Papillon or butterfly dog, their care, characteristics and
more
The Papillón Spaniel is a breed of small, very active
Spaniel type dog whose main characteristic is its butterfly-shaped ears, which
owes its name. In French papillon means butterfly so it is also known as a
butterfly dog. It is a breed originating from France and Belgium, although in
the 19th century it underwent several crosses until resulting in the Papillon
Spaniel that we know today.
In Notes from Pets we have dedicated a complete article to
this beautiful animal so that you know its characteristics, its typical
behavior, the care it needs and some curiosities that this ear has lived among
royalty.
Papillion Spaniel Characteristics
The Papillon is mainly characterized by its large ears
Measure: It is a small dog that does not exceed 30 cm in
adulthood. That is why it is also called a dwarf spaniel or Continental Toy
Spaniel.
Weight: Males are less heavy in their adult life reaching
4.5 Kg, while females easily reach 5 Kg.
Coat: Its coat is long and soft.
Coat color: white base, although it is always combined with
other colors such as black, red and chestnut.
Eyes: large and wide open, although not very prominent. They
are dark in color.
Head: proportionate with the body and is usually lighter and
shorter than that of medium and large spaniel.
Tail: high set, its tail is long and hairy.
Carriage: It is an elegant dog in its carriage; it has a
prominent snout, a profiled nose and a long, shaggy tail.
Habitat: it is an ideal dog for floors and small houses.
Life expectancy
Papillon dogs usually live around the age of 14.
Health
Being a breed that comes from various crosses, it can suffer
from inherited diseases typical of its origins such as allergies, dental
problems and patellar dislocation. Patella dislocation is a slippage of the
bones, with the patella moving out of the groove. This causes the dog pain and
discomfort when walking. That is why long walks are not recommended for this
type of dog, especially in adulthood.
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Papillion Behavior
Papillon breed dogs are very active so they must be educated
and socialized from puppies
The Epagneul Paillón, as it is also known, is not an
outgoing dog and is rather shy towards strangers, although it is an excellent
company to watch over the house.
They are dynamic dogs that quickly warn of any strange movement;
their barking really makes itself felt. He is quite curious and does not like
to get out of his routine or the unusual events very much.
The papillon spaniel shares with children perfectly; his
energy makes him a special dog to play with them. However, these dogs can get
stressed quickly too, so it's always a good idea to keep an eye on the play
between them, as some children can be very confident and dynamic at the same
time. Although it is unlikely to attack, it can give some scares from time to
time.
It is a dog that easily adapts to changes, if you leave it
in another house or in a dog nursery it can adapt quickly and without problem,
as long as they treat it well.
The butterfly dog stands out for its natural beauty in
contests and competitions. Plus, they're very dynamic and love jumping, so it
may be a favorite to win in jump and ball games.
Papillion Spaniel
care
They do not
tolerate the cold much, since their fur, although abundant, is very fine.
Therefore, it is common for them to suffer from colds in cold weather, they tolerate
Mediterranean climates better. In winter or rainy seasons it is necessary to
shelter them well.
To keep its fur
soft and silky it is necessary to brush it constantly, you can do it every day
without problem. And at the time of bathing, use a very good shampoo to help
you keep the fur silky.
Training since
they are puppies is very important to teach them to socialize and to obey basic
instructions such as being silent when asked or respecting strangers.
Curiosities of
the Butterfly Dogs
Spaniel dogs have
a natural beauty that relates them to a fine gift among the nobility. The
Spanish nobility gave it as a gift to their peers kings and nobles in Europe,
their great attractiveness the ears. Particularly, the papillon spaniel
received this name for the first time from Queen Marie Antoinette, she had a
dog of this breed which she called "Le petit papillon", due to the
butterfly shape of her small ears. As a curious fact, this queen was called in
France “Autre Chienne”, (another bitch). Would this name have something to do
with her love of dogs?
It is considered
one of the oldest miniature dogs descended from the Miniature Continental
Spaniel. Evidence of its antiquity can be seen in paintings dating from 1270
such as the work of Ambrose by Boudose Giotti.
Although it is a
very old dog of French and Belgian origin, the first dog recognized as a
papillon would be English and it was in 1906 when it was publicly recognized.
The Papillon is
one of the most popular small dog breeds in the world.
