All about the Papillon
Incredibly Agile and Smart
Papillons excel at various sports, and are sometimes referred to as "the border collies of the toy dog world" because they run very fast and are very trainable. In fact, the top ranking AKC Agility Champion in the USA as of June 2012 is a Papillon named Tigger, with 33 MACH championships, far exceeding any other dog of any breed. Read Tigger's amazing story here. Papillons are also making quite a name for themselves in flyball, obedience, and rally, taking many first place ribbons and earning advanced titles. They also make excellent pet therapy dogs, and some of them enjoy lure coursing. .
Love the house life too!
Of course, papillons are also content being house pets, so long as they get enough play time and companionship. Weighing just between 5-10 lbs, they don't need a big yard. They like to chase a ball through the house, tug on squeak toys, and haul their stuffed animals around. They love nestling in their beds, on pillows, and appreciate a crate to rest in. They benefit from obedience classes and are easy to train, but can become spoiled if no rules are laid down. As long as they are properly stimulated, they don't become "yappy". Details about the breed can be found at http://www.akc.org/breeds/papillon/index.cfm
A list of other Papillon qualities
- Few health issues
- Very little professional grooming needed, just a daily brushing, and occasional nail and foot trim.
- Some paps are a bit yappy, but many are not. It depends on how they are raised.
- Travel very well in cars
- Love their crate
- Love their doggie bed
- Love food and treats, so should NOT be free fed unless you want a very fat papillon.
- Many papillons love to tug, especially if introduced to it early on.
- Fast on their feet
- Very smart, learn tricks, obedience and good behavior easily
- No dander, thus great for people with allergies
- Not much shedding, especially if brushed every few days
- Dirt doesn't seem to stick to them. It just falls off of their fine, filament-like hair.
- With patience, they are house-breakable.
- It's best not to raise papillons around small children who tend to chase them, squeeze them too hard, hold them by one arm, or drop them.
- One of my papillon owners sent in this : Papillons are better in pairs!
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