What can you tell me about Papillons?

Question

I am thinking about getting a papillon puppy. I'm looking at getting a red and white female. I have a friend that has one, but I want more opinions. Anything and everything that you can tell me would be great. Anything from health to bad habits to best food for them. Thanks!

Answer 1

WHAT ARE THEY LIKE?

Papillons are great little dogs, I adore them.

*** If you want a calm lapdog or a cuddly dog, do NOT get a papillon. It will not be a good fit for you. ***

Top 10 reasons why NOT to get a papillon:
http://pap911.rescuegroups.org/info/display?PageID=2924

Papillons have very friendly, adventerous temperments. From the AKC breed description, "Happy, alert and friendly. Neither shy nor aggressive."
http://www.akc.org/breeds/papillon/

Papillons are very intelligent (sometimes too much so for their own good!). They are in the top 10 most intelligent dogs breeds.
http://petrix.com/dogint/1-10.html

One of the "most trainable toy breeds".
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/papillons.html

Here is your rainbow of colors to choose from:
http://www.braylorspapillons.com/colors.htm

They are a very demanding and dependent dog. They may not like to cuddle, but they like to be around you and they LOVE to play. Paps will literally come up and launch one of their toys at your face to get you to play with them.

They are also tricksters and will find ways to try to manipulate their owners. If they aren't supposed to have something, they'll try to make it look like they have one of their toys and hide the "forbidden object" behind it.
My pap also tricked my parents poodle when I was dog-sitting for them a couple weeks ago. She would run to the door and bark so the poodle would drop the toy it had to check out what the commotion was about, then my pap would run back and steal the dropped toy.

Papillons NEED to be stimulated. They are not dogs that can be left to their own means. They need training and thrive when they have a "job", such as obedience or agility. (If you want to get into agility, they are the top choice in their height category. They can even beat border collie times on some courses, but due to size difference, they will never be competing against border collies.)

Also be aware that they are athletic dogs and can achieve things you wouldn't normally think a dog that size can. For example, my papillon can jump high enough to steal things off the kitchen counter. She can jump at least 4 feet into the air.

Papillons come in 2 varieties, the "butterly" (papillon) and the "moth" (phalene).
http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/breedinformation/toy/papp.html
http://www.areakode.com/abbyful/segami/puppy/papillon_phalene.jpg

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GROOMING

Paps require regular grooming, but it's not extensive.

In addition to the regular dog stuff (clip nails, brush teeth, etc), they need brushed a couple times a week. Also, the hair between the pads on their feet gets long, so that needs trimmed at least monthly. Use a bristle-brush, NOT a slicker brush. A slicker brush will damage their silky fur.

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WHERE TO GET ONE?

If you are wanting to get a puppy from a breeder, check out the following link:
- http://www.papillonclub.org/pcabreederslist.htm
Or find a reputable breeder by attending some dog shows and agility competitions. You will find papillons in both places and can get some good recommendations for quality breeders from there.

Papillons are starting to show up more commonly in puppymills, so be wary and make sure you are getting one from a reputable breeder.

If you are okay with getting an older dog (which can have it's benefits, like it's already housebroken, already done teething, likely has some training, etc.), then you may be able to get a dog from one of the following papillon rescues:
- http://www.papillonclub.org/rescue/
- http://www.paphaven.org/
- http://www.pap911rescue.org/

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COST?

A papillon from a reputable breeder will be no cheaper than $750 at the absolute cheapest. Prices are usually closer to $1000-$1600 for a pet. Females tend to be pricier than males.

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SOME BOOKS ON PAPILLONS

"The Complete Papillon" - http://www.amazon.com/COMPLETE-PAPILLON-Book-Breed/dp/1860541909/ref=pd_sim_b_2_img/104-1857227-1015901?ie=UTF8&qid=1185399566&sr=8-3

"A New Owner's Guide to Papillons" - http://www.amazon.com/New-Owners-Guide-Papillons/dp/0793828198/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/104-1857227-1015901?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185399566&sr=8-3

"Papillons" - http://www.amazon.com/Papillions-Complete-Pet-Owners-Manual/dp/0764124196/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b/104-1857227-1015901?ie=UTF8&qid=1185399566&sr=8-3

Answer 2

From a non-owner of Papillons......but I am an agility competitor....

