Basic Things You Should Know About The Papillon

The Papillon (also known as the "Butterfly Dog") is a toy breed of dog. They feature distinctive butterfly-shaped ears and a white coat with patches of brown, black or red. The breed first appeared in the 13th century. They were originally bred for providing companionship for French royalty. These days they are popular as a companion dog for fun loving owners. They can be recognized by their playful temperament and famously-shaped ears. They are thought to originate from France and are a descendant of the Continental Dwarf Spaniel.

They are classified as a tiny sized dog. The recommended male size is 8-11 inches high with a weight of 8-10 pounds, while the female size is 8-11 inches high with a weight of 7-9 pounds. Their temperament is well-known to be happy, obedient and playful. They are typically friendly with strangers, and this along with their size makes them unsuitable as a guard dog. The breed is known to be highly intelligent, and ranks 8th compared to all other breeds when learning new obedience instructions.

They are playful with children, which can make them fairly suitable as a family pet. They do get along well with other animals such as cats and other dogs that are a similar size to become good playmates with. Grooming them is a fairly easy task. They need small brushing every few days, and full grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. They enjoy having a good yard to run around in, but won't be suitable for apartment life.

Like most tiny sized breeds, they are primarily very long-lived with a life expectancy of 14-18 years. Their most severe health concern is broken bones and injuries, and they are also susceptible to PRA and luxating patella. They enjoy hobbies like running around the park, play sessions or learning tricks. They have a high level of energy, which means they need short walks each day to prevent destructive behavior.

If you own the Papillon you need to be prepared to give them a lot of attention and mental challenges. They are less suitable for families with young children, but highly suitable for active owners or families with older children. One of the best things about this breed is that it has a happy and playful nature and high level of intelligence that means it can be taught almost anything.

If you want to learn more Papillon information and other related topics take a look at this page.