Difference in Male & Female Papillon

A papillon is a breed of dog characterized by its long coat, friendly personality and oversized, fluffy ears. Papillons are a toy breed, mostly white with patches of black, brown or both. They tend to be neither shy nor aggressive and enjoy children and people.

  1. Temperament

    • Male papillons tend to be more affectionate than females. Males always look to please their master and play. Females are more moody, even after being spayed.

    Females

    • Females are more likely to sulk when they don't get what they want. Breeders at Road's End Papillons in Oregon say females are more difficult to train because of their independent streak, but both sexes are fairly easy.

    Physical Differences

    • Female dogs squat to urinate, as opposed to male dogs, which lift their leg. Males also have more obvious sexual organs.

    Appearance

    • Road's End breeders say males have a better coat, but genes ultimately dictate the quality of coat. Males stand taller and heavier, but papillons that stand taller than 12 inches are disqualified for show.

    Fun Facts

    • The papillon's name comes from the French for "butterfly" because of the shape of the hair around their heads. The drop-eared version, called phalene, has a name from the French word for "moth."