How long do papillon dogs live for

Since he has no idea he's as small as he is, he's likely to challenge much bigger dogs, as well as leap tall buildings in a single bound — potentially with broken bones as a result. Other than that, he believes in "the more, the merrier," and he likes to live in multi-pet homes. Many Papillons and cats have become fast friends. While the dogs are named for their distinctive ears like a butterfly wing — "papillon" is French for "butterfly" — they can have hanging ears as well.

Although these dogs are usually referred to as "Phalenes" rather than "Papillons," the dogs are otherwise identical and in the United States are registered, bred, and shown as a single breed. Look at any portrait of a beautiful lady or a young family from the 17 th or 18 th century and in pride of place you will often see a small spaniel who is just as much a part of the painting as anyone else.

Papillons were favorites in the French royal court, but they almost disappeared after the French Revolution because of their association with the aristocracy. Fortunately for the people who love them, the breed was revived in the late 19 th century. One of the best-known Papillons in recent times is a little dog named Kirby, more formally known as Ch. Another Papillon shows just how versatile this tiny dog is.

Besides being a conformation champion in the U. From 43 rd in , he currently ranks 35 th among the breeds registered by the American Kennel Club. If you want a lazy little lap dog, don't get a Papillon. He's bright and busy and ready for just about anything. Admire him for his smarts, give him things to do that you both enjoy, and sit back and watch when he decides to put on a show, and you and your Papillon will be the perfect match.

Which isn't to say he's not going to sit in your lap. Tire him out and keep him from being bored, and you'll be rewarded with a particularly trainable, well-behaved, extremely affectionate dog who looks to you for his cues and his amusement. But consider yourself warned: expect him to lie around all day and gaze adoringly at you all night, or relegate him to backyard or garage, and you'll end up wondering just how such a very tiny dog can do so much damage to house and yard -- and make so much noise.

As with many small dogs, Papillons may be difficult to housetrain. You must be consistent in training them. Give them plenty of opportunities to potty outside and lots of praise when they do it. Give them as few opportunities to make a mistake as possible, but never punish them if they do.

Any dog, no matter how nice, can develop obnoxious levels of barking, digging and other undesirable behaviors if he is bored, untrained or unsupervised. Start training your puppy the day you bring him home. Even at 12 weeks old, he is capable of soaking up everything you can teach him. Never wait until he is six months old to begin training, or you will have lost the best training months of his young life.

If possible, get him into puppy kindergarten class by the time he is 10 to 12 weeks old, and socialize, socialize, socialize. However, be aware that many puppy training classes require certain vaccines like kennel cough to be up to date, and many veterinarians recommend limited exposure to other dogs and public places until puppy vaccines including rabies, distemper and parvovirus have been completed.

In lieu of formal training, you can begin training your puppy at home and socializing him among family and friends until puppy vaccines are completed. Breeders see the puppies daily and can make uncannily accurate recommendations once they know something about your lifestyle and personality. Whatever you want from a Papillon, look for one whose parents have nice personalities and who has been well socialized from early puppyhood.

All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all people have the potential to inherit a particular disease. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health. The Papillon can develop certain health problems.

While generally a healthy and long-lived breed, the Papillon can be affected by any of the health problems common to toy dogs, such as a collapsing trachea , which causes respiratory problems and makes wearing a collar difficult.

They can have dental problems caused by the small size of their mouths, and their kneecaps sometimes slip out of place, a condition known as "luxating patellas. Low blood sugar hypoglycemia is also a problem in the breed especially in the smaller dogs and in puppies. Papillons may have what's called an open fontanel, which is a soft area of the skull that should close up and become hard within six months of birth.

In a few dogs, the fontanel never fully closes, but they can otherwise live a normal lifespan. An eye econdition called progressive retinal atrophy can also occur in Papillons. Although it is not common, there is a disease in the Papillon and some other breeds called neuroaxonal dystrophy.

Puppies with this condition may seem clumsy or awkward, and walk with an odd, high-stepping gait. The condition is untreatable and progressive, and affected dogs rarely live beyond a few months. If your puppy's breeder isn't aware of the problem, consider that a bad sign and find a breeder who is. Not all of these conditions are detectable in a growing puppy, and it can be hard to predict whether an animal will be free of these maladies, which is why you must find a reputable breeder who is committed to breeding the healthiest animals possible.

