The Papillon is the French word for butterfly, the breed owes its name to its large ears which when looked at from the front resemble the wings of a butterfly. They are a small dog with an intelligent look about them. There are commonly white with areas of different colours, although light brown, tan, is unusual. As a small dog they can grow to approximately, 8-11 inches and weigh between 7 and 10 pounds. Even though they have a fairly abundant coat, it is very easy to maintain.

History. The Papillon is a very old breed of dog, which was first seen in Europe in the 13th century, although at that time it was known as the dwarf Spaniel. Evidence of this breeds existence can be seen in some 13th century paintings, mostly Italian during the Renaissance period. The appearance of the breed has changed little since these times. In the past they have also been known as the squirrel Spaniel, this was pursuant to the long fringe on the dog's tail. They were first recognized, in America, as a breed in 1915.

Temperament. Papillon is a playful dog and can be quite entertaining; they are lively and enjoy playing out of doors. They are intelligent and friendly dogs, which makes them fairly easy to train, and they do enjoy having cuddles and being made a fuss of. They do not tend to yap and socialise well with other pets in the house, this includes cats. They are a proud and patient dog, although they do have a bit of a stubborn streak, which means the dog must know that you are in control. If they believe they are in control then behaviour problems will occur.

Health issues. Generally speaking Papillon is a healthy relatively long living breed with a lifespan of 12 to 16 years. There are, however, a few common problems one of which is with the kneecaps, but this is fairly common in most Toy dog breeds. Another condition fairly common to the breed is teeth and gum disorders. They can also suffer from progressive retinal atrophy, which once diagnosed will require treatment from your vet. Neuroaxonal dystrophy disease has recently also been noticed in the Papillon breed, but this is a fairly new and far from common.

Grooming. For your dog to remain clean, tidy, and un-matted, it is a good idea to brush them or combed them daily. As they are a long haired breed tangles and knots in the hair can be common, but with adequate combing this should not be a problem. Again for health and hygiene reasons you should bath your dog or use a dry shampoo, as required. Papillons are generally clean dogs and have no particular odour.

Living conditions. They are quite happy to live in towns, cities, or rural locations. However, it should be noted that they are a particularly protective dog this can cause problems if you live in an apartment, as the Papillon will have a tendency to bark when he hears noises, such as people walking in the corridors or passed your apartment. As a sociable dog they enjoy being with people as much as possible and will probably sit on or near their owner whenever possible.