Dog breed

Papillon

The Papillon is a small, elegant companion dog known for its large, fringed ears that look like butterfly wings, hence its French name. The FCI recognizes it as the Continental Toy Spaniel in two varieties: the Papillon with erect ears and the Phalène with drop ears. It is one of the smartest of the toy breeds.

FCI Group IX · Companion dogs · standard no. 77

Weight: 1.5–5 kg
Height: 20–28 cm
Lifespan: 13–16 years
Origin: France and Belgium

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Photo: Gvdmoort, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The Papillon only looks like a parlor ornament. In reality it is a lively, self-assured dog, curious about the world and keen to learn new things; the AKC rates its trainability at the top of the scale. It is very attached to its owner, happily joins in everything and usually greets guests in a friendly way. It loves games, chases and puzzles, and in agility it can put much bigger dogs to shame. It can be alert and bark at unfamiliar sounds, so teach it to settle from the start. It usually gets along with other dogs, though it does not always realize how small it is and may pester big dogs. It lives well with children as long as they handle it gently: a tiny Papillon can easily break a leg falling from someone's arms or the couch.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Papillon for?

The Papillon is a great choice for first-time owners, seniors and apartment dwellers who want a small, bright dog for walks and trick training. It also suits dog-sport enthusiasts looking for a small agility competitor. It is less suited to families with very young children, who might drop it, and to people who expect a completely quiet dog.

Pros

very smart and eager to learn
ideal size for an apartment
friendly toward people
long-lived

Challenges

delicate and easily injured
can be barky
needs more exercise than a typical lapdog
prone to dental problems

Size and looks

Size and looks: Papillon
Height at the withers	males 20–28 cm, females 20–28 cm
Weight	males 1.5–4.5 kg, females 1.5–5 kg
Lifespan	13–16 years
Coat	long
Colors	white with patches of any color (such as black, red or sable), tricolor
Country of origin	France and Belgium
Classification	Group IX: Companion and Toy dogs
Also known as	Continental Toy Spaniel, Phalène, Butterfly Dog

Care and exercise

30–60minof exercise a day

2/5grooming needs

3/5shedding

A Papillon needs more exercise than its size suggests: two or three walks a day, about 30–60 minutes in total, plus games and trick training at home. It excels in agility, obedience and canine freestyle. The silky single coat is easier to care for than it looks: brushing 2–3 times a week is enough, paying special attention to the ear fringes and trousers, where mats form. Trim the hair between the paw pads once a month. Small dogs are prone to tartar, so daily tooth brushing is a good investment. Watch out for jumps from high furniture and falls from people's arms; steps by the couch lower the risk of injury. A sweater helps in winter. Choose a small-breed food and make sure a 3-kilogram dog is not getting the calories of a medium-sized one.

How much should the Papillon eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Papillon is one of the longest-lived breeds: in a British study the median was 14.5 years, and the AKC gives 14–16 years. The US breed club considers Papillons generally healthy but lists eye disease, luxating patella and heart disease, recommending a patella check and cardiac and eye exams. The UK Kennel Club adds DNA tests for two inherited diseases: neuroaxonal dystrophy, a severe neurological disease of puppies, and von Willebrand disease type 1, a blood-clotting disorder. As in other toy breeds, teeth are a common problem. Injuries are also a particular danger in small dogs: broken legs from falls happen more often than genetic disease.

luxating patellaTypical of small breeds; it shows up as occasional hopping on three legs.
eye diseases (including PRA)The breed club lists eye disease among the main problems; eye exams are recommended.
heart diseaseThe US breed club recommends a cardiac exam for breeding dogs.
neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD)A severe inherited neurological disease of puppies; a DNA test is available.
von Willebrand disease (type 1)An inherited blood-clotting disorder; a DNA test is available.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

patella check
eye exam (ECVO)
heart exam
NAD DNA test
vWD1 DNA test

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Papillon descends from the toy spaniels that accompanied European aristocrats from the Renaissance on. The AKC says they came from crossing small companion dogs with spaniels, in keeping with the fashion of the time for miniature versions of favorite breeds. These little dogs appear in paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt and Goya, and their admirers included Louis XIV, Madame de Pompadour and Marie Antoinette. According to the AKC, the breed was refined and popularized in early breeding centers in Italy and Spain, while the FCI gives France and Belgium as the countries of origin. The variety with erect, butterfly-like ears gave the breed the name Papillon, and the drop-eared variety is called Phalène, meaning "moth".

Fun facts

In French, "papillon" means butterfly and "phalène" means moth; both names refer to the shape of the ears.
According to the AKC, Marie Antoinette's Papillon was named Thisbe.
The FCI standard divides Papillons into two weight classes: under 2.5 kg, and 2.5 to 4.5 kg for males and up to 5 kg for females.
The AKC registered its first Papillon in 1915.

Frequently asked questions

Do Papillons shed?

Yes, but moderately. The Papillon has no undercoat, so it sheds less than double-coated dogs, although hair still ends up on the furniture. Brushing 2–3 times a week cuts down on hair around the house and keeps the fringes free of mats.

How big do Papillons get?

The FCI standard has two classes: dogs under 2.5 kg, and dogs weighing 2.5 to 4.5 kg for males or up to 5 kg for females. The minimum weight is 1.5 kg. Height at the shoulder is about 28 cm, and the AKC gives 8–11 inches, or about 20–28 cm.

What is the difference between a Papillon and a Phalène?

They are the same breed and differ only in their ears. The Papillon has large erect ears spread like butterfly wings, while the Phalène has drop ears. Both types can be born in the same litter.

How long do Papillons live?

Very long for a dog, usually 13–16 years. In a large British study the median was 14.5 years. Dental care and protection from injuries are the simplest ways to help a Papillon reach a ripe old age in good shape.