brain. They will quite happilly zoom around your house to burn up excess energy but do love a go for walk.

7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with?

I think so, but would strongly recommend Puppy Pre School and lots of socialisation so that they have a well adjusted dog without anxiety issues.

8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods?

Berri lives here on his own now as Montie is on a holiday at mums - I got him as a 14 month old and he has had severe anxiety problems for a long time, living with my partner (who I have now kicked out indefinitely) and now, our baby, was proving very detrimental to his health. Hence why I say it is so important to socialise them as pups, they have memories like elephants and can get very stuck in their ways. I'm still trying to work out if there is a way he can co exist with my baby without being too stressed. Meanwhile Berri would love a friend, I'm sure. He is my shadow when I'm not working, and when I'm working (Family Day Care) he has to spend the day between my bedroom and outside, with a quick training session and play time when the kids are napping. It is a long day of isolation for him and he has become an expert escape artist. Papillons are not easy to keep in! We have foot netting around the whole perimetre of the yard, we have raised our fences and even have cemented some areas to keep him in! I give him bones every day to keep him occupied, throw treats around the yard for him to find, give him a treat ball/kong etc and he still gets bored and tries to find a way out. He really craves attention, so whenever I'm not working he's in the house playing with Meika or snuggling with me. Because they are so highly intellegent they are not a breed really suited to occupying themselves for long periods in my opinion.

9. How much grooming is required?

I'll spend a few minutes once a week grooming Berri, they are really easy care. People always comment on how clean Berri is, their fur repels dirt and they will look clean even when they haven't had a bath for a few weeks!

10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)?

Berri plays with my 15 month old daughter all the time, he plays so gently with her (supervised, of course). They even play fetch together and she is always feeding him her food! They are absolutely perfect together. He had a bad experience with a little kid though and suffers from fear aggression with children, which is something we are working on. Children can be very rough and you should never let a Pap play with a child unless you know the child well and are sure they wont hurt the dog. One bad experience may stay with them for life.

11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of?

As well as those already mentioned by other people, I have found a particular line of Paps to have anxiety issues. Not a hereditary problem as such, but something to beware of. Always meet the parents of a pup before you make a decision.

12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be)

Where the pups are raised, indoors or close to the family is best.

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  • 2 months later...
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QUESTIONS

1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc) I have been a papillon exhibitor, and then breeder for the past five years.

2. Where and why was the breed first developed? The breed originates in Europe, particularly France and Belgium, and was formerly known as the Continental Dwarf Spaniel. Many European royals had papillons and they feature in artworks of the time, eg: paintings by Rubens and Titian. Marie Antionette was rumoured to have taken her two pet papillons to the guillotine with her. The original variety was the drop-eared type, phalene (moth) and the upright eared papillon (butterfly) has only been in existence for the past couple of centuries. The breed is primarily a companion animal, bred to be a pretty and dainty pet.

3. How common is it in Australia? Not very common.

4. What is the average lifespan? Papillons can live a long time, up to 17 years, although 12 to 15 is more common.

5. What is the general temperament/personality? Papillons are social butterflies generally, happy, active and affectionate. Occasionally it is possible to meet a papillon which is timid in temperament, and this type of pap is one that does best with a patient, experienced gentle owner.

6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult? My papillons hare about in our backyard, which is fine for them. they also like going for walks. Many papillons excel at agility, obedience and flyball, and are great athletes, considering their size. If you don't have time to take them for walks, that's ok as long as you give them a chance to run about and burn off some energy. They do that very well in pairs where they can chase each other.

7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with? Yes, if they don't have small children, and are sensible people around dogs. The papillon needs to be handled gently, and care needs to be taken that they are not dropped, especially as puppies, as their bones are quite light. However, if people are sensible and make sure their papillon is not handled roughly or allowed to play unsupervised with bigger dogs, the papillon is a delightful companion for a new dog owner.

8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods? Papillon thrive on companionship and would not do well if left alone for long periods. However, a pair of papillons could amuse themselves together if owners need to work.

9. How much grooming is required? A weekly bath and comb through, taking care to check for matting behind the ears, trousers or underneath. A good brushing when the coat is dry is also a good idea. The only trimming that needs to be done is toenails and the hair growing between the pads. I also scissor the hocks slightly and neaten the foot on my show dogs.The long hair growing beyond the length of the foot should be left as it gives the foot its characteristic hare-like appearance. I use Plush Puppy, Animal House and Laserlites shampoos and conditioners. My show dogs are bathed in a whitening shampoo, and all dogs are conditioned, to keep the coat soft and in good condition.

10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)? The small children are too boisterous for it, and it is generally fine for elderly people, although they would need to be careful not to trip over it as the papillon is an active dog.

11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of? Luxating patellas, Von Willebrand's disease and PRA should all be checked, and affected dogs not be bred.

12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be) Breeders should have checked the above and be able to provide proof that parents have been checked for patellas, Von Willebrand's disease and if possible, PRA. Puppies should have the state of their patellas in writing on the vaccination certificate, and they should be sound. Puppies should have had at least one vaccination and should be in good health, supported by a vet's letter.

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kayla1

kayla1

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Paps are quite energetic for a small dog. They have their little bursts of energy. Sometimes a good game of ball can do the trick, or else a good stroll with you is something they enjoy. They can walk a lot further than you think! Papillons also excel in agility and flyball.

Do you see many paps doing agility and flyball?

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Prydenjoy

Prydenjoy

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They excell in obedience and agility, I've heard some are too light for flyball, but if you get a hefty Pap like my 4kg Berri it shouldn't be a problem (I assume, we don't have flyball here).

They are great little trickstars and are a sure way to get people talking!

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