Appearance
Papillons (Pronounced PAP-ee-yon) are white with markings of any color except liver. The most distinctive aspect of the Papillon is its large ears, which are well fringed with colored (not white) silky hair. The color covers both eyes and the front and back of the ears to give the ideal butterfly look. A white blaze and noseband on the face is preferred. Tricolours should be black and white, with tan spots over eyes, inside ears and under the tail.
There are two ear variations of this breed, the completely upright ears of the more common Papillon, and the dropped spaniel-like ears of the Phalène. The AKC considers the Phalène and the Papillon the same breed. Countries whose breed clubs follow the FCI standard consider Papillons and Phalènes two separate breeds.
The Papillon coat is abundant, long, and silky. There is no undercoat. Ears are well-fringed with the inside covered with silken hair of medium length. Tail is long, well-fringed, set on high, arched over back with fringes falling to side to form plume. The head is slightly rounded between the ears, and the muzzle is fine, tapering, and narrower than the skull with an abrupt stop.
The accepted standard size varies slightly among different organizations' breed standards, but it generally ranges from 8 inches (20 cm) to 11 inches (28 cm) at the withers. papillons usually weigh from 6 to 10 pounds (3-5kg).
Temperament
The Papillon has the appearance of a dainty toy breed, but many owners will claim that their dogs act like big dogs in small dogs' bodies. The Papillion is hardy; some people find that their Papillon is very capable of handling a good five-mile walk. Others believe the reality is that their Papillon will resist such an outing if the grass is somewhat damp, or if there are two clouds in the sky that might lead to rain.
Some Papillon owners believe that their dogs interpret any new event as having been put on for their benefit, and that the dogs do their best to be attentive hosts or hostesses. Another aspect of the Papillon that has led many to believe the "big dog" assertion is this breed's surprising athletic ability. Perhaps people are surprised that in contrast to its staid and stately representation in the Old Master portraits, the Papillon is highly energetic and intelligent (Stanley Coren, in The Intelligence of Dogs, rates the Papillon eighth among all breeds). This makes Papillons very easy to train as they are so quick to learn. Provided their genetic structure is sound and they are healthy, Papillons are built for movement, and most do not need any encouragement to apply their energy to athletic activities.
The papillon is considered to be a "wash and wear" breed. A pet at home can be as well-groomed as a dog in the show ring, with minimal attention. In order to make a Papillon coat really shine to its fullest, it should be brushed once a day. A premium diet also aids in coat texture and shine. As puppies, papillons have silky, medium length fur. They go through an "Ugly Baby stage," in which they lose much of their baby fur and grow in their adult fur.
History
The History of the Papillon is traced through works of art. The earliest toy spaniels resembling the Papillon are found in Italy. Tiziano Vicelli (Titian) painted these small dogs in many famous paintings including the Venus of Urbino (1542). Other well known artists who included them in paintings are Watteau, Gonzalez Coques, Fragonard and Mignard. In a painting after Largillierre in the Wallace Collection in London, a Papillon is clearly shown in a family portrait of Louis XIV. Papillons are also in paintings of royal families around Europe and paintings of merchant class families. The breed was popular in England, France, and Belgium which are considered counties of origin by the FCI.
There are many stories about the Papillon. Marie Antoinette was said to have walked to the guillotine clutching her small dog under her arm. Tradition has it that her dog was a small spaniel that had been brought to the French court from Spain on the back of pack mules. According to the story, her pup was spared and cared for in a building in Paris still called the Papillon House. Marie's small spaniel was said to have descended from a very old drop-eared breed known as the Epagneul Nain Continental, or Continental Dwarf/Toy Spaniel that appeared in church frescos and paintings as early as the 13th century.
