Papillon Complete Breed Guide

Belgium is famous for two things: chocolate and the fabulous Papillon pup. Small and charming, this lovable breed will instantly warm up to their owners, and they make great companions for young families.

Papillons are a small breed (even for toy pups), but their boisterous personality and their long, white hair makes them an irresistible part of any family. They are very affectionate and love to be the center of attention. Their easy going nature and fast friendship with other pets and children make them a wonderful addition to any household. They are delicate, small, and full of charm and are sometimes called the "butterfly dog" because of their fine feathery hairs on their ears that look like wings. Papillons need a loving, firm owner that will help them fit in and prevent them from ruling the roost.

Lifestyle & Living Conditions

Papillons are very intelligent, and their smarts and willingness to learn makes training relatively easy. They respond best to a gentle training approach and are good with children and other household pets, as long as they've been trained to respect one another. These dogs typically have longer than average lifespans, meaning you'll have a close friend for a long time. They are small, but they tend to be a bit yappy, so they might not be a good fit for apartment life.

Exercise & Activity

The Papillon will adapt to their family’s lifestyle and do not require tons of exercise. They need a daily walk and a bit of play time to cover their exercise needs. They don't need a ton of space to run, but they do like to get outside and play occasionally.

The Papillon is very affectionate and becomes easily attached to their owners. They can sometimes get jealous if they don't feel that their receiving enough attention, but overall, they are gentle, patient, and cuddly. They can even be trained to perform some small tricks. These little dogs can be trained to live happily together with cats and other animals, but they must be trained to follow proper pack leader rules, otherwise they will want to become the boss. Therefore, a kind, firm leader is important to ensure your pup's happiness. Papillons get along with children, but they must learn together to respect one another.

Papillons have have long white, hair with partlially colored patches of brown, black, or tannish-red. Their coat does require frequent (e.g. weekly) and thorough brushing to remove dead hairs, especially around their ears, to keep them healthy and free from matting. Bathe these dogs only as needed in order to avoid drying out their skin.