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.
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