Breed Standard for Papillons

The Papillon is an old breed, known as long ago as the 16th and 17th centuries when it was known as the Dwarf Spaniel. These dogs had large, droopy ears and were depicted as lapdogs for French and Spanish noblewomen. Over time, the breed developed into what it is today and was named the Papillon, the French word for butterfly, because of the resemblance its fringed ears show to the wings of a butterfly.

  1. General

    • The Papillon is a small, delicate dog with a fine bone structure. Despite its size and appearance, it is lively and friendly but should show no signs of shyness or aggression. Because this breed is categorized in the toy group, it must be between 8 and 11 inches tall. A height of between 11 and 12 inches at the shoulders is considered a fault, and any dogs over 12 inches tall will be disqualified for showing.

    Head

    • The head of the Papillon is small and delicate, in keeping with the overall appearance of the dog. Its eyes should be medium-sized, round and dark, and the ears large with rounded tips. The muzzle is fine and approximately one-third of the length of the head. The nose is small and black, the same color as the lips. The tongue must not be visible, and the teeth must meet when the mouth is closed. Faults include bulging eyes, pointed ears, a nose that is not black and an overshot or undershot jaw.

    Body

    • Papillons have a straight back and a chest of medium depth. This dog has a long tail, which is set high and carried over the body. Both fore- and hind-legs must be delicate, slender and straight, and paws should be elongated. The body of the dog should be slightly longer than its height at the shoulder. The gait should be easy and unrestricted, and the dog must not show any signs of stiffness when moving.

    Coat

    • This breed has a long, straight, silky coat but no undercoat. Ears and chest are especially well covered, whereas the hair on the head, front of the forelegs, lower back legs and feet is short. The tail is well covered with long, flowing hair. The coat should never be one solid color, and the best examples of the breed have a white blaze on the head and symmetrical markings on the face. The ears and both eyes must be colored a shade other than white. A dog that is completely white or one that has no white in its coat at all will be disqualified.