Dog's Name & Age:
Sophie is about 4 years old. She was given her name by her previous owner.
In a Word, My Papillon Is...
the most LOVING dog, which is surprising since she came to me at age 4.
Best Characteristics of the Breed
Highly intelligent and trainable, beautiful appearance, fun, sweet nature.
Most Challenging Characteristics of the Breed
Some can be high strung and anxious. Potty training is often difficult.
When, Where and How I Got My Papillon
About 5 months ago I paid a small fee to adopt my 4 year old dog from someone who could no longer keep her. Normally, Papillons would be available for purchase through breeders. These dogs are fairly rare. In my area there seems to be a few at-home breeders who are probably breeding their family pets on a small scale. I occasionally see ads in the local paper for these Papillons, and asking prices typically range from $400 to $800. Serious breeders can be found through Papillon enthusiast clubs, magazines, or dog shows. Their prices can exceed $1,000 for show quality dogs.
Also, there are Papillon rescue organizations.
I'd Describe My Dog As…
Virtually the perfect dog. She is just beautiful to look at and has the sweetest, most loving temperament. She is small (about 6 lbs.) and easily portable. She doesn't get into trouble when left alone at home but she loves going for car rides and accompanying me wherever I go. I can take her with me to many places you wouldn't normally see a dog because she is so quiet and well-behaved. She stays in my arms and is a perfect little lady.
She is very loyal and follows me everywhere without being a pest. Wherever I am in the house she will curl up and nap nearby if I'm busy or in my lap if she catches me sitting down.
She is extremely loving and has never exhibited any aggression (just a slight growl only if one of our cats gets too close to her while she's eating). She alert barks very briefly only when there's a knock or bell ringing at the door. (She also barks when she hears knocks and doorbells on television, LOL.) She is friendly to everyone and adores children. She'll bring a toy in order to get you to chase her, which she loves.
Sophie is very laid-back and mellow. She has a low prey drive and doesn't get overly excited about seeing squirrels, other dogs, etc., but she is very food motivated.
One negative is even though she is 4 years old, she is still not totally, reliably potty-trained. We have a pet door and trained her to use it when she needs to go. She does use it most of the time but occasionally will urinate in the house near a cat litter box, interestingly. This usually happens at night when everyone is in bed. One thing we do as a reinforcement for her going outside is make a big fuss when she comes back in, saying, "Did you go POTTY OUTSIDE??? REALLY??? GOOD POTTY!!!" Then she's given a little treat. Clever little dog that she is, sometimes she'll just quickly run outside and back in again without actually going potty, but expects to get the same response. Then we'll say, "Are you LYIN'??? You'd better not be lyin'!!! I don't know, I think you're lyin'!!! Nope, no treat this time!" We have a lot of fun with this routine.
Sophie is very healthy but has put on a little extra weight because she gets into the cats' food. The cats have fed from a auto-dispenser for years but we'll probably switch to scheduled feedings. Normally Papillons are slender and naturally stay at a good weight. There are some health issues that Papillons are especially prone to, such as bad teeth and knees. Luckily, Sophie hasn't had these problems.
Advice
- Papillons are wonderful with children who are respectful, but supervise toddlers.
- They are extremely agile and amazing at leaping and jumping, but their leg bones are so tiny and fragile that broken legs are a risk, so precautions should be taken.
- They can get into mischief if not occupied with constructive activities. Obedience and agility training are a joy because they are so bright, enthusiastic, and quick to learn. Papillons dominate agility competitions.
- Many Papillons are very high-strung and great escape artists. A tall, secure fence and close supervision are essential.
- Be patient with potty training
