Papillon Overview

There are few dogs whose appearance says "I'm fancy" quite like the papillon. With their teensy-tiny size, silky soft coat, and distinctive large ears that give the breed its name (papillon is French for "butterfly"), the papillon has been one of the favored dogs of royalty and artists for nearly 600 years. Papillons are small dogs, typically standing 8-11 inches tall at the shoulder and weighing 4-8 pounds. Papillons are intelligent and eager to please the humans they have bonded with.

 

Appearance

The most striking feature on the papillon is there ears. Naturally large in size and standing upright, they are covered in long, feathered hair that frames there face in big fans that look like butterfly wings. A less-common version is born with pendant ears (also called "drop ears") and commonly referred to as phaléne (French for "moth"). But the dogs are otherwise identical, The ears are a matter of personal preference, so they are not considered a fault or defect if dropped. Puppies with each type can appear in the same litter.