Introduction

A papillon is a small, elegant dog with big ears who has been around since the 17th century. He’s also known as the butterfly dog because of his two-tone face and long, silky coat. Let’s take a look at this little guy’s history and how you can tell if one is right for you!

A papillon is a small and fragile looking dog with big, erect ears. The most striking thing about him is his two-tone face. His long, silky hair has a white base color, but on the lower part of his face it’s another color: tan, black, red or even sable.

The papillon is a small and fragile looking dog with big, erect ears. The most striking thing about him is his two-tone face. His long, silky hair has a white base color, but on the lower part of his face it’s another color: tan, black, red or even sable.

Papillons don’t have much body mass compared to other breeds which makes them easy to carry around – they weigh around 7-13 pounds when fully grown – but they are strong enough to run at high speeds thanks to their long legs (for their size). They also have an excellent sense of balance thanks to their upright tail that acts like a rudder in flight mode!

​Origins

The papillon is a French breed. In fact, it is one of the most ancient dog breeds that we have today. The papillon was developed in the 17th century, and it is a descendant of the spaniel. This means that it has been around for hundreds of years!

The papillon’s origins are shrouded in mystery, but most believe that they descended from Pomeranian or German Spitz bloodlines due to their similar appearances and personalities.

This pretty fellow was loved by ladies and known as “The dog of the ladies”. One of these ladies was Madame de Pompadour, who sat for a famous painting with her pet papillon by François Boucher in 1756.

This pretty fellow was loved by ladies and known as “The dog of the ladies”. One of these ladies was Madame de Pompadour, who sat for a famous painting with her pet papillon by François Boucher in 1756.

In this painting, you can see this dog wearing a silk ribbon on its neck with the words “La Papillona” inscribed on it. This word is translated to mean butterfly in Spanish; hence, the name Papillon (pronounced Papa-yawn).

​Physical Characteristics

• The papillon is a small dog, but not a toy breed. He stands up to 11 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 7 and 10 pounds. This is an active dog with an elegant gait that can be quick or slow depending on his mood.
• His coat tends to be curly, silky and long, growing longer around his tail area. He may also have hair on his face in the form of a mustache and eyebrows (this is called “papillon markings”).

In spite of his looks he is not a toy dog like the Pomeranian or Chihuahua, but a miniature spaniel. He stands up to 11 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 7 and 10 pounds. He has a long, silky coat that tends to be curled over his back. It comes in all colors except black, white or liver (brown). His large ears should stand straight up at the top of his head, one on either side of his face. Advances in breeding have produced papillons with rose ears (folding down) or even drop ears. The AKC recognizes all three ear types; however fanciers prefer erect ears. Any solid color goes well with white and there is no preference for one pairing over another.

The papillon is a small dog with a long, silky coat that comes in all colors except black, white or liver (brown). The AKC recognizes all three ear types; however fanciers prefer erect ears.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. The papillon has all the good looks of a toy dog—except he’s not a toy. He’s a handsome, lively little beast who is full of character and will keep you entertained for years to come!