Papillon means “butterfly” in French. That’s the name of this little dog because his wing-like ears resemble a beautiful butterfly.

But he’s not likely to fly away. He prefers to cuddle with his owner, to whom he becomes affectionately attached for life. He likes to play with toys inside and is a hardy outdoor sport—perfect for city and country dwellers alike. The Papillon is highly trainable.

Papillons beautified royal laps throughout Europe for centuries. They began in Spain as miniature spaniels, and had regular drop ears then. No one knows exactly when, but by the time they reached France, some began to have upright ears. The French then called the dog the “Papillon.”

Papillons are mostly white with patches of other colors, usually black. Their coats are long and silky. The hair flows extra long on ears, chest and plume-like tail.

Excerpts from the Standard

General Appearance: Friendly, elegant, fine-boned, lively; different from other breeds because of his beautiful butterfly-like ears.

Size, Proportion, and Substance: Height—8 to 11 inches at withers.

Fun Facts

Today’s Papillon is descended from the dwarf spaniel, an extremely popular toy dog of sixteenth and seventeenth century Europe. The famous French people Madame de Pompadour, Marie Antoinette, and Louis XIV were all devoted owners, and the dog was depicted in paintings by such notable artists as Rubens, Watteau, Fragonard, and Boucher.

Excerpted from The Complete Dog Book For Kids © 1996, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.