Do your homework and find a GOOD responsible breeder and choose, in person, the right puppy!

There are several really nice Paps out doing agility. Wonderful, outgoing, happy temperaments..very athletic, well trained.

But, I have seen a few that have rotten temperaments....the nasty, yappy "little dog complex".....that is "the best defense is an offense" attitude!

So, be sure to pick the most stable temperament in a puppy, then do your proper training and socialization, and be sure to treat it as a dog!

Answer 3

My family has had Paps for years, we currently have 3 males. There is a lot you should know about them.

They are very delicate dogs with very fragile bones, and should not be introduced in households with children under 13. The potential for injury is very great.

Paps, like many small dogs, can easily become hypoglycemic if not watched carefully throughout the day to assure they are eating. This can last anywhere from age 8 weeks to 16 weeks.

Paps are people dogs. They were never bred to do anything but warm their owner's laps. If you work during the day and are planning on leaving the dog home alone, do not get a Pap. They are not happy without constant interaction, and will become nervous and depressed if left that long.

Paps are strictly indoor dogs and cannot withstand extreme temperatures for more than a few minutes without becoming chilled or overheated. They should never be housed outdoors or left outside unattended.

They must be brushed daily to keep their long hair free of tangles. They do shed moderately, and may be trimmed up for appearance if you desire. You should never shave or clip down a Papillon, as it will destroy their coat.

Paps are prone to ear infections, luxating patellas, and digestive troubles.

Papillons are VERY high energy. If they are not sleeping on your lap, they want to play. And you cannot tire out a Pap no matter how hard you try. Long walks in good weather, indoor playtime, doggie daycare, or agility competition are good ways to help them burn off energy.

Papillons can become very high strung and anxious if not socialized young. You should introduce them to as many people and animals as possible the moment you bring your pup home.

Paps are being crossbred with Chihuahuas and Pomeranians, so be careful where you buy. Petstores, newspapers, and online ads are bad ideas. Find an AKC registered show breeder, and take the time to question the breeder, meet their dogs, ask for references, etc. A good breeder will be checking up on you too, so beware someone who is willing to hand the pup over without a second thought. A good breeder will never sell a Pap younger than 10-12 weeks on account of their fragile nature.

Pap puppies are very small, and have very small bladders. Someone will need to be available for hourly potty breaks until the puppy is at least 4-5 months old. Full housebreaking can take up to 1 year.

Papillons eat EVERYTHING. Puppy proofing your house is a must. They are Labrador puppies in disguise. The eat cords, wood, stones, leaves, dirt, carpet, anything they can bite a chunk out of.

Best food is something poultry based and high quality- I like Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul, Merrick, Innova Evo, Wellness, and Artemis Small Breed.

They are wonderfully intelligent dogs, and completely devoted, but they require an owner with plenty of time available. And they are very sensitive emotional dogs, so please make sure you don't buy one unless you are POSTIVE they are a perfect fit into your lifestyle. One of my mom's dogs wasn't socialized as a puppy, we got him at 6 months, and he is a nervous wreck 24/7, even though he has someone home with him all the time. If you so much as walk out a door, he freaks. My pup on the other hand was socialized perfectly, and nothing fazes him- except the sight of me walking out a door. He's learning to be left alone, but it's just not a breed you can leave for very long at a time. I never leave him more than 1-2 hours.

Good luck in your decision!

Answer 4

We have 2 Papillons. One is older, about 12 and we also have a new puppy about 4 months. They are the sweetest dogs. They do not have anything out of the ordinary about them. All dogs have health problems from time to time and you just have to try different foods until you find one they like. We never feed our babies people food. Only high grade dog food. See your local Pet Store like Petsmart or Petco. And vitamins to maintain their beautiful coats.

