The History of Papillon Breed

Even though dogs have the same basic origins, each breed of dog has its own story for how it came to be what it is. The Papillon breed is one of the oldest breeds of dogs in recorded history. This small dog, also known as the dwarf or toy Spaniel, carries with it many stories pertaining to its origins.

  1. Early Papillons

    • The origin of the Papillon varies depending on the source. Some experts think the dog originated in China or Italy, while others believe Spain to the be the origin of the breed. Its popularity, however, began in France. The dog appears in history somewhere between the 13th and 15th centuries. They were popular with the royalty in many European countries. Louis XIV was known to frequently import these dogs from Spain during his reign. It is also rumored that Marie Antoinette owned one as well, and took it with her to the guillotine.

    Papillon Ears

    • One of the most distinctive features of the Papillon dog is its large ears. Though the dog was known in its early years as a dwarf or toy Spaniel because of its ancestory, the French renamed the breed Papillon due to its ears. The word "papillon" in French means butterfly, which some feel the dog's ears resemble. In its earlier years, the dog's ears remained upright, further resembling butterfly wings. However, over the years, the breed changed where the ears lie flat. Now, Papillon dogs can be found with both upright ears and ones that lie down. However, some organizations, such as the Federation Cynologique Internationale, or FCI, lists the dogs with upright ears as Papillons and those with flat ears as Phalenes.

    Art and Papillons

    • The Papillon breed is easy for historians to track through its changes because of its depiction in art in European countries. Artists in Italy often included the breed of dog in their paintings and tapestries. The Papillon is a companionable dog and was often found with its owner. Therefore, when an artist painted the owner, the dog became part of the picture. Differences in the breed are noticeable in these pieces of art.

    American Papillons

    • While the popularity of Papillons flourished in Europe throughout their history, the breed did not appear in America until the 1900s. The American Kennel Club began recognizing the breed in its registry around 1915; however, the breed did not have a champion with the AKC until years later. The first champion Papillon was born in 1922. The Papillon Club of America formed later in 1935, which signified a wider acceptance of the breed. Popularity of the breed grew in the United States because of its ability to remedy rat problems.