Dog breed · Toy
Papillon
One of the most trainable toy breeds, regularly competing at the top level in agility and obedience.
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Breed characteristics
- Group
- Toy
- Origin
- France and Belgium
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 2–5 kg (4–11 lb)
- Height
- 20–28 cm
- Lifespan
- 14–16 years
- Coat
- Long, fine, single coat without undercoat
- Temperament
- BrightLivelyConfidentTrainable
History
A continental toy spaniel painted in European portraits since the Renaissance; named for its butterfly ears.
Appearance
Fine-boned and elegant, white with patches of colour and large fringed ears.
Exercise and activity
Forty-five minutes daily plus plenty of trick and puzzle work.
Care and grooming
Brush twice weekly; the single coat mats less than it appears. Daily dental care is essential.
Health considerations
- Patellar luxation
- Dental disease
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Open fontanel
- Collapsing trachea
Honest challenges
Before choosing a Papillon
- Treat the breed profile as a starting point, not a guarantee of temperament. Meet the individual and discuss its history, needs and behaviour with the rescue or responsible breeder.
- Check your routine can support the activity described here: Forty-five minutes daily plus plenty of trick and puzzle work. Allow for age, weather, health and recovery rather than imposing a fixed target.
- Ask the breeder or rescue and your vet about problems reported in this breed (such as Patellar luxation, Dental disease, Progressive retinal atrophy, Open fontanel, Collapsing trachea), which of them have recognised screening tests, and the parents' results where relevant. Screening reduces some uncertainty but cannot promise a healthy lifetime.
- Plan grooming, veterinary costs and care during holidays. Children and other pets still need careful introductions and supervision whatever a breed's typical rating.
Educational reference, not an individual diagnosis or a verified professional review. Read our editorial policy.
Guidance libraries and further reading
These organisations publish relevant guidance. Their links are further reading, not evidence that they have reviewed this page.
- RSPCA — animal care and welfare advice across species
- PDSA — veterinary charity pet health advice
- Dogs Trust — dog care, behaviour and welfare advice