Dog Breed

Papillon

Braniac
Primary image of Papillon dog breed
Full Name
Papillon
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Life Span
13 - 17 years
Weight
3 - 12 pounds
Description

Hardy, Friendly, Energetic, Alert, Intelligent, Happy

Origin
France
Belgium
Spain
Bred For
Lapdog
Attachments
    Family Considerations
    Child Friendly

    Is the Papillon good with children?

    Unfortunately, the Papillon is not automatically well suited with children and we would not recommend for homes with very small children unless early socialization with children is taken seriously.
    Stranger Friendly

    Is the Papillon friendly with strangers?

    The Papillon is about average in how friendly they are with strangers. They can be timid or protective, but with proper training and socialization can be fine for any household.
    Dog Friendly

    Is the Papillon friendly with other dogs?

    The Papillon is not naturally friendly with other dogs, but with a good amount of early socialization as a puppy they can learn to get along with most breeds of dog. Proper training is required before letting the Papillon go off-leash or to dog parks.
    Likes to Cuddle

    Does the Papillon like to cuddle?

    The Papillon loves physical affection and cuddles. If you're looking for a cuddle partner you may have found the one!
    Playfulness

    Does the Papillon like to play?

    The Papillon will almost always be ready for play! The Papillon is great for a family with children, or otherwise, an environment that is always ready for play.
    Service Dog Ability

    Does the Papillon make a good service dog?

    Historically, the Papillon has never been used as a service dog and really would not be a good fit.
    Overall Ease of Breed
    Ease for Novice

    Is the Papillon good for first-time owners?

    The Papillon is not the easiest breed for first-time owners, but can certainly still work out if the owner is willing to put the time into training and exercise.
    Training Potential

    How well can the Papillon be trained?

    The Papillon is about average when it comes to training potential. The Papillon can be seen in competitions and can have advanced training, but it would require much dedication and oftentimes professional training.
    Amount of Shedding

    Does the Papillon shed a lot?

    The Papillon does shed, but less than average.
    Ease of Grooming

    Is the Papillon easy to groom?

    The Papillon requires a good amount of grooming work. It is possible to do it yourself, but you need to plan on dedicating weekly grooming sessions at the minimum.
    Exercise Need

    Does the Papillon need a lot of exercise?

    The Papillon requires some daily exercise, but daily walks should be enough. The Papillon appreciates going outside and on daily walks, but they will be ok without anything overly athletic.
    Personality
    Intelligence

    How smart is the Papillon?

    The Papillon has average intelligence. They are smart and witty, but do not need to be constantly challenged mentally, as some other breeds.
    Amount of Barking

    How much does the Papillon bark? Does the Papillon bark too much?

    The Papillon barks a lot. This is important to consider with your living situation- will it be ok when you leave them at home alone or will they disrupt the neighbors? The Papillon will oftentimes bark just to express their thoughts... even just to be heard!
    Guard Dog Ability

    Is the Papillon a good guard dog?

    The Papillon is not typically used as a guard dog, although they can be alert and oftentimes notify you if there is a stranger at the door or otherwise something to be concerned over.
    Tolerates Being Alone

    Is the Papillon good at staying alone? Is the Papillon independent?

    The Papillon considers their owner part of the "pack" and hates being left behind. This can be a good thing for someone looking for an emotional support dog who is loyal and always by their side, but bad if the dog will need to be left at home alone for extended periods.
    Home and Environment Considerations
    Good for Apartment Living

    Is the Papillon a good apartment dog?

    The Papillon is an excellent dog breed for an apartment. Some daily exercise is still important, but if they get that then the apartment will be more than enough for them to call home.
    Size

    How big is the Papillon?

    The Papillon is one of the smallest dog breeds- suited well for apartment living and very convenient for travel.
    Tolerates Heat

    How much does the Papillon tolerate hot weather? When is it too hot for a Papillon?

    The Papillon can tolerate some heat, but should not be over-exposed to hot weather. In general, they can live in hot weather climates, but would do best with air conditioning or at least a fan in their home, especially where they sleep.
    Tolerates Cold

    How much does the Papillon tolerate cold weather? When is it too cold for a Papillon?

    The Papillon does not tolerate cold weather at all, and we would not recommend having a Papillon if you live in a cold weather climate.
    Potential to Run Away

    Does the Papillon try to run away?

    The Papillon is very unlikely to run away. Of course, precautions should always be taken, and every dog is unique, but with a Papillon it is very likely they will naturally follow you, even when they are off-leash.
    Physical Characteristics
    General Health

    Is the Papillon a healthy dog? The health of a Papillon should be measured not just by how many years they live, but also by how many health issues they've had. It is important to know which health conditions your breed is prone to- hip problems, eye problems, bloating, and arthritis are all common dog health problems.

    The Papillon is very healthy, but it is still important to feed the Papillon high-quality food and to live a healthy lifestyle.
    Energy Level

    How energetic is the Papillon?

    The Papillon has some energy and requires daily walks, but overall the Papillon has less energy than average.
    Amount of Drooling

    How much does the Papillon drool?

    The Papillon does not drool at all.
    Prey Drive

    Does the Papillon have a large prey drive? Does the Papillon like to chase birds, cats, and other small animals?

    The Papillon has some prey drive, so should not be left alone with very small animals such as birds, mice, or gerbils, but with some gradual introduction should be fine living with a cat in the same home.
    Athleticism

    Is the Papillon atheltic?

    The Papillon can have athletic moments, and bursts of speed, but does not have the endurance as other highly athletic dog breeds. They would do great for occasional jogs, but probably not the best for long-distance runs or anything more athletic than that.
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  1. Toy
  2. Papillon
The Papillon is a purebred dog that falls within the larger Toy dog breed group.
Toy group: Toy dogs are primarily characterized by their very small size. But don't let that fool you- if anything their personality and tenacity is higher than the average dog. In fact, even their protective instincts are above average! In fact, because of that it is crucial they get socialization with children and other dogs from an early age. Perhaps out of all dog groups, the toy dog group is the most difficult to put sub-groups into, since the sub groups also include larger dogs, and fall under other groupings. For example, the Pomeranian is a Toy Spitz dog, but there are also large Spitz dogs such as the Samoyed. Because the toy dog is both small and primarily bred for home companionship, they make excellent additions for a wide range of families. There are also practical benefits with toy dogs- they are great for apartment living, and traveling. Toy dogs are also loyal and love to cuddle, making them the ideal lap dog.

Papillons for adoption

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