Papillons are small dogs that just look adorable. They are a popular dog breed these days, and you can see them almost everywhere. If you consider this dog breed, you probably know some facts about it. But here are 10 things to know before getting a Papillon. We will cover and explain all the main facts about this dog breed so you can get a complete picture of the breed within 10 minutes. Without further ado, let’s begin.
10 Things to Know Before Getting a Papillon
1. They Are The 8th Most Intelligent Breed
The first of 10 things to know before getting a Papillon is the most appealing for certain owners. This is a small and smart dog. They are rated as 8tyh smartest dog breed in the world. This allows you to train them in less time, easier than with other dogs, and also to enjoy time with them more.
Papillons will obey the first order in over 95% of cases, and they need 5 repetitions to learn a new command!
2. Small Dogs Should Be Careful When Playing With Papillons
As you can see, Papillons are small dogs that come with a bit of a temper. This means that a child can easily irritate the dog or even hurt him. That’s why your child shouldn’t play alone with this dog breed until age 3. Always keep your eyes on them and make sure they play responsibly.
Do not leave your child alone with a Papillon. They are not dangerous, but they will defend themselves if needed.
3. Papillon Will Follow You Everywhere You Go
We refer to this breed as “Velcro.” In other words, they will stick to their owner and won’t move. You can see them following their owners almost everywhere, including the bathroom and work.
If you like this, you do need a Papillon immediately. No other dog will follow you as much as this breed.
4. They Will Bark, A Lot
Some owners need a dog that will bark occasionally. Others like dogs that don’t bark at all. Some even like dogs that bark all the time. If you are a member of the last group, you need Papillon. If you are one of the other types, you won’t be happy with your choice.
Papillons will bark almost all the time. They will bark when happy, when excited, when angry, and while playing. Sadly, this means that if you have a happy dog and you take good care of him, he will bark all the time. Consider that this is their way of talking to you, so you may actually like it. You cannot yell at them either.
They are a “soft” breed, and they don’t like this. They don’t like stress in general.
5. They Are Healthy
Papillons are one of the healthiest dog breeds out there. If you need a companion who will be with you for a long period of time, Papillon is the way to go.
The oldest dog of this breed lived for 29 years, which is simply impressive. Of course, this doesn’t mean all dogs will live for almost 30 years. Life expectancy is around 17 years.
6. Brushing Is All They Need
They have short hair, meaning maintenance is low. You need to brush them occasionally, bathe them, and that’s it. Trimming isn’t required unless you have a Papillon with long hair. If you have, then you will need to trim him on a semi-regular basis.
Don’t forget to pay close attention to areas behind the ears and legs. These areas are common for getting mats. There is no need to add that after each bath you need to dry your dog carefully. Their hair can stay wet for a long time.
7. Papillons Are Elegant Dogs
If you take a look at all other dog breeds you can see the obvious. Papillons are the most elegant of them all. Their hair, eyes, and coat all tell you one thing. You are an elegant person as well.
Add the fact that they have good manners and are polite to strangers, and you can see this is an elegant and suitable dog for people having the same type of lifestyle.
8. Shedding Is Common
Despite having short hair and not a lot of fur, this dog breed loves to shed. Once this starts, there is no way to stop it. You can see hair on your clothes, furniture, and almost all over your apartment or even a house. It is strange how a small dog like this can shed so much.
This happens a few times per year, so be prepared. You will definitely need tools to collect the hair and make your house clean.
9. You Can Easily Carry Him
These are small dogs. They can reach 7-10 pounds of weight and they are up to 11 inches in height. In other words, you can easily carry one.
Believe it or not, most owners like this dog breed specifically for this reason. They don’t take up much space at home, and they can be carried everywhere you go.
10. Papillons Have A Lot Of Energy
This dog breed is known for its energetic capabilities. They will love to play and run around the house all day. But, this changes in winter. This dog breed doesn’t like winter and cold temperatures, so they prefer to stay inside the entire winter. Of course, you still need to provide your dog with some sort of physical activity.
Thanks to the size, this isn’t difficult to do even in a small apartment. It is best to play with them, and this will be sufficient. Walking is a good way as well.
The Final Word
These were 10 things to know before getting a Papillon. We gave you all the main, good, and not-so-good things about this dog breed. For lack of a better word, this dog is elegant, polite, and loves its owner.
They are easy to keep, and they will put a smile on your face every single time you play together. Just keep in mind that they are not great with small children, and they love to bark.