Why the breed exists
Named for the butterfly-wing ears ('papillon' is French for butterfly), this is the dwarf spaniel of Renaissance portraiture — painted at the elbows of European nobility by Titian and Rubens centuries before kennel clubs existed. What the paintings don't show is the engine: beneath the silk coat is one of the most trainable, athletic small dogs alive, a regular giant-killer in obedience and agility. The Papillon is proof that 'toy' describes a size, not a mind.
The official written standard belongs to the breed's parent club.Read the official Papillon standard →
Choosing a Papillon on purpose
Every breed has its own list of required health screenings, kept by its parent club and published through OFA. A preservation breeder working in this breed tests to that list and shows you the results — including the ones that didn't go their way.
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