Papillon Breed Information and Facts

Papillon means “butterfly in French and nothing could be more true of this energetic dog with the butterfly shaped ears. One look at one of these and your heart will be lost to this cute face. Let's take a look at some Papillon breed information and facts a potential dog owner should know about. 
 
Origin
 
The Papillon can be traced back 700 years to ancient Europe. The breed was once known as a dog of royalty having been owned by many notable European aristocrats. Its ancestors had drooped ears instead of the signature butterfly ears that it has now. The breed was developed for watching, tricks, and obedience competition. The AKC accepted the Papillon as a breed in 1935.
 
Size
 
The Papillon is a smaller breed of dog that weighs no more than ten pounds and stands between eight and eleven inches tall.
 
Grooming Needs
 
As with many breeds, the Papillon requires regular daily brushings. With a single coat to brush, this will not take a long time to accomplish with many dogs in this breed. The breed is cleaner than most and it will only need to be washed as needed. 
 
Character
 
Unlike other toy dogs, the Papillon is not known to be a yapping dog and is highly intelligent. This small breed can become prone to small dog syndrome. If it is treated as a small child and not a dog, the breed may begin to think it is the pack leader. Treatment like this leads to an overprotective dog that tries to tell its family what to do. Owners should never let small dogs do what large dogs would never be allowed to do such as jump on people or growl. If such behavior is allowed, it will continue unabated until an owner corrects it. Once owners start to use obedience training on the breed, the dogs will again behave like dogs instead of the pack leader
 
Temperament 
 
The Papillon is a friendly, spirited breed that loves to be with its people socializing. The breed works well as a watchdog, so living areas near neighbors may not work well. The dog may bark at every small noise. With proper socialization, the Papillon does well with other pets and small children. Small children should be taught from an early age to respect dogs and dogs should be taught that all humans are its pack leaders. This will help prevent any misunderstanding of who is the pack leader of a household.  Small children should also be watched when handling the breed, as it is prone to injury if not handled correctly.
 
Training Needs
 
The Papillon was bred to be an obedient dog. Its intelligence, combined with steady training, teaches dogs to pay attention to their owners. Dogs require consistent positive reinforcement when being trained. Instead of scolding the dog for things that are done wrong, praise it for what it does right. It can be rewarded with treats or verbal praise. This is especially important in housebreaking a pet. If owners take their dogs out to use the restroom at consistent times, to the same place, then a dog will learn quickly. Praise for proper behavior will go much further than any punishment, as dogs only want to make their masters happy. 
 
Activity Level
 
This breed will do well with a daily walk. It will enjoy time off of its leash in an enclosed and safe area too. Small playtimes like this will allow the dog the work off some of its energy and be a more relaxed and loyal dog. The Papillon can do well in an apartment, but it is best to discuss this with a breeder as it can vary from dog to dog. 
 
Health Issues
 
The Papillon is actually a very healthy breed with few major health concerns. It can, occasionally, suffer from liver and patella issues. 
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