¶Table of Contents
¶Quick Facts
The Papillon is a small, lively and quick-learning companion dog that often suits someone who wants to combine closeness with walks, training and everyday enrichment. The breed belongs to the Épagneul Nain Continental, or Continental Toy Spaniel. The Papillon has erect ears, while the Phalène variety has drop ears. In Sweden they are registered according to ear carriage, and a dog can be re-registered if its ears develop differently from the initial assessment.
- Origin: France and Belgium
- Purpose: companion dog in FCI Group 9
- Height at the withers: about 28 cm according to the breed standard
- Weight: the standard has two weight classes. The larger ranges from 2.5 to 4.5 kg for males and up to 5 kg for females. The other covers dogs under 2.5 kg, with 1.5 kg as the minimum weight.
- Coat: long, silky and without an undercoat
- Activity level: small in stature but often lively, willing to work and keen to learn
- Longevity: many reach an advanced age; according to the Swedish Kennel Club, 15 years is not unusual
Measurements in a breed standard describe an ideal, not a promise that every adult dog will be exactly that size. For a prospective owner, the parents’ size, the dog’s body condition and sound construction are therefore more useful than pursuing a particular figure or an extremely small individual.
¶Appearance & Coat
The Papillon should be a harmoniously built toy dog that is graceful yet robust. The body is slightly longer than the height at the withers, and movement should be free, light and elegant. Its small size calls for care around falls and play with much larger dogs, but the breed standard does not describe the Papillon as a fragile dog.
The large ears are the breed’s most distinctive feature. In the Papillon they stand erect and are carried obliquely outwards, resembling a butterfly’s wings. The Phalène instead has mobile drop ears. The difference is therefore ear carriage; both are varieties of the same Continental Toy Spaniel and can be born in the same litter.
The coat is single, without an undercoat, and should be abundant, glossy and slightly wavy rather than curly. It is short on the head and fronts of the legs but longer over the body, ears, chest, thighs and tail. White is the ground colour and must predominate on the body and legs. Coloured patches may be of different colours, while the lips, eye rims and nose should be well pigmented under the standard.
Coat care is usually manageable if tangles are prevented. Check the coat regularly and comb especially behind the ears and on the inner thighs, where the Swedish Kennel Club says tangles may readily form. Bathe the dog when it is dirty; no fixed calendar suits every individual. Check the nails, paws, ears and skin at the same time. Base care on the dog’s actual coat and daily life rather than a fixed bathing or clipping routine.
¶Temperament & Personality
The Papillon is typically alert, lively and quick to learn, with a marked interest in people and activities. Its small body often contains more willingness to work than the label “lapdog” suggests. A Papillon may enjoy both close company and tasks involving concentration, problem-solving or body awareness.
Breed descriptions should not, however, be read as a guarantee of a particular personality. The Swedish Kennel Club’s BPH behavioural analysis shows considerable variation among participating Papillons, including how intensely they greet strangers, how readily they play and how curious they are. The results apply to the dogs assessed and primarily show why the individual, family lines, early experiences and continuing training all matter.
Alertness may show in how quickly the dog notices sounds, visitors and movement outside the home. This need not become a major barking problem, but it is sensible to reward calm behaviour from the start, give the dog an alternative task at the door and avoid allowing every signal to lead to excitement. Ask the breeder how the parents function in daily life, not only how they behave at shows or during training.
¶Training & Exercise
The Papillon needs physical movement and mental enrichment every day, but no single number of minutes suits every dog. A healthy, fit adult can often join surprisingly substantial walks, while a puppy, older dog or individual with a health problem needs a different load. Adjust activity to age, fitness, weather and recovery rather than treating body size as a measure of need.
The breed often learns quickly, including things you did not intend to teach. Reward-based training with clear criteria works well. Vary everyday obedience, scent work, balance exercises and small problem-solving tasks, and finish while the dog can still concentrate. Agility, obedience and other dog sports can be a good fit when training is developed gradually and the surface, obstacles and load are adapted to the dog’s size and maturity.
