Papillons are gentle and friendly little dogs that love to be around children and other animals. They do well in obedience school, learn quickly and love to please.

Papillons are an ideal dog for families who live in apartments or small houses and perfect for people with sedentary lifestyles such as the elderly or handicapped.

Appearance of the Papillon

Papillons have a thick flowing coat of long, fine, silky, straight hair. It is usually mostly white with patterned patches of almost any other color. Most common are black, red or tan.

The typical papillon stands about 8 to 10 inches high and weighes 8 to 10 pounds. You can expect them to live active and fun lives of about 12 to 15 years.

Grooming and Exercise Needs of the Papillons

Papillons need to be brushed and groomed 2 to 3 times a week and need to have their coat trimmed every 2 to 3 months.

They do not require a lot of exercise. A long brisk walk a day and a good game of fetch will do just fine. Most papillons love walking, especially through parks and woods.

Origins of the Papillon

The Papillon gets its unusual name from its unusually shaped ears. Their ears are shaped like a butterfly and "papillon" means "butterfly" in French.

The Papillons appeared in the later 17th century as a companion to European royalty. Both Marie Antoinette and Madame de Pompadour (yes, the hairstyle is named for her) were said to have owned Papillons.

papillons appear in numerous Italian frescoes and paintings of the era -- including ones by such famous artists as Rubens, Titian and Rembrandt.

One health note -- Papillons are prone to deafness.