The
Papillon (from the French word for butterfly), also called the Continental Toy
Spaniel, is a breed of dog of the Spaniel type. One of the oldest of the toy
spaniels, it derives its name from its characteristic butterfly like look of
the long and fringed hair on the ears. A Papillon with dropped ears is called a
Phalène (French for moth). The small head is slightly rounded between the ears
with a well defined stop. The muzzle is somewhat short, thin tapering to the nose.
The dark, medium-sized, round eyes have thin black rims, often extending at the
junction of the eyelids towards the ears. The large ears can either be erect or
dropped with rounded tips. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The long tail is
set high carried over the body, and covered with long, fine hair. Dewclaws are
sometimes removed. The straight, long, fine, single coat has extra frill on the
chest, ears, back of the legs and the tail. Coat color is white with patches of
any color. A mask of a color other than white covers both ears and eyes from
back to front.
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 painted
these small dogs in many famous paintings beginning around 1500 including the
Venus of Urbino (1542). Other well known artists who included them in paintings
are Watteau, Gonzales Coques, Fragonard, Paolo Veronese, 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 countries of origin by the FCI.
The
"Titian spaniels" and those portrayed by later artists through
Mignard and his contemporaries had the drooping ears characteristic of today's
Phalène; it was not until the end of the 19th century that the erect-eared appearance
became fashionable and gave the breed's modern name, Papillon, French for
"butterfly". The Titian spaniels were also exclusively red-and-white
in coloration, in contrast to the many recognized colorations of today's
Papillon.
The
Papillon's history and long association with royalty have led to many stories
about the breed. Marie Antoinette is said to have walked to the guillotine
clutching her small dog under her arm, likely an apocryphal tale. However,
tradition has it that Marie Antoinette's 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 Antoinette's dog was said to have descended from a
very old drop-eared breed known as the Epagneul Nain, 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 (ENC) in
non-English-speaking countries.[9] 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.
The
papillon was first recognized by the AKC in 1935 with the formation of the
Papillon Club of America. By the end of the war, the club was no longer
functioning, but it was reactivated in 1948, with its first post war specialty
held in September 1954. In 1999, Ch. Loteki Supernatural Being (call name
"Kirby") owned and handled by John Oulton of Norwalk, Connecticut,
became the first papillon to win the prestigious "Best in Show" at
the annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show. Kirby also won international
success for the breed by taking the World Dog Show in Helsinki, Finland, and
the Royal Invitational in Canada in 1998. Papillons also enjoy success today in
competitive fields outside of conformation, including obedience and agility.
Appearance and behavior
The
Papillon is a very intelligent and self-assured dog that has a very easy time
learning new tricks. This dog can be sociable with children and strangers, but
is generally reserved around new people. They can also be socialized to get
along well with other pets, but care should be taken with rambunctious pets or
cats with claws as they may injure it. If not properly socialized, Papillons
can be distrustful and exhibit aggressive tendencies toward other dogs and
people. Papillons may also be very playful and affectionate. Widely known as
great companion dogs, they have the spirit and energy to keep up with active
families, but can also be calm enough to be happy with sleeping in the arms of
an equally affectionate owner. Due to their high energy level, they demand an
augmented exercise routine, relative to the average companion breed. Papillons
are known as excellent watchdogs as they will alert their owner to changes in
their environment. They may be considered garrulous like many other toy dogs.
The Papillon can withstand heat but is more sensitive to cold temperatures
because of their single-coated fur, and should not be left outside unattended in
cold weather.
Temperament
The
temperament of a papillon is a happy, friendly, adventurous dog. They are not
shy or aggressive.
Life span
Papillons
can live up to 17 years. A 2002 Papillon Club of America survey puts the
average age of their members' deceased Papillons at 11.45 years.
Health
Papillons
have only minor health concerns although patellar luxation, seizures, and dental
problems can be issues. Additionally they can be at risk for PRA, intervertebral
disk disease, and allergies.
Exercise
Like
any other dog, Papillons need a daily walk. Play will take care of a lot of
their exercise needs; however, as with all breeds, play is not sufficient for
all exercise. Daily walks or runs are an excellent way to exercise a Papillon.
They will also enjoy a good romp in a safe open area off leash, such as a large
fenced in yard. Papillons are a very active breed of dog and enjoy having a job
to perform. Papillon Breeders recommend dog agility, Rally obedience, Obedience
for Papillons because of their intelligence and energy level.
