The history of the origin of the species, the external standard of the papillon, characteristic features of behavior and health, advice on care, training, interesting facts. Purchasing a puppy. They are not large, well-dressed dogs. Easy to care for, but fluffy at the same time. They have a lively expression in their eyes. They are strong in health. Travel easily with their host. They can take long walks. Not gentle, but hardy. Pets win the hearts of many people and are very popular. Intelligence, elegance and beauty set the breed apart from the rest at any age. Whoever once owned them does not change the breed anymore.
History of the origin of papillon dogs
The species are over 600 years old. She was taken out for the monarchs. As the legends say, the puppies of the descendants of this dog - dwarf spaniels, were presented as a gift by the Spanish court, the French kingdom. There they gained immense popularity. French aristocrats with love and knowledge were engaged in the selection of the breed. It was prestigious and fashionable to have them, but not everyone could afford a papillon. In those days, the dog was called and considered royal.
The French monarch Henry III, often ordered to bring baskets with pets to the court. He had three favorite dogs. They slept with him and guarded him. One of them tried unsuccessfully to warn him about the assassination attempt. The favorite and beloved of King Louis XV, the Marquis de Pompadour, adored papillons. Their ardent admirer was the wife of King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette. Her maids of honor looked after the royal pets during the life of the queen. The dogs had their own palace known as the Butterfly Pavilion. One of her favorites accompanied the queen to the guillotine. As the legend says, before the execution, she handed him over to one of the executioners.
Papillon posed for the best European painters back in the 13th century. In the era of the Baroque and Rococo styles, they often appear on the canvases of the best masters. The ladies of the court simply could not imagine capturing their image without their little pet. A portrait without this dog was considered unfinished. The breed standard was based on an image of a papillon taken from a 1543 painting. This suggests that the breed has taken place, and for many centuries has not undergone changes.
At first, the ears of all dwarf spaniels hung and rose only in the 19th century, when the phalena was crossed with a dwarf spitz or chihuahua. An accidental or deliberately arising symptom turned out to be very persistent. I really liked this feature of the dogs and continued to breed them.
Despite the frenzied popularity among monarchs, the papillons came to Great Britain only in 1905. The popularity of the breed has only started to rise in the last 20 years. There are very few books on the content of the breed. They are mostly in Swedish. This is because Swedish nurseries are the trendsetters and the world's leading breeders. Now the breed is gaining momentum. Due to their bright appearance and sharp mind, they are very fond of. Dogs are especially recognized among show business celebrities.
Papillon external standard
At the withers, the papillon has 25–26 cm. In males, 28 cm is allowed. There are two dimensional varieties of the breed: 1, 5–2, 5 kg and 2, 5–4, 5 kg. A well-dressed dog with a rich "frill" and a nice skirt.
- Head medium in size and in good proportion to the body. In profile, the forehead is slightly rounded.
- Muzzle - straight, shorter than the skull. Aesthetic, tapers towards the end. Quite clear transition from forehead to muzzle, but not abrupt. Lips tight-fitting, black pigmentation. Standard bite - scissor bite.
- Nose. The nose is not large, slightly flat on top - black.
- Eyes - large, low-slung, almond-shaped. Dark eyes are required. The eyelids are black pigmentation.
- Ears set high and far back. Hanging at an angle of 45 degrees. Thin but strong. The ends should not be sharp when felt. Inside the ear, wavy hairs of medium length, extending slightly beyond the edge of the ear. Long hair grows on the outside of the ear, forming drooping feathers.
- Neck middle length. The upper part is smoothly curved, with a good exit.
- Frame. Medium compact with a strong topline. The chest is wide and low set. Ribs well sprung, belly tucked up.
- Tail the papillon is set high, long. When moving, the dog raises it so that it rises along the line of the spine, and is curved, the tip touches the back slightly. Thick and long guard hairs form a beautiful dewlap.
- Limbs straight lines parallel to each other. Strong enough, but graceful at the same time. The shoulder blades are well pressed. The rear angles are pronounced.
- Paws with long strong fingers. The middle fingers are longer and protruding. The pads are elastic. Between them, thin hairs grow, protruding between the toes for the tips of the paws. The nails are better black, but can be in proportion to the color of the dog.
