Papillons at home
Papillons are a lively happy breed that need a stimulating home environment. Like many of the toy breeds they require frequent toilet breaks and do not do well if left alone for long periods of time. Being spaniel derivatives papillons love to chew and a constant supply of hooves, pigs ears and rawhide chews is a must.
Like a lot of toy breeds papillons are slow to house train and you will need to be vigilant and sympathetic for around twelve months. Routine is key and a cat flap can work wonders.
Papillons make excellent guard dogs - they will give warning barks for anything approaching your house or car (or you if out walking). Some are noisier than others, but they are trainable, if you find this undesirable.
Papillons excel at agility and being intelligent do well at obedience. Most are robust and can cope with lots of exercise. Being sociable they can fit in with children and other pets including other dogs.
Papillons are naturally showy and would make a great 1st breed if you would like to get into dog showing. Purebred papillons require a lot less coat maintainance than other long coated breeds, because the coat has a silky rather than cottony texture and there is no undercoat like pomeranians for example. A thorough weekly brush would be enough to maintain a pet coat.
Papillons require their feet to be trimmed to remove the hair that grows between the pads. This can become knotted and uncomfortable if left. A male animal will need his underside cleaned to remove urine stains daily. If he is a pet then the coat can be clipped in front of the penis to prevent the problem. A papillon with a very profuse coat may need trimming around the anal area to prevent faeces getting caught in the coat. Wet wipes are handy! If you would rather pay to have these jobs done by a groomer you will need to go about four - six times a year and expect to pay around £20-£30 per visit.
All dogs need their teeth cleaned regularly and their nails cut about every 6 weeks.
The Kennel Club description of a Papillon:
This breed has two countries listed as its home, France and Belgium, in both of which it is known as the Continental Toy Spaniel, Papillon, or, in a drop-eared version, Phalene. The erect-eared version takes its name from the French word for butterfly, while the drop-eared is named after the moth.
The Papillon was developing on the Continent at the same time as the King Charles was evolving in Britain, both deriving from the toy spaniels of the day.
The Papillon, an exquisite little toy dog, is a lively breed requiring much human companionship. He is happy, easy to teach and train and has proved himself extremely clever in obedience. The breed can be said to be proud and extrovert. His long silky coat can be kept immaculate by regular brushing with a soft brush, and occasional combing. He has a long life-span and makes a fascinating and interesting companion.
The papillon breed standard can be found on the Kennel Club website by clicking the link