Ready to adopt
your next Papillion Spaniel? Fill yourself with tenderness and do not forget to
show your love with discipline, this is a breed of dog that will thank you.
Papillon, the
butterfly dog
Also called a
butterfly dog or Dwarf Épagneul, the Papillon does not reach much height. In
fact, it is a very small animal, which does not measure more than 35 cm or
weigh more than 10 kg. In addition to its size, what characterizes this canine
is the uniqueness of its coat (white with brown or black spots) and, of course,
its pointed, large and triangular, butterfly-shaped ears. It is precisely their
ears that make these dogs very elegant pets.
In order for its
coat to shine it will have to be brushed every day, which is why we will have
to incorporate this habit into our dog routines. Once a week we should clean
his ears well, because due to their shape, they have a tendency to get too
dirty and cause infections.
Calm and noble
character
Apart from its
appearance, it stands out for its noble, affectionate and playful character. It
is a very calm dog that establishes a strong connection with its owners, whom
it protects despite its small size. In fact, it is an animal that has a high
instinct for protection; therefore, he is very vigilant towards his own.
Furthermore, he is very sociable and intelligent, making it very easy to train.
It is not necessary to seek help for this. We can teach you some routines
ourselves, such as sitting, lying down, standing still, or when you call. You
will have a lot of fun learning and receiving our caresses.
Its submissive
and playful behavior makes many families with children trust this breed when
adopting a pet. Of course, if we choose a puppy, it is preferable to educate it
before, since they usually bite as part of their game and could harm some
member of the family. Even so, it is not an aggressive or violent dog, nor is
it a dog with a tendency to bite.
Daily routines
Finally, it is
necessary to mention that, despite its nobility and temperance, it needs to be
taken out for a walk every day and to be cared for in order to be an
emotionally stable dog. These habits are not unique to the Papillón dog, since
any breed of canid will need attention, care, affection and games, as well as
two or three daily walks to interact with other specimens and relieve
themselves. As we say, normal behaviors that must be followed with any dog,
although it is true that in the case of the Papillón, its sociable and tender character
makes it more vulnerable to feeling abandoned if it does not receive attention
from its owners.
Papillon, the
butterfly dog
Also called a
butterfly dog or Dwarf Épagneul, the Papillon does not reach much height. In
fact, it is a very small animal, which does not measure more than 35 cm or
weigh more than 10 kg. In addition to its size, what characterizes this canine
is the uniqueness of its coat (white with brown or black spots) and, of course,
its pointed, large and triangular, butterfly-shaped ears. It is precisely their
ears that make these dogs very elegant pets.
In order for its
coat to shine it will have to be brushed every day, which is why we will have
to incorporate this habit into our dog routines. Once a week we should clean
his ears well, because due to their shape, they have a tendency to get too
dirty and cause infections.
Calm and noble
character
Apart from its
appearance, it stands out for its noble, affectionate and playful character. It
is a very calm dog that establishes a strong connection with its owners, whom
it protects despite its small size. In fact, it is an animal that has a high
instinct for protection; therefore, he is very vigilant towards his own.
Furthermore, he is very sociable and intelligent, making it very easy to train.
It is not necessary to seek help for this. We can teach you some routines
ourselves, such as sitting, lying down, standing still, or when you call. You
will have a lot of fun learning and receiving our caresses.
Its submissive
and playful behavior makes many families with children trust this breed when
adopting a pet. Of course, if we choose a puppy, it is preferable to educate it
before, since they usually bite as part of their game and could harm some
member of the family. Even so, it is not an aggressive or violent dog, nor is
it a dog with a tendency to bite.
Daily routines
Finally, it is
necessary to mention that, despite its nobility and temperance, it needs to be
taken out for a walk every day and to be cared for in order to be an emotionally
stable dog. These habits are not unique to the Papillón dog, since any breed of
canid will need attention, care, affection and games, as well as two or three
daily walks to interact with other specimens and relieve themselves. As we say,
normal behaviors that must be followed with any dog, although it is true that
in the case of the Papillón, its sociable and tender character makes it more
vulnerable to feeling abandoned if it does not receive attention from its
owners.
Papillon photos :
Papillon video : What It's Like to Have a Papillon / Percy the Papillon Dog