- Wool cover. A dog with long hair, but no undercoat. The undercoat is disqualifying. The coat is slightly wavy, silky and shiny. Thin yet elastic to the touch. Shortest hair: on the face, around the eyes, on the front of the legs and on the metatarsus. Medium hairline on the body, and the longest: on the neck (in the form of a "frill") descends to the chest, on the back of the forelegs and thighs (like pants). The guard hair forms a long feathering on the ears, and a good dewlap on the tail. Tufts of soft hair protrude between the paws.
- Color. Spots of any color are allowed on a basic white background. It happens: the classic tricolor with bright white cheeks, sable white, blackened tricolor, black and white, red and white.
The nature of the papillon
Dogs are active, cheerful and radiant. Who gets a papillon is not limited to one pet later. Toy Spaniels are very contactable. They adapt to the foundations of any people. They are happy to communicate, play and tinker with all family members. We are ready to be friends and love everyone.
If they grew up in a house where there are children, then they are in great contact with them. But when they live in families only with adults, later they are afraid of small children. After all, children are not predictable in their behavior, and they feel it. But they get along well with teenagers. They get along well with pets: cats, hamsters, mice and turtles.
Continental toy spaniels chasing birds on the street. Not to catch, but just love to frolic and run. They can play indefinitely. Balls and various toys are a joy for pets. They love to have fun and be naughty with their fellow tribesmen. Papillons are joyful and lively. They are moderately active in everyday life. Always take the master's position. Easily adapt to his temperament and mood. If he is busy - they do not bother him, wants to play with them - they amuse him. They understand the owner at a glance. You just thought about what needs to be done, and the dog has already brought your thoughts to life.
Toy spaniels are great companions. Their compact size even fits under an airplane seat. Therefore, you can always take your beloved four-legged friend with you anywhere in the world. Papillons weigh less than a medium-sized cat, but their loyalty to their owners is much greater. Leaving them alone for a long time is not advisable, since the dog is in dire need of communication. They may even refuse food when the owner is away for a long time.
Papillons are unlikely to be able to scare uninvited guests, but with their quick reaction and sonorous bark they will warn you of danger. They are brave and selfless. They never run away, and they will not run away, leaving the owner in trouble. Having a brave heart, they will defend it like a large wolfhound, no matter what size the rival would be. At the same time, the dog is not at all aggressive, with a good nervous organization.
They don't make a lot of noise around themselves. They are very practical because they are small. Dogs soothe and create a sense of warmth, coziness and comfort. But personal well-being is also very much appreciated. All they need is a small corner, a favorite "bone" and a little of your attention. For such a little, they will repay you with endless love and devotion.
Papillon dog health
The Continental Toy Spaniel lives a long time, up to 16 years. These dogs are sensitive to anesthesia and prone to allergies. The subtlety is that allergic manifestations due to long hair are almost impossible to notice. It is necessary to check the inner surface of the auricle. If black bloom appears there, it means that your pet's nutrition is not correct.
Therefore, the owners should take very seriously the feeding of their papillons. It is best to organize a dry food diet for allergic dogs. Concentrates should only be from well-known manufacturers. All substances there are selected in a good balance, so your pets will not have problems throughout their lives.
A common genetic disorder among toy breeds is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). The dog becomes lethargic and may have seizures. To improve the condition of the animal, a special diet is prescribed, with a high content of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Occasionally there are problems with eyes, paws and deafness. They have retinal atrophy, a progressive genetic disorder in which the dog gradually loses its sight. Unfortunately, it is not curable. But there is a DNA test that helps to identify the papillons carrying the disease gene and not introduce them into breeding.
They often suffer from dislocation of the knee joint - displacement of the femur relative to its normal position. After some time, the toy spaniel deforms the skeleton, and the animal cannot move normally. Treatment depends on the condition of the patient. Surgery is usually performed, followed by medical treatment. Basically, 70% of everything goes well, and the dog moves fully, without pain. Papillons have fragile bones, therefore, throughout their lives, they need vitamins and minerals. Especially calcium gluconate.
Deafness can be hereditary or associated with infections, and the animal's advanced age. It is extremely difficult to define it. This usually occurs in the later stages. Treatment is very individual, depending on the degree of the disease.