Answer 5

totally agree with bossoli. as the owner of 2 papillons, a boy and a girl, they are the best dogs ever!! mine are a little picky about there food but i have found that they really like wellness. i would not recommend having them around small children, paps are fragile. they are a very loving breed and have to be every where you are. mine will follow me to the bathroom and scratch at the door if its closed. they do shed, but not huge dust bunnies like other breeds. minimal grooming requirements but conditioner is a must.

they are not a quiet breed and will alert you to possible "danger" of scary monsters outside. both of mine do have food allergies, my boy has bad environmental allergies, and they both have ibd. this is not the norm for paps. however, luxating patellas are a very common problem. as with any small breed dog, you must be on top of dental care. this includes regular brushing and routine dental visits at the vets.

if you do decide to get on, please try and adopt from a rescue. DO NOT BUY FROM A PET STORE. i adopted my girl from papillon 911 rescue and she is just wonderful.

Answer 6

Check out this question and my answer for the question.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuhY5bUt1lobGERYLPkWJzbty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20070918160529AAeHJFR&show=7#profile-info-bUtl3fDkaa

Papillons can be EXCELLENT pets. I feel that they are the most well rounded dogs around. They can potentially offer a great deal of energy but don't require excessive amounts of exercise- as long as you give them enough attention throughout the day.

They are among the most intelligent of breeds and are by far the most intelligent of the toy breeds. They are extremely trainable.

Unlike many toy breeds, they are not independent. They thrive on attention and can be amazing lap dogs. Each one has a very unique and intriguing personality. They draw in everyone- people who don't even really like dogs, people who usually like big dogs, big tough guys- everyone melts at the sight of them and when you get to know one you'll fall for them fast.

They don't require very much grooming- just a light brushing once a week to make sure their fur doesn't knot- it rarely does. The only knots mine has had have been on his ear fringe.

I wouldn't recommend bringing one into a house with children but most dogs can get used to kids if raised with them from a young enough age. The only issue would be the dog's safety because they can be fragile and easily inujured by inconsiderate kits.

Mine gets along wonderfully with other dogs but you have to stress socialization from a young age. I have a Husky who he absolutely loves. He gets frequent interaction with other dogs because I take him to work with me at a doggy daycare.

I guarantee that as long as you do your research and prepare yourself, like you should with any breed, then bringing home a Papillon will be the best thing you ever do.

I prefer male Papillons because the females are slightly more self involved and the males are more devoted to their owners. I forgot to mention- Papillons can easily become one-person dogs. They're not like many toy breeds who become snappish with other people but they can definitely show favor toward one person and will make it obvious who they are dedicated to. If you happen to be that person, it's a great feeling.

Answer 7

They are cute and yes they are yappy so buy ear plugs as well. They like ANY pure bred dog have health issues and because of their size the health issues can be a big problem. My mom's lived about 10 years but she was on medication for severe allergies and had many surgeries for her hips and she had a heart condition. I would insist on a vet exam by your vet. Most pet stores will allow this. As long as the dog is returned with in 48 hrs if the exam is bad. I would suggest talking to the pet shop and the vet so they know what is going on. Then the pet shop can call when they have 1 and you can take it straight to the vet before you get attached to it. Mom got her's on a saturday and waited till monday for the vet check so she was already in love with her & didnt return her. best of luck

Answer 8

I think they're cute. Tiny obviously, but they're like tiny border collies in a way. They can be very yappy, so be prepared for that. They're very alert. Like a big dog in a tiny body.
Like any dog, the best food that you can feed is something that has NO by products, artificial preservatives, corn, wheat, soy...etc. Some great foods are Solid Gold, Wellness, Innova EVO, Prairie by Natures Variety...among others. :) Good luck with your pup.

Answer 9

Make sure you socialize it!!!! Make it walk and don't carry it everywhere. They can easily become afraid of everything. So make sure to take them out and make it walk and meet different sizes and types of dogs. Also socialize with people. They can be a little yappy and their bark is pretty shrill. They can be delicate and could easily be stepped on. I know a few that compete in dog agility and do very well and are really fast! You have to be commited to exercising and training the dog. They aren't always couch potatoes.

Answer 10

my moms friend has one, it is adorable. i think they are great dogs. they are very smart. the one my moms friend had learned how to walk on a leash in just about 2 hours. they r smart. they r a little yappy though, so... that might be a problem. other than that i think they r cool dogs.