Papillon Puppies for Sale

Papillon: About the Breed

A Papillon is a small and delightful breed of dog that has been a loyal companion since around the 16th century. Often seen in portrait paintings, the Papillon breed originated in France and was a favorite dog of French royalty. Today, Papillons are in popular demand due to their affectionate nature and tiny size.

Characteristics

The most distinguishing feature of a Papillon is its upright, butterfly-like fringed ears. As members of the Toy Spaniel family, Papillons grow to be 8-11 inches tall and 4-9 pounds as adults. Be prepared to maintain their needs long-term, as they can live to be 12-16 years old!

A Papillon puppy always has a single-layered, parti-colored coat of silky hair with a white base featuring lemon, sable, black, fawn, silver, brown, red, and tan points. Papillons have dainty, small legs and a short frame that ends in a plumed, upright tail.

Activity Level

A Papillon is not a typical lap dog that likes to stay put. Rather, they are energetic and constantly looking to play, even when they are senior dogs. Even though they're tiny, they do require a lot of interaction and exercise, both physically and mentally.

If you do not keep them occupied, a Papillon will busy itself with its own activity agenda, which may not be the agenda you want! If they do not have enough to cater to their quick, intelligent minds, a Papillon may excessively bark or be wary of strangers, protecting you from "dangers" that don't really exist. For these reasons, it's best Papillons live in environments free from fear-induced surprises and that you tire out your Papillon on a regular basis.

Disposition

If you are wondering, "What is the personality like of a Papillon?" you may assume before your search that they have a prissy, delicate personality due to their tiny size. However, quite the opposite is true, as they have the lively personality of a big dog in a tiny body. They tend to be feisty, funny little dogs that remain active even as adults.

Because they were bred specifically to be companion dogs, Papillon puppies are affectionate with their family and do not do well left alone for long periods of time due to their social nature. A Papillon puppy is a great choice for novice dog owners and adapts well to apartment living.

If you're trying to decide if Papillons are a good fit for young children, you'll see they are best with older, calmer children and household members who know how to be gentle and provide stability to a Papillon. Households with small children may not be a good fit for a Papillon, as they may consider them toys to be played with.

Training

Papillons are among the most intelligent dog breeds right alongside Poodles, Border Collies, and Retrievers. Due to its smart brain and its love of pleasing people, training a Papillon is a breeze. Obedience training will help keep you as head of the household because a Papillon is very easy to spoil. Allowing your Papillon puppy to call the shots without teaching it basic training commands means you will be running circles around it instead of the opposite!

Even though a Papillon is very social, they will need to learn how to be friendly with strangers and used to unfamiliar activity due to their tendency to bark as watchdogs. Remember, they think they are big dogs and aren't aware of how tiny they actually are!

A Papillon puppy may surprise you with the fact that it makes an excellent agility participant and thrives in classes and activities where they can show off their high energy levels and intelligence.

Grooming Needs & Care

A Papillon has silky long hair that moderately sheds, especially twice a year when they blow their coats. Even though they have a coat of hair, it does not continuously grow, so you will not necessarily need regular trips to the groomer if you keep their coats tidy. It is also not considered a hypoallergenic dog despite its single hair coat. Papillons will need to be brushed a few times a week to remove dirt and debris and keep their natural oils distributed.

Because they have small mouths, Papillons need regular dental care and check-ups to prevent health problems. Keeping their eyes and ears clean will help prevent infections, and regular nail clipping will preserve the health of their feet.

Cost

In search of a Papillon puppy with a pedigree? Interested in the price for a Papillon puppy with breeding rights? Expect to pay from $1,805 to $6,685 for a Papillon puppy from a champion or top-pedigree line. The average price for all Papillon puppies is $2,970.