Papillon

The Royal Kennel Club standard describes the Papillon as lively, intelligent and friendly, with no aggression and always alert. The club stresses that this elegant, fine-boned breed is highly intelligent and competes in obedience and agility with great success. The AKC also describes the Papillon as curious, quick, happy and friendly; despite its refined looks, it's a hardy "doggy dog."

So it would be a mistake to think of the Papillon as just a lap dog. It's a small dog that loves to run, play and learn new things, and enjoys doing things together with its people.

The Papillon is a good choice for people who want to do things like walks, games and training together with a small dog, and who spend a good amount of time at home.

According to UFAW, all toy breeds are prone to fractures of the lower foreleg bones, most commonly from falling out of the owner's arms or jumping down from a height. Teach children to pet the dog while sitting on the floor. Our article on kids and dogs at home has more tips.

The Royal Kennel Club introduces the Papillon as the dainty "butterfly dog" of France and Belgium, a breed known in Europe as a dwarf spaniel. According to the club, the name "épagneul nain continental" (continental dwarf spaniel) suggests that the earliest dogs had drop ears, so the first examples may have looked like today's drop-eared Phalène. The FCI also lists France and Belgium together as the breed's origin.

The Papillon and Phalène were hugely popular in Europe's royal courts; according to the Royal Kennel Club, Madame de Pompadour and Queen Marie Antoinette were among their owners. Today in the UK, both varieties are registered as one breed, and puppies can be recorded as Phalène on registration.

A dainty, well-balanced, fine-boned little dog with an alert bearing and an intelligent expression. Its most distinctive feature is its ears: according to the Royal Kennel Club standard, they are very large, mobile, round-tipped and heavily fringed; when erect, each forms an angle of about 45 degrees to the head, like the spread wings of a butterfly. In the Phalène, the ears hang down completely.

• Height: According to the Royal Kennel Club, 20–28 cm (8–11 in) at the shoulder; the FCI gives about 28 cm.
• Weight: The AKC gives 5–10 pounds (2.3–4.5 kg). The FCI defines two categories: under 2.5 kg, and 2.5–4.5 kg (up to 5 kg in females), with a minimum of 1.5 kg.
• Coat: According to the standards, there's no undercoat; the coat is long, fine, silky and wavy (not curly). There's an abundant frill on the chest and long fringes on the backs of the legs, the thighs and the tail; the hair on the face and the fronts of the legs is short.
• Color: Colored patches on a white base. The Royal Kennel Club accepts any color except liver, and tricolors too; a narrow white blaze down the middle of the head, representing the butterfly's body, is desirable but not essential.

The Royal Kennel Club recommends grooming the Papillon more than once a week, which is less than the daily grooming many long-coated small breeds need. According to the club, the Papillon does shed.

• Brushing: A few times a week, working through the ear fringes, behind the ears, the chest frill and the long hair on the backs of the legs before knots form.
• Ears: Check the fringed ears weekly and see your vet about any redness, odor or discharge.
• Teeth: In a large 2021 UK study, the risk of gum disease rose as body weight fell. Get your puppy used to tooth brushing early.
• Nails: The nails of small indoor dogs don't wear down enough on their own; trim them regularly.
• Cold: A coat may be needed in cold, wet weather; our article on dogs in cold weather explains how to choose one.

Our dog grooming guide walks you through a brushing and bathing routine step by step.

The Royal Kennel Club recommends up to 30 minutes of exercise a day for the Papillon. But with this breed, the kind of exercise matters too: thanks to its intelligence and agility, it gets a lot of joy out of learning and play.

• Reward-based training: Short, rewarding and varied sessions work best. Trick training, obedience and agility suit it well.
• Care in agility: High jumps and hard landings are risky for fine bones; keep jumps low, especially in puppyhood and while it's still growing.
• Sniffing games: Hunting for hidden treats tires out its mind; our article on sniffing games has ideas.
• Early socialization: Give your puppy positive experiences with different people, sounds and calm dogs.
• Harness: With a small dog, choose a harness that holds the chest and doesn't press on the neck. Our loose-leash training guide teaches walking without pulling.
• Fewer jumps: Put a ramp or steps by the sofa and bed, and hold the dog securely with both hands when you carry it.

