Papillon

The Papillon is a toy spaniel named for its ears — papillon is French for butterfly, and the fringed, upright ears fan out like wings. The drop-eared variety is called the Phalène.

History

It is one of the oldest toy breeds in Europe, a fixture at the feet of nobility in French and Italian portraits for centuries. It was bred purely as a companion, and the erect "butterfly" ear was fixed later, alongside the older drop-eared form.

Temperament

The breed is known for being lively, bright and friendly — one of the most trainable of the toys, with far more energy and confidence than its size suggests. It bonds closely and enjoys being busy.

Care and training

Despite its size it wants real exercise and mental work, and it excels at obedience and agility, taking eagerly to reward-based training. The long silky single coat has no undercoat, sheds little and needs only regular brushing.

Health

Known tendencies include patellar luxation, dental crowding in the small mouth, and inherited eye conditions such as progressive retinal atrophy. These are patterns for the breed rather than a verdict on one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.