The papillon dog is a representative of an ancient decorative breed. Its history totals more than seven hundred years. There are several versions of the origin of this species. According to one of them, the birthplace of these dogs is Spain, and on the other - Belgium. Unfortunately, there is no exact data on the place of origin of the breed.
Interesting information
This breed of dog is sometimes called the butterfly papillon, or the falen or papillon. There are also more original names, for example, a dog of kings or a French flower. Do you know why a butterfly? Because this breed has erect, lush ears, in the shape of butterfly wings.
Papillon is best kept in residential conditions. This dog has a friendly, pliable disposition, and at the same time can become an ardent defender of his family. This is a great companion for both long and short walks.
Breed description
A decorative, well-built dog with a thin skeleton. At the withers, the papillon reaches 28 centimeters, the weight ranges from 1.8 to 2.5 kilograms. Their head is round, with a pointed nose. Ears of this breed are of two types: erect (like butterfly wings) and hanging (droplet). By the way, dogs with the first type of ears are called papillon. If the animal has droplets, then this is falen.
Their paws are of medium height, thin. The tail is covered with long silky hair, rounded on the back. The hair of the papillon is thick, adheres to the body, in places it is very long, lush on the tail and ears. The color is white with multi-colored spots, except for red-brown and dark chestnut tones.
The character of these cute funny dogs
A papillon dog is a faithful friend with whom you will never be bored. As already noted, such a pet is ideal for keeping in an apartment. Note that the papillon can protect your home from the appearance of rodents such as rats, since it is a good rat-catcher. No wonder such a dog was very fond of Marie Antoinette and Marquise de Pompadour. And indeed this breed was very popular at the court of King Louis XIV. The papillon is depicted on many canvases of famous masters.
If the pet feels that the owner is in danger, then from a cute animal he will turn into a formidable warrior who can recognize the enemy.
And in other cases, the papillon dog is a sweet, extremely friendly creature, which with equal pleasure will rest with the owner on the couch and rush around the apartment with the kids.
Outwardly, it resembles a tiny toy with which you can play for hours, while it does not show its fatigue. But the measure, of course, you need to know. Despite the apparent fragility and miniature, butterfly dogs easily withstand active long walks.
The papillon dog breed (photos of representatives you see in our article) is excellent for keeping in families where there are small children. Such a doggie can become a friend for them, it can be squeezed, caressed and stroked - he takes all these manifestations of tenderness with pleasure.
Where to get this wonderful doggie?
You can buy such a dog from breeders (those who breed dogs for sale) or in special kennels. Note that papillons cannot be treated rudely and cruelly; they cannot stand screams and screams. The pet will respond to a good attitude with love and devotion. Such dogs have a great memory, so they can predict the actions of their owners over time.
By the way, the animal is very jealous of the owner, but it gets along well with other animals. Note that a dog of this breed cannot be kept in an aviary - they need freedom.
Papillon Care
These dogs are quite profitable, they are not as tiring as it might seem at first glance, but still some efforts will need to be made.
Puppies of this breed need special care and care. These lumps, like children, need affection and warmth.
In order for a papillon dog to be healthy and active at any age, you need to:
1. Keep it clean. It is necessary to check the condition of her coat, ears, eyes.
2. Daily walk in the fresh air for at least 20 minutes. The number of walks is three to four per day. Puppies will need to walk more often.
3. Regular nutrition. Food should be only warm (you can’t feed hot and cold food).
Hair care
A papillon dog needs special grooming. If it has faded - this is a sure sign of bad changes in the body of the animal. Note that the hair needs to be combed every day with a special comb to remove lumps (if they appeared).
You need to bathe your pet using special shampoos. Such procedures should be carried out as rarely as possible (maximum 5-6 times a year), since they are not very useful for the coat and skin of the dog. Of course, if the animal gets dirty, then you can not do without swimming. In addition, it is necessary to cut the claws in time so that growths do not appear.
Papillon Nutrition
Feeding such dogs is practically no different from feeding other breeds. It is very important that the diet is balanced and regular. At an early age, pets need to be fed five to six times a day (it is advisable to follow the regimen). Over time, the number of servings decreases, and by 7 months you can transfer the dog to two meals a day.
The diet should be varied. Animal food, herbal products - all these are mandatory components of the puppy's daily menu. This is necessary in order for the intestinal tract of the dog to work normally. Constantly in the bowl should be fresh water.
Papillons are forbidden foods such as boiled bone, as it can clog the intestinal tract. In addition, sweets, onions, food with spices, in general, any food from your table are harmful.
Disease
These living and moving dogs also have weaknesses. It is necessary to carefully monitor the health status of the pet and, in which case, immediately contact the veterinarian.
The most common papillon diseases:
- entropy;
- congenital deafness;
- progressive retinal atrophy;
- dislocation of the patella;
- hypoglycemia;
- cataract;
- reverse sneezing.
Very often, representatives of this breed have a dislocation of the patella. There is also a bilateral dislocation (or in the medial direction). In severe cases, it may be necessary to resort to surgical intervention, otherwise the animal will limp for the rest of its life.
Genetic diseases include progressive retinal atrophy. At first, a sick animal loses night vision, and after a while, daytime vision worsens. To identify the disease, use special tests. Such a disease leads to complete loss of vision.
If we talk about a disease such as deafness, then it can be either congenital or acquired. If the dog caught an infection during pregnancy, then it is likely that some cubs may be born deaf. Otherwise, the animal can get sick and gradually lose hearing, so you need to constantly check the dog’s ability to hear.
Price and reviews
So, the papillon is a dog, reviews of which are only positive. The owners claim that they have never regretted that such a funny beast appeared in their house. This animal brought a lot of joy and positive emotions to their life. In addition, it is easy to care for, it is not particularly picky about food. The main thing is to feed your pet exclusively healthy food.
Papillon willingly communicates with both adults and children. He is extremely active, agile and loves walking. If you are only thinking about which puppy to buy, we recommend that you pay attention to this particular representative of pets. The breed of papillon dogs (the price for one such doggie ranges from 25 to 55 thousand rubles) will definitely not disappoint you. This is a real friend of man!
In our article, we tried to consider in detail the pros and cons of the presented breed. We hope that the information was useful to you, and you were able to decide whether such a pet suits you or not. Perhaps someone will say that the cost is too high for such a small creature. But remember that the papillon is a dog, the price of which is not so important, because, as they say, friends are priceless. And such a dog can become a truly devoted comrade to you and your children.