Papillon
Papillon fanciers describe the breed as happy, alert, and friendly, with a quick, curious nature and upbeat athleticism. One of the best, brightest, and most animated of the toy breeds, the Papillon loves training and makes a superior athlete.
8-11 inches tall, 5-10 pounds
14-16 years
Bred for centuries as companions; must be allowed to devote their lives to you; don't want to be without you, so take them along whenever you can
Long and silky; single coat with no downy undercoat, so it does not mat as easily as long coats on many other breeds
Upbeat athleticism; highly motivated to move; makes a superior athlete
Toy
Temperament
Papillons are described as happy, alert, and friendly, with a quick and curious nature. They rank among the brightest and most animated of the toy breeds, and many have earned obedience and agility titles. They are one of the easiest toy breeds to train and are highly motivated to move.
Because they have been bred for centuries as companions, Papillons want to be with their people. They travel well and do not want to be without you, so a working household should plan to bring the dog along whenever possible. Many Papillons get along well with cats.
Some Papillons tend to be shy, so early exposure to different people, pets, and places helps build confidence. They are small and fine-boned, so adults should supervise play with children or larger dogs. The smallest individuals suit seniors or those who cannot get outside much, while larger Paps make sturdier playmates for kids.
“One of the best, brightest, and most animated of the toy breeds, Papillons love training and make superior athletes.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Daily needs and attention
The Papillon is a quick, curious, and animated companion that thrives on daily interaction. Because they have been bred for centuries to be companions, Papillons must be allowed to devote their lives to you. They travel well and don't want to be without you, so take them along whenever you can.
Daily activity should include play and training. Papillons love training and make superior athletes; many have achieved numerous obedience and agility titles. They are highly motivated to move, so daily training and play will keep them engaged.
The coat is long and silky, but because it is a single coat with no downy undercoat, it doesn't mat as easily as long coats on many other breeds.
For a working household, the key consideration is companionship. Smaller Papillons make great pets for seniors or people who can't get outside much, while larger ones make sturdier playmates for kids. Adults should always supervise play with children or larger dogs, as these small, fine-boned dogs can be easily injured.
“Because they have been bred for centuries to be companions, Papillons must be allowed to devote their lives to you.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Health and lifespan
The Papillon is a small toy breed, typically standing 8 to 11 inches tall and weighing 5 to 10 pounds. The breed's life expectancy is 14 to 16 years. AKC breed information describes the Papillon as blessed with a hardy constitution, a trait that has carried the breed through centuries of companionship. The coat is long and silky, but because it is a single coat with no downy undercoat, it does not mat as easily as long coats on many other breeds, which is a practical advantage for a busy household. One consideration for working families: Papillons are fine-boned and can be easily injured. The smallest individuals, those that come in at just 3 or 4 pounds, are more prone to injury and health problems. Adults should supervise play with children or larger dogs. Because Papillons have been bred for centuries to be companions, they do not want to be without you. If your workday keeps you away from home for extended hours, factor that into your decision.
“Despite his refined appearance, the Pap is truly a "doggy dog" blessed with a hardy constitution.”
AKC
Habits and behavior
The Papillon is a quick, curious, and animated companion. Fanciers describe the breed as happy, alert, and friendly, and the dog is one of the easiest toy breeds to train. Papillons are highly motivated to move and make capable athletes in obedience and agility work. They love to play and carry themselves with a mischievous energy that suits an active household.
Because they have been bred for centuries as companions, Papillons do best when they are included in daily life. They travel well and prefer to stay close to their person, so a working household should plan to bring the dog along or arrange for meaningful midday company. Some Papillons are naturally shy, so early exposure to varied people, pets, and environments helps build confidence. They generally get along well with cats, and adults should supervise play with children or larger dogs given the breed's small, fine-boned frame.
