The Papillion is one of the oldest breeds of dog, with a recorded history in Europe going back nearly 700 years. These early dogs had drooping ears, but through some unknown event, some Papillions sported erect ears. Both drop-and erect-eared Papillion could be found in the same litter. Even today both ear types are equally correct, although the erect-eared Papillion is much more popular. In America, the drop-eared Papillion is known as the Phalene, which is French for moth, whereas in Europe it is called the Epagneul Nain or Continental Toy Spaniel. The name Papillion is French for butterfly, which the face and ears of this sprightly little dog should resemble. At one time the Papillion was known as the Squirrel Spaniel because it carried its plumed tail over its back in the same way a squirrel does. This tiny breed is recognisable in 13th through 15th century Italian frescoes. The Papillion was featured in many paintings of the Renaissance period; in fact much of the breed's development is known because of its depiction in paintings. The Papillion was widespread in Italy during the Renaissance and later perfected by French breeders. Some of its talents include: watch dogging, agility, competitive obedience, and performing tricks.

Appearance
However, the most distinctive aspect of the Papillon is its large ears, which are well fringed with colored (not white) silky hair. The color covers both eyes and the front and back of the ears to give the proper butterfly look. A white blaze and noseband on the face is preferred.

The Papillon has an abundant, flowing coat, short on the head but with a profuse frill on the chest. The Papillon has no undercoat. The tail is a plume of long hair. The head is slightly rounded between the ears, and the muzzle is fine, tapering, and narrower than the skull with an abrupt stop.

The ideal size of the Papillon varies slightly among different organizations' breed standards, but it generally ranges from 8 inches to 11 inches at the withers.

Character
The Papillion is an intelligent dog breed who is easy to train. It is one of the most obedient and responsive dogs in the toy group. Friendly and playful, the Papillion gets along with all the family members and pets. Some can be timid.
 

Temperament
The Papillion has the connotation of a dainty toy breed, but many owners will claim that they act like big dogs in small dogs' bodies. There are several possible reasons for this. First, the Papillion is hardy; some people find that their Papillon is very capable of handling a good five-mile walk. Some owners believe the reality is that they will resist such an outing if the grass is somewhat damp or if there are two clouds in the sky that might lead to rain, but others have experienced them as very versatile in almost all conditions, although not necessarily with prolonged exposure. Perhaps they seem to be larger dogs because to many people Papillons appear not to be prone to small dog quaking when confronted with new situations. In fact, some Papillon owners believe that their dogs interpret any new event as having been put on for their benefit, and that the dogs do their best to be attentive hosts or hostesses. Another aspect of the Papillon that has led many to believe the "big dog" assertion is this breed's surprising athletic ability. Perhaps people are surprised that in contrast to its staid and stately representation in the Old Master portraits, the Papillon is highly energetic and intelligent. Provided their genetic structure is sound and they are healthy, Papillons are built for movement, and most do not need any encouragement to apply their energy to athletic activities. As puppies, Papillons have silky, medium length fur. They go through an "Ugly Baby stage," in which they lose much of their baby fur and grow in their adult fur. They will love every person in your family, but they will still attach themselves to one particular person, possibly the one that feeds it. The Papillon is also a very good guard dog. The Papillon is highly recommended for first-time dog owners.

Exercise/Training
The lively Papillon thrives on mental stimulation and it enjoys a daily walk on leash as well as challenging games indoors and out. Playing and obedience are very good types of mental exercise. 15 minutes obedience and playing with your Papillon will be more useful for the dogs exercise then an hour walk on the leash can provide.

Color
The coat color of the Papillon is white with patches which may be any colour except liver. A tri-color Papillon must be black and white with tan spots over the eyes, tan inside ears and under root of tail and on cheeks. The head marking should be symmetrical about a white, narrow, clearly defined blaze.

Grooming
In order to make a Papillon coat really shine to its fullest, it should be brushed once or twice a day, and the dog bathed at least every two weeks. A good nutrition and regular brushing keeps the proper coat shine and the skin healthy. Bathing doesn’t harm the coat of the Papillon as long as you use a good quality shampoo that doesn't dry the skin and coat and is formulated for a canine coat. The ears of the Papillon should be kept clean and regularly inspected as well.

Any breed described as "good with children", the dog must be accustomed to children. Any dog that is not well socialized with children will not behave predictably around them. As with all dogs, they should never be left alone with young children.