The Papillon is a breed of dog that really exudes grace and aristocracy, which is quite predictable given its history with royalty. Small and compact, fine-boned and elegant, beautiful, playful, highly trainable… these are all traits that can appeal to the most discerning dog lover. In fact, Papillons are favorites in shows and agility trials.
But these dogs are not without their flaws. They’re not for everyone, that’s for sure, and those who decide to keep a Papillon anyway are advised to have Papillon training on hand (along with, of course, a good selection of brains). So what are these breed disadvantages anyway?
- Butterflies are sometimes excessive barkers. A good owner must be ready to accept the barking, or at least work with the dog.
- They are not lap dogs.
- They are difficult to tame, which is generally true of most toy breeds.
- Many males “mark”, which is not surprising for non-neutered ones. In addition to surgery, the next alternative is abdominal girdles.
- While Papillons are indeed relatively long-lived and healthy, there are still health issues to be aware of, such as a luxating patella. Breeding dogs should be checked for PRA.
- These dogs generally do not make good companions for small children or for larger, more active dogs.
- While they may have the looks of a lap dog but not the patience of one, these dogs are still very dependent. Owners will need to be prepared to address the likelihood of separation anxiety in the breed.
- A potential Papillon owner needs to do some careful research on where they can best get a dog from a trusted line. A dog can come from a puppy mill (which should be avoided like the pet store) or from a carefully vetted breeder.
- Butterflies, therefore, are not mediocre dogs that allow themselves to merge with the wallpaper. Trainable and sensitive, he will bark at anything that seems unusual or out of place. Some will even try to jump doors and outlets, or open cabinets.
Those thinking of welcoming this intense, intelligent, portable, busy, trainable, and dependent toy dog would do well to use Papillon training to absorb the dog into the home. But those who prefer a small kid-friendly pet, a laid-back couch potato, or one who doesn’t mind loud voices may want to look into a different breed.
