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Papillon

BREED HISTORY

Papillon means butterfly in French and refers to this dog's butterfly-shaped ears that extend well beyond the head. Its early ancestor, the Dwarf Spaniel, had droopier ears and appeared in Rococo-period paintings by Fragonard and Boucher. Noble ladies often insisted that their formal portraits include these pets. The breed's popularity quickly grew as the dogs were sold across European trade routes.

The modern dog generally sports a white coat covered with patches of color and has a hearty, extremely devoted temperament. They are so loyal that Marie Antoinette's pet Papillon accompanied her on the scaffold.

IDEAL BREED CHARACTERISTICS

Size: Males and Females 8 to 11 inches (at the withers).

Appearance: Small, dainty body with quick, relaxed motion.

Coat and Color: Long, silky, flat coat with longer hair on the chest and tail. White color with distinct patches of a second color (that must also cover the ears); facial symmetry and a white blaze on the head preferred.

Head: Small, round skull with a thin muzzle; round, dark eyes and rims; very large ears with rounded tips, set on the side of the head.

Tail: Long, high, arched, erect.