The Papillon is still officially referred to as the Epagneul Nain Continental (ENC) in non-English-speaking countries. The name Squirrel Spaniel also has been used, most likely referring to an earlier standard in which the tail set is described as "curling over the back as a squirrel's." One version of the history of the two varieties of ear shape in the ENC ("Papillon" to denote the erect ear and "Phalène" to denote the dropped ear) is that toward the end of the 19th century, breed fanciers bred a version of the spaniel whose ears stood up. This dog was said to have been nicknamed papillon based on the impressively large, erect ears that resembled the wings of a butterfly. The drop-eared variety of the breed came to be called the Phalène (which means "night moth"). Both types are still bred today and appear in the same litter. The Papillon variety is much more common, although recently the Phalène has undergone a resurgence in popularity.
Professor Ludvic von Schulmuth studied canine origins by studying the skeletal remains of dogs found in human settlements as long as ten thousand years ago. The Professor created a genealogical tree of Tibetan dogs that shows the "Gobi Desert Kitchen Midden Dog", a scavenger, evolved into the "Small Soft-Coated Drop-Eared Hunting Dog". From this dog evolved the Tibetan Spaniel, Pekingese, and Japanese Chin. Another branch coming down from the "Kitchen Midden Dog" gave rise to the Papillon and Long-haired Chihuahua and yet another "Kitchen Midden Dog" branch to the Pug and Shih Tzu.It is very cute
Activities
In recent years, the Papillon has become a small dog star in the sport of dog agility. This sport consists of an obstacle course with tunnels, jumps, A-frames, and narrow bridges that a dog completes at top speed aided only by verbal and body-language commands from a handler. Agility requires the dog to spring, scramble, weave, and turn on a dime. The breed is considered naturally agile, and Papillons compete at both national and international trials. Because many Papillons have intense drive and natural speed, their tiny turning radius gives them an edge over larger dogs, and some Papillons are capable of beating Border Collie speeds on some courses. At the same time, Papillons excel in companionship and lap dog sweepstakes, and take it very seriously.
Others have experienced Papillons as highly companionable—yet physically active—dogs requiring appropriate socialization, consistent and monitored exercise, continued training (which also serves to stimulate their active minds), and daily, proactive human-to-canine interaction.
Health
The Papillon is a fairly healthy breed, but like all dog breeds there are some health problems that are known to occur. Von Willebrand's disease can occur in Papillons. This hereditary coagulation abnormality is described in humans, although it can also be acquired as a result of other medical conditions. Luxating patella is not uncommon in small dogs, such as Papillions. It causes the kneecap to dislocate, and affects Papillons from 4 to 6 months. Mitral valve disease is a congenital heart defect that occurs in Papillons and affects the aortic, pulmonary, mitral, and tricuspid heart valves. Finally, Progressive retinal atrophy is a genetic disease of the retina sometimes found in the breed.
Famous Papillon owners
- King Henry II allegedly spent upwards of 100,000 crowns on his papillons.
- Marie Antoinette owned a Papillon, as well as Madame de Pompadour and Henry III, who had a very strong devotion to the breed.
- Actress Autumn Reeser of The O.C. owns a Papillon named Gatsby after the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
- Tech expert Leo Laporte owns a Papillon named Ozzie.
- Christina Aguilera owns two Papillon dogs, Chewy and Stinky.
- George Takei, Mr. Sulu from Star Trek and official announcer of the Howard Stern Show on Sirius 100 owned a Papillon Renne
- John Carmer and Amanda Titus own two Papillons by the names of Rocko and Spunky named after the characters in Rocko's Modern Life.
- Porn star Ron Jeremy has two Papillons, named Jenna and Tiffany. They can be seen in background of some of his movies.
- TV character Edna Birch from emmerdale has a papillion named tootsie
Papillons in pop culture
- Mary, Queen of Scots has a Papillon in the Emmy-Award winning series Elizabeth I.
- Forthcoming album by alternative rockband "Inme" features a bonus track called "papillons stalemate".
The Twilight Singers had a song called "Papillon" on their album Blackberry Belle.
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