The journey of life is sweeter when traveled with a Papillon.
Find the most amazing facts about Papillon dogs’. They are sweet and lovely and have mastered the skills to cheer up anyone’s mood with their jovial personality. Grouped in a toy-like breed, Papillon is a small-sized dog with long, silky hair. They are intelligent dogs able to learn quickly and have excellent memory power.
Keep your eyes on the screen for a few more minutes and grab everything about these beautiful puppies from Papillon dog colors and markings to their personality traits. I can’t stop admiring their enchanting colors, noticeable facial markings, and amazing traits. They are an all-in-one package that encouraged me to scribble this complete piece of information.
Don’t miss out!
About the Papillon Dog
Papillon was originally bred in France. They have a butterfly-like appearance that is characterized by their large ears and facial markings. These dogs are often called butterfly dog. They are often seen as companion dogs because they are very social and often live with other animals, including cats.
The Papillon was known as a Dwarf Spaniel back in the 16th and 17th centuries and often appeared in paintings sitting on the laps of Spanish and French noblewomen. His ears used to droop but, over a period of time, an erect type started to develop. The butterfly ears are large and fringed with long silky hair, like butterfly wings. (Papillon is French for butterfly.) In the US, the drop-eared (Phalenes) and erect-eared (Papillon) dogs were born in one litter and shown as a single breed.
He’s a small, happy dog, with a fine bone structure. He’s energetic, yet dainty and his ears make him stand out from all other breeds. He’s alert but neither aggressive nor shy. He plays well inside and outside. He doesn’t have an undercoat so he only needs occasional brushing. His coat’s color should always be parti colored i.e. white with patches that can be any color. His height is 8 – 11 inches.
The Papillon is a small, fine-boned dog that usually weighs between 6 and 10 pounds. Its head is slightly round between the ears with a well-defined stop. The muzzle and eyes are dark, medium-sized, round, and have black rims. Long, fringed hair covers the ears, giving them a butterfly-like appearance.
Papillon dog colors come in a variety of alluring colors that make their appearance more dramatic and enchanting. The colors range from white to sable, white & chocolate, black & white, fawn & white, red & white, and lemon & white.
These adorable pups never fail to make a magnetic appearance with their wonderful colors and markings.
Damn! I can’t stop admiring their enchanting colors, noticeable features, and amazing traits. They are an all-in-one package that encouraged me to scribble this complete piece of information.
Keep your eyes on the screen for a few more minutes and grab everything about these beautiful puppies from Papillon dog colors and markings to their personality traits.
Don’t miss out!
What Colors Do Papillons Come In?
The Papillon coat can be seen in multiple colors you can think of. From a black & white Papillon to red, tan, fawn, silver, and more.
Papillon Markings
Papillons are a parti-color dog which means they are white with patches of the colored coat. Eye rims must be black.
Facial markings are very important. Papillon markings should include a clearly defined white blaze. A clearly define blaze is preferred over a solidly marked head. A solidly marked head will detract from an often otherwise good dog in the show ring. A clearly define blaze adds to this breed’s butterfly appearance’.
The American Kennel Club standard Papillon markings are discussed below;
- Black and White Papillon – The dog has a pure white coat, and the melanistic black patches cover the ears resembling a butterfly.
- White and Lemon – The lemonish color erected ears with a shiny white body gives a fabulous look
- White and Red – White is the predominant color in Papillons, and red is the secondary color covering ears, nose, and part of lips.
- White and Sable – The sable color is a shade of brown. Sable-colored Paps have black hair dispersed on their brown and red hair.
- White Black and Tan – These dogs have tri-color patterns that are the most attractive among the Paps family.
A few white hairs interspersed with the color patches is not penalized in the show ring by most Kennel Clubs.
The Rarest Color of Papillon
The color of the Papillon is the subject of discussion in almost every era. Among the standard colors set by the AKC, the rarest Papillon color is white and lemon.
The coat color appears pure white during the adolescent age. The white color darkens with time and changes to pale lemon covering ears from front to back.
The color distinguishes the puppies from their own breed and makes them cute and adorable.
