All About the Papillon Dog Breed

Papillons are are intelligent lively dogs with an unique, yet elegant appearance. The popularity of the papillon has jumped over the past several years, making this once rare breed more recognizable. It's hard not to want a papillon once you see one, but it's important to know what you are getting yourself into. Papillons do have some unique needs and personality traits that should be examined before deciding to get one.

Papillons make wonderful companion dogs. They love their owners and are very devoted little dogs. Papillons tend to favor one person above everyone else. They are very protective and make excellent watch dogs. A papillon will alert its owner to just about every noise it hears, so be prepared for barking. Papillons are active dogs who enjoy walks and love to play. The papillon is highly athletic and quite agile, which is why they are becoming increasingly popular in the the sport of dog agility. The papillon is also consider one of the most intelligent dog breeds. They are highly trainable and can be taught an array of tricks. Papillons can be temperamental little dogs. Often they can be weary of strangers and sometimes even fuss about going out in poor weather.

The papillons coat is white with colored markings. Typically, they are tri-colored with black and brown markings. However, they can be just black and white as well. The ears are what truly makes the papillon stand out. The papillon has large ears that are typically upright and resemble a butterfly, which is how they got their name, because papillon means butterfly french. Another variety of papillon called the phalene has dropped ears, but they are still over sized in appearance. Papillons have a mask that covers their face and should have a strip of white down their nose. Their coat is dense and extravagant, with fringe coming off the ears, legs and belly. Papillons also have a lush tail that curls over with a large plume of long fur. Typically, the papillon is a small dog weighing about 6-10 pounds and is about 8 to 11 inches in height.