Origin and Purpose
The first Papillons
may have been Spanish (Spaniel) or Italian. Today, both the French
and the Belgians claim the breed. Since the Renaissance, no known
cross has been used in its development although two or three other
breeds probably trace their ancestry in part to the Papillon.
It is one of the oldest purebred Toys, seen in the company of
17th and 18th century Royal children and ladies at court in paintings
of the Old Masters.
General Appearance
The Papillon is a
small, friendly, elegant toy dog of fine-boned structure; light,
dainty and of lively action; distinguished from other breeds by
its beautiful butterfly-like ears.
Size
Ideal height at highest
point of shoulder blades, 8-11 inches (20-28 cm). Weight is in
proportion to height.
Fault
Over 11 inches
(28 cm).
Coat
Abundant, long, fine,
silky, flowing, straight with resilient quality, flat on back
and sides of body. A profuse frill on chest. There is no undercoat.
Hair short and close on skull, muzzle, front of forelegs and from
hind feet to hocks. Ears well fringed with the inside covered
with silken hair of medium length. Backs of the forelegs are covered
with feathers diminishing to the pasterns. Hind legs are covered
to the hocks with abundant breeches (culottes). Tail is covered
with a long flowing plume. Hair on feet is short but fine, tufts
may appear over toes and grow beyond them forming a point.
Colour
Particolour -
white with patches of any colour. Tri-colour - black and white
with tan spots over eyes, inside the ears, on cheeks, and may
have tan under root of tail. On the head, colour other than white
must cover both ears, back and front, and extend without interruption
from the ears over both eyes. A clearly defined white blaze and
nose band are preferred to a solidly marked head. Symmetry of
facial markings is desirable. The size, shape, placement, or absence
of patches on the body are without importance. Papillons may be
any particolour, provided nose, eye rims and lips are well-pigmented
black. Among the colours there is no preference.
Faults
The following
faults shall be severely penalized:
(a) Nose
not black.
(b) Colour
other than white not covering both ears, back and front, or not
extending from the ears over both eyes. A slight extension of
the white collar onto the base of the ears or a few white hairs
interspersed among the colour shall not be penalized provided
the butterfly appearance is not sacrificed.
Head
Small. The skull
of medium width, and slightly rounded between the ears. A well-defined
stop is formed where the muzzle joins the skull. The muzzle is
fine, abruptly thinner than the head, tapering to the nose. The
length of the muzzle from the tip of the nose to stop is approximately
one-third the length of the head from tip of nose to occiput.
Nose: black, small, rounded and slightly flat on top. Mouth: lips
are tight, thin, and black Teeth meet in a scissors bite. Tongue
must not be visible when jaws are closed. Fault: Overshot or undershot.
Eyes: dark, round, not bulging, of medium size and alert in expression.
The inner corner of the eyes is on a line with the stop. Eye rims
black. Ears: the ears of either the erect or drop type should
be large with rounded tips and set on the sides and toward the
back of head. Ears of the erect type are carried obliquely and
move like the spread wings of a butterfly. When alert, each ear
forms an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the head. The leather
should be of sufficient strength to maintain the erect position.
Ears of the drop type, known as Phalene, are similar to the erect
type but are carried drooping and must be completely down.
Faults
Ears small, pointed,
set too high, one ear up or ears partly down, set too low.
Neck
Of medium length.
Forequarters
Shoulders well
developed and laid back to allow freedom of movement. Forelegs
slender, fine-boned and must be straight. Removal of dewclaws
on forelegs optional.
Body
Must be slightly
longer than the height at withers. It is not a cobby dog. Topline
straight and level. The chest is of medium depth with well-sprung
ribs. The belly is tucked up.
Hindquarters
Well developed
and well angulated. Hocks inclined neither in nor out. The hind
legs are slender, fine-boned, and parallel when viewed from behind.
Dewclaws, if any, must be removed from hind legs.
Feet
Thin and elongated
(hare-like), pointing neither in nor out.
Tail
Long,
set high and carried well arched over the body. The plume may
hang to either side of the body. Fault: Low-set tail, one not
arched over back or too short.
Gait
Free, quick, easy,
graceful, not paddle-footed, or stiff in hip movements.
Disqualifications
Height under
8 inches (20 cm) or over 12 inches (30 cm).
An all-white
dog or a dog with no white.
Top
All reputable Papillon breeders
strive to meet this ideal Papillon standard with the pups they
produce. However it is of utmost importance that every pup produced
is happy, healthy, and sound this should be every Papillon breeders
goal.
