Basic Information To Know About The Papillon

The Papillon (named after the French word for "butterfly" for the shape of their ears and often called the "Butterfly Dog") is a tiny, fun-loving breed that features distinctive ears and a white coat with patches of black, red, brown or several other colors. The breed has origins dating back to 13th century France, and they were first bred for the main purpose of companionship for French royalty.

A few of their most recognizable features include their playful, intelligent and eager-to-please temperament - which help make the Papillon a suitable choice for competitive obedience and agility or fun-loving owners looking for a pure companionship dog.

The Papillon is well-known for their happy, obedient and playful temperament. They are generally friendly with strangers, which along with their small size can make them unsuitable as a guard dog.

The Papillon is also known to be extremely intelligent - ranking 8th compared to other dogs based on their ability to learn obedience commands. They are also known to be playful with children though young children need to be taught to not handle them too roughly - making them not the best choice as a family pet. The Papillon is very compatible with other animals such as cats and dogs who they may become very good playmates with once properly socialized.

Grooming the Papillon is a relatively easy task. They require a small amount of brushing twice every week with regular cleaning of their teeth and complete grooming every 6 to 8 weeks.

The Papillon is happiest with a good yard to run around in, and they can be sometimes unsuitable for apartment living due to their tendency to bark at almost anything. They enjoy warmer temperatures, and can be uncomfortable if it gets too cold.

The Papillon enjoys activities such as a run around an off-leash dog park, regular play sessions or learning tricks. They have a high level of energy but only need to be given daily exercise in the form of short walks to prevent behavior problems and to keep them calm while inside the home.

The Papillon can make the perfect dog for active and confident owners with a love for fun or families with older children. They are suitable for anyone who is willing to commit to a small amount of grooming and take time to give them positive obedient training and ongoing mental challenges as well as take them for short daily walks and give a good amount of companionship and attention. Though they might be somewhat unsuitable for a pet for families with young children and apartment dwellers, if you are able to meet their need for fun, gentle care and mental challenges then the Papillon could make the ideal dog breed for you.

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