“Because they have been bred for centuries to be companions, Papillons must be allowed to devote their lives to you.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Housing: apartment, house, yard and crate
The Papillon's small frame (8 to 11 inches, 5 to 10 pounds) makes it well suited to apartment living. The smallest Paps make great pets for seniors or people who can't get outside much. In a house, the breed's playful, animated nature means it benefits from space to move and play. Because they have been bred for centuries to be companions, Papillons must be allowed to devote their lives to you; they travel well and don't want to be without you, so take them along whenever you can. In a yard, supervision is important: these small, fine-boned dogs can easily be injured and may nip to defend themselves if they feel overwhelmed. Adults should always supervise play with children or larger dogs. Many Papillons get along well with cats, making multi-pet households workable. For crate use, remember that Papillons don't want to be without you, so place the crate where your daily activity is rather than in a quiet, isolated room.
“The smallest Paps make great pets for seniors or people who can't get outside much, and larger Paps make sturdier playmates for kids.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Challenges
A Papillon's small size and hardy constitution make it a manageable companion for most homes. However, a few practical considerations matter for a working household. Papillons have been bred for centuries as companions and do not want to be left alone; they travel well and prefer to be with their person, so a schedule that keeps the dog home for long stretches may not suit this breed. Their fine-boned frame means they can be easily injured, and adults should supervise play with children or larger dogs. Puppies benefit from early exposure to many people, pets, and places to build confidence, since some individuals tend toward shyness. The long, silky coat is a single layer without a downy undercoat, so it does not mat as readily as many other long coats, but regular grooming still keeps it at its best. For a household where someone is home during the day and can include the dog in daily activities, a Papillon fits well.
“Because they have been bred for centuries to be companions, Papillons must be allowed to devote their lives to you.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
The fun part
A Papillon brings a small, energetic presence into a home. The breed is quick, curious, and described by fanciers as happy, alert, and friendly. They love training and make superior athletes, with many achieving obedience and agility titles. Both sophisticated and mischievous, they love to play and are highly motivated to move. For a working household, the breed's companion nature means they travel well and do not want to be without you, so bringing them along whenever you can suits their temperament. They get along well with cats, and the coat is a single coat with no downy undercoat, so it does not mat as easily as long coats on many other breeds. A Papillon is a small dog that wants to be part of your day.
“One of the best, brightest, and most animated of the toy breeds, Papillons love training and make superior athletes.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
Living with kids, cats and other dogs
Papillons are happy, alert, and friendly companions who thrive on closeness to their people. Because they have been bred for centuries to be companions, they travel well and do not want to be without you, so a household that can bring the dog along on errands will suit them well.
With children, the larger Papillons make sturdier playmates, while the smallest are better suited to quieter homes. Adults should always supervise play with children or larger dogs, as the breed is small and fine-boned and can be easily injured. If a Papillon feels overwhelmed, it might nip to defend itself, so giving the dog space during play is important.
Many Papillons get along well with cats, making them a reasonable fit for multi-pet households. Because they do not want to be without you, a working household should plan for midday company or a safe indoor space where the dog can rest while you are away.
“Many Papillons get along well with cats.”
VCA Animal Hospitals
What to ask the rescue
Ask the rescue about the dog's training background. Papillons are highly motivated to move and love training, and many have achieved obedience and agility titles. A dog with some structure in place will settle into a new home more smoothly.
Confirm the dog's weight and overall build. Papillons are fine-boned and can be easily injured, and some naturally come in at just 3 or 4 pounds, making them more prone to health problems. A sturdier, larger Papillon may suit a household with children better.
Ask about the dog's socialization history. Papillons can be shy, and early exposure to different people, pets, and places builds confidence. If the dog has limited socialization, ask what the rescue has done to address it.
Inquire about the coat. Papillons have a long, silky single coat with no downy undercoat, so it does not mat as easily as long coats on many other breeds.
Finally, ask about the dog's relationship with cats and other dogs, and whether play has been supervised. Papillons may nip to defend themselves if they feel overwhelmed.
“Because they have been bred for centuries to be companions, Papillons must be allowed to devote their lives to you.”
VCA Animal Hospitals