A small dog needs the same care with recall and exposure to different environments as a large one. Practise engagement and returning in safe places before allowing freedom where traffic, wildlife or larger dogs could present a risk. Also teach the dog to settle between activities. A Papillon given only high-energy tasks may become very good at getting excited but less skilled at relaxing again.
¶Health
The Swedish Kennel Club describes the Papillon as a generally sound and often long-lived breed, but responsible health screening remains important. For Swedish litters, pap-PRA1 is the clearest formal checkpoint. Pap-PRA1 is an inherited form of progressive retinal atrophy, or PRA, which damages the retina. It is autosomal recessive: a carrier has one copy of the variant and does not develop that particular form, while a genetically affected dog has inherited the variant from both parents.
The Swedish Kennel Club’s registration rules require both parents to have an official DNA result for pap-PRA1 or to be recorded as hereditarily clear. Two carriers may not be mated, and an affected dog may not be used for breeding. A pap-PRA1 DNA test does not, however, rule out every other genetic cause of PRA or other eye diseases. An eye examination therefore serves a different purpose. The Swedish breed club, Papillon-Ringen, recommends an eye examination after three years of age to monitor other eye changes.
Patellar luxation, in which the kneecap can move out of its normal position, occurs in the breed. The breed club wants breeding dogs to have a known normal patella result before mating. This is an important recommendation, but the current Swedish Kennel Club rules do not list patella status as a specific registration requirement for the Papillon. Ask to see the result rather than assuming registration itself covers it.
In other countries, recommended programmes may include additional tests. For example, the UK’s Royal Kennel Club lists an NAD test among the additional checks for the Papillon. This does not make NAD a Swedish registration requirement. Ask the breeder to distinguish between mandatory Swedish results, breed-club recommendations and optional additional tests.
Oral health also deserves attention. Small dog breeds are more often affected by periodontal disease, and daily tooth brushing is a simple way to reduce the risk of severe tartar and painful periodontitis. Bad breath, bleeding gums or reluctance to chew should be assessed by a vet.
¶History & Origins
The Papillon originates from France and Belgium and is the erect-eared variety of the Continental Toy Spaniel. The type has been documented since the 16th century and appeared as a companion dog at European courts. The name Papillon means butterfly in French and refers to the large, obliquely carried ears with long fringes. Phalène means moth and is the name used for the drop-eared variety.
The FCI recognises the breed as number 77 in the companion and toy dog group. The modern standard retains both the Papillon and the Phalène. Its history explains the breed’s role as a companion, but the modern Papillon is not merely decorative: its liveliness and readiness to learn are evident in many present-day dog activities.
¶Living with the Breed
The Papillon can live well in either a flat or a house when given daily activity, closeness and help learning to settle. The size of the home matters less than the shape of everyday life. A home where many sounds carry requires extra work on calm behaviour around the door, hallway and windows, as an alert individual may otherwise begin to comment on every change.
The breed can live well with children, but this depends on the dog’s temperament, the child’s behaviour and adult supervision. Teach children to leave the dog undisturbed while it sleeps or eats, not to pick it up or grab it, and to play at floor level under supervision. This protects both dog and child and is more accurate than a general “child-friendly” label.
The same individual assessment is needed with other animals. A Papillon can live with dogs or cats, but introductions should be calm and gradual. Give the animals separate resources and places to retreat, and supervise play where there is a large difference in size. A friendly large dog can injure a very small dog accidentally.
Being left alone is a skill, not something that can be assumed from breed. Accustom the dog gradually to short periods alone and increase them only while it remains relaxed. Barking, whining, restless pacing, destructive behaviour or refusing a normally valued reward can indicate that the step was too large.
