Papillon means butterfly, precisely what those large, obliquely set ears with long fringes resemble. Less well known is the same dog with drop ears. The FCI standard lists both as varieties of the Continental Toy Spaniel (Epagneul Nain Continental); the drop-eared variety is called Phalène. An intermediate ear type is considered a serious fault.
| FCI | Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs), Section 10 Continental Toy Spaniels, Standard No. 77, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | France and Belgium |
| Size (height at the withers) | approximately 28 cm |
| Weight | two categories: under 2.5 kg; or males 2.5 to 4.5 kg, females 2.5 to 5 kg; minimum weight 1.5 kg |
| Life expectancy | median 14.5 years in a UK analysis of 584,734 dogs (McMillan et al. 2024) |
| Coat | abundant, glossy and wavy, without undercoat; ruff, ear fringes, breeches and a tail plume |
| Colours in the standard | all colours on a white background; white must predominate on body and legs; pigmented lips, eyelids and nose |
Origins
The FCI standard names France and Belgium as the countries of origin. It describes a small, splendid spaniel with long hair and a harmonious build, whose coat resembles that of the small English spaniels but must bear no resemblance to the German Spitz.
Temperament
Lively and graceful yet robust, with proud carriage: that is the standard’s portrait. In daily life, these are attentive companions who enjoy learning, quickly grasp little tricks and like joining in. The standard disqualifies aggressive or excessively fearful dogs.
Exercise and activities
Papillons enjoy walking, more than their size might suggest. Daily walks, searching games and trick training are enjoyable; many also like dog sports such as agility with appropriately low jumps.
Grooming
Without undercoat, the hair mats less than in many long-haired breeds. Two or three brushing sessions weekly suffice, paying close attention behind the ears and around the breeches. Brush the teeth regularly.
Health
In the UK lifespan analysis, the Papillon was among the breeds with the lowest risk of early death, with a median of 14.5 years (McMillan et al. 2024). Testing the parents can prevent two inherited diseases: progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which causes blindness, with a carrier rate of 17.2 percent in a sample of 145 Papillons and Phalènes (Ahonen et al. 2013), and neuroaxonal dystrophy, a nerve disease causing early death in puppies. In one survey, 17.5 percent of 660 Papillons tested carried the variant (Raj and Giger 2020). Ask for both parents’ genetic test results.
Who does the Papillon suit?
First-time owners, couples and older people wanting an active, clever small dog and enjoying training together.
Who are they less suited to?
Families with toddlers, where a delicate dog can easily be dropped, and people who need to leave their dog alone most of the time.
The breed quiz helps you assess whether a Papillon suits you; our book “Which Dog REALLY Suits You?” (book in German) offers detailed guidance. For your puppy’s arrival, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. If you would like your Papillon on the wall, explore our dog portraits from your own photo or choose a magazine cover on canvas.
Further reading
- Pomeranian: why you must not clip their coat
- Yorkshire Terrier: three kilos of terrier, no accessory
- Older dog, new rules: how to give your senior their best years
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI Standard No. 77 Epagneul nain continental (fci.be, version dated 06.04.1998); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024; Ahonen SJ et al., A CNGB1 frameshift mutation in Papillon and Phalène dogs with progressive retinal atrophy, PLOS ONE 2013; Raj K, Giger U, Initial survey of PLA2G6 missense variant causing neuroaxonal dystrophy in Papillon dogs in North America and Europe, Canine Medicine and Genetics 2020.
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