Papillon

The Papillon is the erect-eared form of the Continental Toy Spaniel, a toy-sized spaniel from Belgium and France. Papillon is French for butterfly, after the shape of the ears. The other form, the Phalène, has ears that hang down, and its name is French for moth. The two are identical in every other way, and the FCI and the American Kennel Club treat them as one breed.

History

Small lapdogs of spaniel type appear in paintings from the sixteenth century onward, in works by Titian, Veronese, Mignard, Watteau and Fragonard, among others. The drop-eared Phalène is probably a throwback to the breed’s spaniel ancestors.

The American Kennel Club first recognised the Papillon in 1935, when the Papillon Club of America was formed. The club lapsed by the end of World War II and was revived in 1948.

In 1999 a Papillon called Kirby became the first of the breed to win Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club show, a year after winning the World Dog Show in Helsinki. In 2019 a dog called Dylan became the first Papillon to win Best in Show at Crufts.

Appearance

The Papillon stands no more than about 28 cm (11 in) at the withers. There are two weight classes, 1.5–2.5 kg and 2.5–5 kg.

The coat is long, fine and wavy, in a single layer. It is mostly white, with patches of any color. Only on the head does color cover more than the white.

The upright ears of the Papillon are the more common of the two ear types.

Temperament

Papillons do well in obedience and agility competition as well as in the show ring.

Care and health

A 2024 study in the United Kingdom found a life expectancy of 14.5 years for the breed, well above the average for purebred dogs.

Health concerns are mostly minor. Patellar luxation, seizures and dental problems can occur, and the breed can be at risk of progressive retinal atrophy, intervertebral disk disease and allergies.

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