Papillon Dog Guide – Amazing Papillon Information That You Must Know

There is much to know about Papillon dogs and this article is full of Papillon information for current or future Papillon dog owners.

General Appearance and Description

The Papillon dog is a toy breed from the Spaniel line and is typically partial colored: a white body with areas of shades of black, brown, or tan. Although solid colored Papillon dogs are in existence, they are not as common.

Nicknamed the “Butterfly”, the adorable Papillon dog has a face that resembles butterfly wings. This appearance is caused by a color on - the otherwise white body - that masks the small face and large, erect ears.

Papillon dogs have a long, curved tail with a plume that is formed by their long, silky-soft coat.

Basic Temperament

Some vital Papillon information about Papillon dogs is to not let their small stature fool you: they are a playful, active dog with a great deal of energy.

This highly intelligent companion dog enjoys following you around or lounging on your lap just as much as jogging around the neighborhood or walking to the mailbox.

Care Required

Since Papillon dogs are very energetic, they require regular and persistent exercise, as addressed below. Grooming is also necessary.

Even though the Papillon is a small “toy” sized dog, it has a very long coat that is single-layered and smooth. Because of this, the Papillon dog requires bi or thrice-weekly brushing and occasional bathing.

Additional grooming is required periodically. More Papillon information about Papillon grooming can be found here.

Exercise Requirements

The Papillon dog needs play time and structured exercise on a daily basis.

Play activities can include time at a dog park, chasing games, playing fetch, tug-of-war, etc. whereas structured exercise includes walking (assuming the Papillon dog knows how to heal and follow) or any agility activities where obedience is demanded.

Including Papillon dogs in both play and obedience activities will provide them with an energy outlet; denying these can result in a frustrated Papillon dog with unattractive or problematic behavior issues.

Training

An interesting fact about Papillon dogs is that they are more mild-mannered and well-behaved when they have structure and discipline. Attaining obedience from your Papillon dog can be achieved through training.

Papillon dog training will include housebreaking, leash training, verbal commands, and obedience. Accomplishing this training will help ensure that your Papillon dog remains cute and cuddly instead of snappy and yappy.

For detailed Papillon information pertaining to training, read this guide.

Height and Weight

An interesting fact about Papillon height is that females and males are generally the same height (approximately 8-11 inches). Both sexes of Papillon dogs are also similar in weight (7-9 pounds for females, 8-10 pounds for males).

Health and Longevity

Aside from basic health issues that can potentially affect any dog (i.e. eye infections, flea infestation, skin irritation, etc.), Papillon dogs have only one notable health issue: kneecap dislocation.

This can be addressed by a veterinarian and may or may not need to be corrected with surgery.

Even if your Papillon dog requires kneecap surgery, his or her life expectancy is 13-16 years. Providing a healthy diet, exercising, grooming, and taking your Papillon in for regular vet checkups can all help extend his or her life.

Suitability

Papillon dogs are extremely devoted companion dogs that require a lot of attention and affection; they can become stressed and troublesome if left home alone too often.

For this reason they are not the best breed choice for individuals who are constantly away from home (i.e. 40+ hour work weeks).

While great with children, families who have toddlers or very young kids might not want a Papillon dog since this adorable and affectionate “toy” dog can be treated as exactly that: a toy.

Papillons become enamored with their owners and their home and, as a result, are very protective. Seen and unseen noises will prompt immediate barking which can sometimes be difficult to control.

Therefore this toy breed is not ideal for populated and confined living spaces such as an apartment.

Hopefully this Papillon dog article provided helpful Papillon information about the Papillon dog.

For more information and everything you need to know about the Papillon, check out the highly recommended Papillon eBook and audio package today!