They should be able to produce independent certification that the parents of the dog and grandparents, etc. Breeders must agree to have all test results, positive or negative, published in the CHIC database.

If the breeder tells you she doesn't need to do those tests because she's never had problems in her lines and her dogs have been "vet checked," then you should go find a breeder who is more rigorous about genetic testing. Careful breeders screen their breeding dogs for genetic disease and breed only the healthiest and best-looking specimens, but sometimes Mother Nature has other ideas and a puppy develops one of these diseases despite good breeding practices.

Advances in veterinary medicine mean that in most cases the dogs can still live a good life. Keeping a Papillon at an appropriate weight is one of the easiest ways to extend his life. Make the most of your preventive abilities to help ensure a healthier dog for life. Although the Papillon's long, silky coat looks like it needs frequent grooming, he's an easy-care dog. Just a little brushing a few times a week, brush his teeth with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath, along with regular ear-cleaning and nail-trimming, and you're good to go with a Papillon.

A few good tools will make grooming your Papillon a breeze. Get a pin brush -- the kind with smooth-tipped wire pins instead of bristles -- a stainless steel comb with fine and coarse teeth and some antistatic coat spray.

The spray will help protect the coat as you brush it. Brush the body with the pin brush, then go over it again with the comb. Use the fine teeth on the ear fringes and the feathering on the tail. If you find mats, gently work them apart with your fingers. Mats that are too tight should be cut in half lengthwise using curved shears with blunt tips.

That will make them easier to pull apart. You can also use the shears to trim the hair between the paw pads. Be careful to avoid accidentally cutting the skin. Depending on how dirty they get or how close they get to you in bed, Papillons can be bathed as often as once or twice a week or as little as two or three times a month. Whether you want to go with a breeder or get your dog from a shelter or rescue, here are some things to keep in mind. Finding a good breeder is a great way to find the right puppy.

A good breeder will match you with the right puppy, and will without question have done all the health certifications necessary to screen out health problems as much as is possible.

Another name given to the breed was Squirrel Spaniel, as it bore its plumed tail on its back in the manner of squirrels. The Phalene is the given name for the drop-eared Papillion. It is a also a French name, meaning night moth.

The two ear types are usually born within the same litters, but the erect-eared variety scores over the other in terms of popularity. With the turn of the 20th century, the Papillon became popular in French dog shows and achieved the same fame in England and the US. The earlier show dogs were bigger than their modern counterparts are, and had solid coloration like a red shade.

Through selective breeding, a smaller more brilliantly colored dog with white patches, called blaze, was produced. The butterfly appearance is enhanced with a white blaze and a symmetrically shaded face.

Because of its striking performances in the show ring, its high intelligence, and love of human companionship, the Papillon has easily maintained its status as a popular family pet. Home Dog Breeds. Written by: PetMD Editorial. Published: March 13, Vital Stats Breed Group: Companion Dogs Height: 8 to 11 inches Weight: 4 to 9 pounds Lifespan: 12 to 15 years Physical Characteristics The defining physical characteristic of the Papillon is its unique butterfly ears, but its sibling the Phalene is identical in all respects save for the ears, which drop down.

Personality and Temperament The Papillon is highly energetic and takes great enjoyment in play and exercise time. Care Mental stimulation is a must for the vivacious Papillion, as well as daily leash walks and a active obedience training and tasks. Health The Papillon, which has an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years, is susceptible to some health problems, such as dental problems that are particular to small breeds, patellar luxation , and seizures.

History and Background The French word meaning butterfly was first applied to this breed in the s, when the fashion for this elegant little dog turned from the floppy eared Spaniel style to the sprightly winged look that is still popular today. Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful?

Yes No. Share this article. What did you find helpful? What was not helpful? Say more Basic Facts. Easy to Train. Intelligence Level. Watchdog Ability. Barking Tendencies. Health Issues. Grooming Needs. Shedding or Not. Exercise Needs. Behaviour Traits. Apartment Friendly. Children Friendly. Stranger Friendly. Cat Friendly. Dog Friendly. Puppy Prices. Popular Names. Papillon Barking Problem If you have or are thinking owning a Papillon, knowing the Papillon life expectancy is important when looking after these dogs.