A Papillon doesn't need a special food; a complete, balanced dog food suited to its age, size and activity is enough. In such a small dog, even a few extra treats change its weight quickly, so count training treats as part of the daily amount.

• Measure food, and weigh your dog once a month to see changes.
• If you can feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat and see a waist from above, the weight is about right.
• Don't leave a puppy without food for long; plan its meal schedule with your vet.
• Some human foods are toxic to dogs; check our list of foods dogs should never eat.

In the 2024 UK study, the Papillon was among the breeds at lowest risk of early death. The Royal Kennel Club asks breeders to prioritize genetic diversity and to carry out the tests below. The information below is for awareness only; ask your vet about diagnosis and treatment.

Inherited blindness (PRA)

According to Cornell University, the Papillon is among the breeds at risk for progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). The disease is painless, usually starts with weaker night vision and slowly progresses to blindness; because dogs adapt to vision loss, signs can be noticed late. The Royal Kennel Club lists the Papillon-specific PRA DNA test (pap-PRA) among the minimum tests breeders should do. If you notice reluctance to enter a dark room, hesitation on stairs or bumping into door frames, tell your vet.

Neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD)

An inherited nerve disease of puppies that progresses quickly. According to a 2020 study, signs begin at 1–3 months of age: poor coordination, head tremor, trouble getting up, an abnormal gait, difficulty eating and drinking, and blindness. Of 660 Papillons tested in North America and Europe in 2015–2017, 17.5% were carriers without signs; although the gene seems to have become less common in later years, the researchers still recommend testing dogs intended for breeding. The Royal Kennel Club also recommends this DNA test. Because the disease is recessive, an affected puppy can only be born if both parents carry the gene, which is why asking for the parents' results is so important.

Bleeding disorder and eyes

The Royal Kennel Club also recommends a DNA test for von Willebrand disease type 1, which affects blood clotting, and the eye examination scheme. If you notice prolonged bleeding or unexplained bruising, tell your vet.

Problems common to small breeds

According to UFAW, all toy breeds are prone to fractures of the lower foreleg bones, and these fractures can heal poorly in small breeds. In UK studies from 2016 and 2021, gum disease and slipping kneecaps were also more common in small, light dogs. Regular dental care and a home that's safe from falls matter with this breed too.

A 2024 UK study using data from about 585,000 dogs from 18 sources found a median lifespan of 14.5 years (confidence interval 14.1–14.9) for the Papillon; for crossbred dogs, the figure was 12.0 years. The Papillon was counted among the breeds at lowest risk of early death in this study. The AKC gives a life expectancy of 14–16 years for the breed.

A median lifespan means half of the dogs died before that age and half after it, so many Papillons live past 15. Dental care, a healthy weight, a safe home and regular vet checkups are the most practical ways to help a Papillon enjoy that long life in comfort.

• Consider a shelter: Purebred dogs end up in shelters and rescues too. Our article on adopting a shelter dog covers the first steps.
• If you buy from a breeder: See the mother with her puppies at home. Ask for the parents' pap-PRA, NAD and von Willebrand DNA test results and eye examination results. As the Royal Kennel Club stresses, choose breeders who avoid mating close relatives and care about genetic diversity.
• Extreme smallness: The FCI standard sets a minimum weight of 1.5 kg. Be wary of ads selling especially tiny puppies as "mini," "teacup" or "pocket": the Royal Kennel Club doesn't recognize any teacup breed and notes that breathing, bone, joint, heart and stomach problems are more likely in dogs bred to be extra small.
• Red flags: Steer clear of sellers who won't show you the mother, always have puppies available, can't provide paperwork or rush you to "buy now."
• Registration: Rules vary by country; many places require or recommend microchipping. In Türkiye, owned dogs must be microchipped and registered in the PETVET system.
• The first days: Our guide to bringing a puppy home walks you through the first night and first week.