Papillon (pronounced Pap Ee Yawn) is the French word for butterfly.The Papillon dog got its name from the shape of their lovely ears. As a general rule, they are friendly, happy, little dogs with a lot of energy. Some Papillons act like they can play fetch for hours without breaking a sweat. Many of them love to chase balls and run around the house. They are also just as happy when it’s time for belly rubs and other forms of love from their people. Unlike working dogs, Papillons were bred to be companions to royalty long ago, way back in the 1500’s. As such, they love nothing more than being with you and receiving love in return.
They are a very intelligent breed. In fact, one report ranked them as #1 in intelligence in the Toy Dog community. Because they are so smart, they are easy to train and learn new things quickly. Along with being great companion dogs, they excel at Obedience and Agility. Some Papillons have made wonderful Service Dogs and many are terrific Therapy Dogs. Their intelligence and energy levels can also get them into trouble if they get bored. Having a lifestyle where both their brains and bodies are kept active is important.
Papillons are equally at home in apartments, as well as large homes, although if you live in an apartment or attached condo, you must take care in choosing a Papillon that is not very barky. While they are not a ‘yappy’ breed, they do bark when they think their territory needs defending from squirrels or people walking by. If you live in a community that would be unhappy with hearing a Papillon bark, you’ll want to make sure the Papillon you are considering is on the quiet side.
Because they were bred to be companions to people, they do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. They do best in homes where people have flexible schedules or are at home much of the time, or where they have another friendly, furry companion. They generally don’t do well with very young children because they are fine boned and can be mishandled by children too young to know better. Some have been known to become snippy when they are frightened because very young children tend to move quickly and make loud noises. If they are brought into a home with young children, both the children and the Papillon must be supervised at all times and never left alone with each other.
If what you’ve read about Papillons fits your lifestyle and is the type of dog you’ve been looking for, we invite you to view our adoptable Papillons in the hopes one of them is a good match.