The Common Papillon Coat Colors
With unique patches and markings, no Pap can be the same as the other. However, the common Papillon coat colors include;
- White and black
- White, black, and tan
- White and sable
- White and red
- Black-brown and white
- Black, red and white
- Sable
- Brown and white
Every Papillon is different from the other, and thus the markings and coat colors are not arranged in a specified way.
Does the Papillon Color Change Overtime?
Papillons may and may not change coat colors as they grow.
Isn’t this quite confusing? Let’s dive into details to get a clearer perspective.
Just like humans, dogs are born with predetermined colors that are dominated by their genes. These genetic colors never change in their lifetime.
Papillons who are born white and red in coat color never change in their lifetime. However, their grown-ups’ looks and appearance might differ from the infant ones as their hair extends to the fullest.
For instance, the pure white Paps’ coat color may change to pale lemon or red markings as they grow older. Similarly, the white and black paps change their color to sable as they grow.
In a nutshell, as the Papillon pups’ hair becomes longer and thicker, their coat color becomes more vibrant.
Papillon Dogs Personality Traits
Undoubtedly, Papillons have the most amazing and phenomenal personalities. This toy breed is friendly, loving, and energetic. However, like every other dog, Papillons can become aggressive when not given proper training or are ignored.
Below is everything about Pap’s personality traits and how they make a good pet dog.
1.  Unbeatable Smartness
Papillons are as smart as a whip. Dogs of this breed are intelligent and respond well to positive reinforcement training methods.
Paps is ranked as one of the smartest dog breeds, which are highly intelligent, alert, attentive, intuitive, and eager to please their owners.
P.S. Want to check their smartness? Teach them a trick!
2.  Papillons are Friendly
If you have a Papillon puppy in your home, forget about all the boredom, loneliness, and gloominess.
Papillons are small and fluffy. Their friendly nature makes them the best pet dogs. Their playful nature never lets you get bored; instead, they often come to their owner, whirl around them, lick them, and say HELLO!
The jovial personality dogs will often accompany you for walks and enjoy the outdoors. They are good for people living in an apartment because they do not need much space to run around.
Moreover, they are friendly enough to easily get along with kids and pets.
3.  Packed in an Energized Soul
Despite their small size, these butterfly-like dogs are known for their high energy.
You will never see Paps sitting on the couch enjoying the T.V. shows. They love doing ordinary stuff that involves physical activities and playing hide and seeks.
Their physically active lifestyle keeps them healthy and jolly.
4.  A Watchful Dog
With Papillons, say goodbye to housebreaking!
Papillons are home-friendly dogs that do well with families with kids. Though they are busy playing and doing multiple activities, they don’t heed their surroundings.
Papillons have a very strong sense of smell and can sniff even a minor thing.
Moreover, they can be vocal depending on the mood and situation. They are vigilant enough to observe who enters the house, changes in their daily routines, and more.
Despite their small size and toy-like personality, Papillons can stand up against any danger or dog that comes their way which helps homeowners keep the burglars at a distance.
5.  Happy-go-lucky Dogs
Papillons have mastered the skills of making everyone happy with their charismatic personality.
Their happy-go-lucky personality keeps them and their owners happy and free. They work as a therapist and can transform the sad moments into the loveliest and most memorable ones.
6.  Their Extrovert Nature!
Papillons are extroverts in nature – outgoing, socializing, and happy. They love to accompany their owners for a walk or shopping.
Paps are good for kids and other pets. They are talkative, enthusiastic, and action-oriented. They love to share every single detail with their owners.
Papillons love to engage with people and never dwell on problems.
7.  Love Buds
Papillons are love buds. They grab their owner’s attention, value them, and above all, they make the best friend.
They show their love and affection through their body gestures by whirling around you, licking, wagging their tail, and relaxing on your lap.
These dogs always make their owner feel special and value their presence. These lovesick puppies develop an unbreakable bond with their owners and are great family pets.
If you’re looking for a dog plus a friend who never makes you feel alone, Papillons are the perfect one.
8.  Loyal, Loyal, Loyal
Like other dog breeds, Papillons are a true example of loyalty. They show the real definition of love and loyalty.
9.  What is Shedding?
Papillons have long, thick, and silky hair; however, unlike other long-haired breeds, Papillons don’t shed at all.
Their minimal shedding throughout the year doesn’t demand regular maintenance and grooming.