Before buying a puppy, check more than its appearance. Ask to see the parents’ registered pap-PRA1 results, patella status and any eye results, and ask why that particular mating was chosen. Meet the dam and notice how the dogs recover after new sounds and visitors. For a puppy registered with the Swedish Kennel Club, you should receive the registration certificate, the Swedish Kennel Club contract and a veterinary inspection certificate no more than seven days old on the day of handover. Screening reduces risk but can never guarantee a particular state of health or personality; open documentation and realistic expectations therefore matter more than promises.
¶Characteristics
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred |
| Aggressiveness | 2/5 |
| Child Friendly | 4/5 |
| Energy | 4/5 |
| Hair Shedding | 3/5 |
| Health | 5/5 |
| Intelligence | 5/5 |
| Grooming Needs | 4/5 |
| Learning Ability | 5/5 |
| Barking Level | 4/5 |
| Height | 25 – 28 cm |
| Weight | 3 – 5 kg |
| Life Expectancy | 13 – 15 years |
¶Papillon price
Here you can see typical asking prices for Papillon in Sweden over the last 12 months.
The calculation is based on valid Get a Pet listings from the last 12 months, including active and expired listings. These are asking prices, not confirmed sale prices.
¶Frequently Asked Questions
Are Papillons good family dogs and how do they typically behave at home?
They are generally affectionate, alert and people oriented, and many enjoy being close to their owners throughout the day. In a home environment they are usually cheerful and playful but can be quite sensitive to tone of voice and rough handling, so they do best with gentle, respectful family members.
How much exercise does a Papillon actually need despite its small size?
Although small, this breed is quite active and benefits from at least 45 to 60 minutes of mixed activity spread through the day. Short walks combined with play, training games or dog sports are usually enough to keep both body and mind satisfied.
Do Papillons shed a lot and what kind of grooming do they require?
They have a single, silky coat that sheds moderately year round but usually does not mat heavily if brushed a few times per week. Regular brushing, occasional baths and careful trimming of the hair around the feet and rear are usually sufficient, since the breed is not typically clipped.
Are Papillons fragile because of their fine bone structure?
They have relatively delicate legs compared with larger breeds and can be injured by jumping from high furniture or being dropped. With sensible handling, use of stairs or ramps to furniture and careful supervision around children, most can live active lives without injury.
What health problems are Papillons prone to?
Common concerns include luxating patellas, dental disease, certain eye conditions and occasionally heart problems such as mitral valve disease. Regular veterinary checkups, early dental care and screening by responsible breeders help reduce the risk and allow early treatment when issues appear.
Are Papillons noisy or prone to barking?
They tend to be quick to alert and often bark at unfamiliar sounds or visitors, which can be useful but may become excessive without training. Consistent boundaries, teaching a quiet cue and providing enough mental activity can help keep barking at a manageable level.
Can a Papillon live happily in an apartment or small home?
They usually adapt very well to smaller living spaces as long as they receive daily walks and interactive play. Because of their alert nature, owners in apartments may need to work specifically on quiet behavior to avoid bothering neighbors.
Are Papillons good with children and other pets?
They can be good companions for calm, dog‑savvy children who understand how to handle a small dog gently. Many get along well with other friendly dogs and even cats, but their small size and lively temperament mean supervision is important to prevent accidental injury during play.
How easy is it to train a Papillon and are they really suited for dog sports?
They are generally intelligent, responsive and food or toy motivated, which makes them highly trainable with positive methods. Their agility, speed and focus have made them successful in sports such as agility, obedience and rally, as long as training is kept fun and varied.
What should I know about caring for a Papillon’s large ears and facial hair?
The fringed ears can collect dirt or tangles, so they benefit from gentle brushing and regular checks for redness, odor or debris. The hair around the face and ears should be handled carefully to avoid breakage, and any long hair near the eyes may need occasional careful trimming to prevent irritation.¶Comparisons with other breeds
Compare Papillon with other breeds and see the differences in temperament, activity level, and care to make a confident choice. Show all comparisons