To avoid contracting other diseases, all dogs must be routinely vaccinated throughout their lives. Also, animals need antiparasitic procedures. This is a systematic treatment for fleas, ticks and worms. In a warm season, this is done more often.
In the future, in order to avoid low-quality offspring, animals with different genetic diseases are culled and kept as pets.
Papillon Dog Care Tips
- Wool. Caring for the coat is very individual, but at the same time, it is quite simple, because they do not have an undercoat. Despite the fact that dogs are of the same breed, they can have different coat structure, softer or harsher. Ideally, the dog is washed once a month or as soon as it gets dirty. To maintain the coat so that it remains white, they are washed every ten days. If the papillon is being prepared for the show ring, it is natural that it is bathed before the show. This is done with branded shampoos and conditioners. After the procedure, they must be dried with a hairdryer, so the wool straightens out and subsequently less tangles. Comb from one to two times a day.
- Ears. Plucking the hair inside the ear can help to ventilate the ear canal. The ears are examined and cleaned as they become dirty. The best way to cleanse is to fill the auricle with a special lotion and massage at the base. Further, the dog, shaking his head, and itself removes all unnecessary from the ear. And you just have to wipe the outside of your ear with a piece of bandage.
- Eyes wipe it if dirt gets there, towards the inner corner. It is better to soak cotton pads for cleaning with soothing agents.
- Teeth. Small breeds are prone to oral diseases. Therefore, they need to brush their teeth regularly. They also need to be given preventive edible bones and special toys to chew.
- Claws cut as it grows back. This is done using scissors-claws so as not to touch the area with blood vessels. If you are not sure what you can do, see your veterinarian.
- Feeding. Since papillons are prone to allergic reactions, it is best to feed them dry food from a good manufacturer. Experts conducted research, and carefully selected concentrates, taking into account the characteristics of the body of various dogs, including allergic ones. Sometimes, you can pamper your pet with cottage cheese and lean meat. But vitamins and minerals must be given to such dogs throughout their lives.
- Walking. Dogs, although without undercoat, do not need clothes. Because they are active. When the papillons move, they are not cold. They can be litter trained. In bad weather conditions, they can quite easily walk on a diaper in the apartment. Still, toy spaniels love to walk on the street, as they are nimble and playful.
Papillon training
By nature, these dogs are very self-confident. They are not afraid of unfamiliar places and sounds. They have no fear at all. They are very smart and very trainable. Despite the fact that they are small, they have a very lively mind. They can even be taught to herd sheep, and they do an excellent job with the task assigned to them.
Papillon, one of the few small breeds that participates in agility - sports with dogs. This is the overcoming of obstacles by the dog, guided by the owner, for speed and dexterity. The pet does not see the tracks with shells before the start of the competition. The handler does not use a leash or collar to control the pet, only commands and signs. The owner must have very good contact with his pet, and the dog has a sharp and not ordinary mind. Papillons compete very well and receive prizes in their category.
Interesting facts about the Papillon
A quick wits test put the Toy Spaniel ninth among large breeds, and first among decorative breeds.
Papillon puppies are born with a downy coat. At the age of five to six months, the fluff "goes away". When the guard hair has not yet grown back, and the skeleton has not formed, they look like "ugly" ducklings. Fully dogs "bloom" by the year, or even one and a half years. Metamorphoses inherent in butterflies are to some extent inherent in papillons.
Purchasing a Continental Toy Spaniel puppy
The best leading kennels of this breed are located in Sweden. Of course, if you do not have the opportunity to travel abroad, you can find professional clubs in Russia. Don't deal with casual and commercial breeders. These are not decent people who "make money" from fashionable animals. They do not monitor their health and are kept in poor conditions. As a result, you risk getting a sick animal with an unstable psyche that does not meet breed standards.
Having applied to a professional kennel, the puppy will be healthy, fully vaccinated and swallowed. And the breeder will advise you in keeping the animal throughout its life. Papillons are not a very common breed and therefore are quite expensive. If you want to take up breeding work, then you will have to pay decently for a good working bitch of a toy spaniel. Animals with small marriages in the exterior are much cheaper. The average cost of a puppy is from $ 750 to $ 3000.
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