However, small grooming sessions must be timely given that they include nail trimmings, ear cleaning, and giving baths.
Note: Papillons are delicate and fragile, and therefore the maintenance sessions must be kept concise and prudent.
10. Don’t Forget to Train Them!
Papillons are like human babies who love to poke their fingers in everything, get excited at one moment, and get sad at the other moment.
Despite the fact Paps are friendly, intelligent, alert, and happy-go-lucky, they can be subtle and aggressive. Therefore, it is recommended to train them to avoid terrible behaviors.
P.S. Papillons are intelligent and never have a tough time learning things.
Common Health Problems in Papillons
The Papillon dog breed is the healthiest dog, with a 13 to 15 years life expectancy. These dogs are popular for their butterfly-like look and low shedding coat, making them a perfect toy pet suitable for allergies.
These dogs are smaller in size and are fragile as monkeys. This toy breed is prone to serious injuries or health issues when not taken care of.
Like every other dog breed, Papillons are also prone to some common health problems. It is necessary to consider health issues before entering into a long-term relationship.
Below are the common health issues found among Papillons;
1.  Dental Disease
Most people are unaware that the mouth can be the root cause of multiple diseases.
Many owners are heedless of their Pap’s dental cleanliness, which causes multiple problems. The condition can become severe over time and hampers eating and drinking habits.
Dental disease in papillons starts with tartar building up on the teeth, leading to gum disease and tooth decay.
When ignored in dogs, the dental problem can lead to damaged kidneys, liver, heart, and joints. This also reduces the pup’s lifespan. And who wants their pup’s life to be cut down? None, right?
Here are some tips to take to maintain the dental well-being of a Papillon.
- Feed your Pap a healthy and hygienic food that he enjoys
- Timely brush their teeth. It is good to clean their teeth once or twice a week. This prevents tartar and cavity formation in teeth, which is the root cause of multiple diseases.
- It is also necessary to vaccinate your dogs on time. This reduces further problems and ensures your pup stays healthy and happy.
2.  Obesity
Papillons weigh between 4 to 9 pounds. These dogs are small in size and thus don’t require much exercise. However, when these puppies are overfed they are suspected of gaining weight.
Obesity in puppies can result in a number of health issues, including cancer, arthritis, respiratory problems, and more, which shorten their life expectancy.
To ensure your pup is healthy and maintains appropriate weight, it is necessary to follow a balanced diet, avoid junk foods, doesn’t consume many sweets, and exercise regularly.
3.  Parasites
There are a number of worms and bugs that can invade your furry friend’s body, inside and out. They include fleas, ticks, ear mites, and other parasites. These parasites may cause pain, discomfort, and even death.
It is recommended to consult a vet on a regular basis to avoid future problems.
4.  Allergies
In humans, an allergic response to pollen, mold, or dust can cause sneezing and eye itching.
Similarly, Papillons also respond to some things that cause allergies. Commonly, the feet, belly, and ears are most affected. Symptoms typically start between one and three years old and can get worse every year!
Paps react to allergic reactions by licking their paws, rubbing their face, and sometimes showing aggressive behavior.
It is suggested to consult a vet as soon as you observe pups licking and rubbing themselves.
Papillon Health Issues
Besides the common health problem that is almost in every breed, Papillons inherit some diseases from their ancestors. These diseases cant be completely treated; however, timely vet consultation can reduce the effect to an extent.
Some of the problems inherited by Papillons are;
- Knee problems with ligament tear
- Kneecap problem
- Liver issue
- Bleeding disorder
- Heart disease
- Eye problems
- Retained puppy teeth
- Bladder or kidney stones
- Epilepsy
- Thyroid
- Deafness
- And more
Note: Though Paps can inherit a number of diseases from their forefathers, this doesn’t make them any less. Their charismatic personality still tops the list.
Final Words on the Butterfly Dog
Papillons are everyone’s favorite. Their toy-like size and butterfly appearance make them outstanding among all dog breeds. Their amazing temperament and personality make them perfect family dogs.
If you’re also looking to get one of those furry pups, don’t wait because they are worth the price.
Happy petting!
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References and Further Reading:
American Kennel Club Papillon Dog Information
