How to Pick a Papillon Puppy

Owing to their small size, Papillons are ideally suited to apartment life. They are easily trained and make excellent pets for quiet, adult homes that will delight in lavishing attention on them.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Know the breed. Papillons come in several different color combinations: tri-color, black and white, gray and white, red, sable, cream, and lemon.

2. Decide what Papillon is right for you. Before you contact a breeder, you will need a clear idea on what you're looking for in terms of sex, coloring, temperament and conformation.

3. Locate a breeder. You can find reputable breeders on the Papillon Club of America website. Introduce yourself and tell them what you are looking for in a Papillon. Be prepared to answer the breeder's questions about your home and lifestyle as they assess your suitability as a potential Papillon owner.

4. Select a puppy. Choose a puppy that has clear eyes and a bright expression, clean ears and a thick, shiny coat. Papillons are not born with prick ears. Their ears will go from a Phalene position to a prick position around 12 to 16 weeks of age. Your breeder can help you determine which puppies are likely to adopt the Papillon prick and which will remain the Phalene variation.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are looking for a Papillon for agility competition, select a puppy that is large, well muscled and high energy. Coat quality and markings are less important for agility dogs.
• If you are looking for a show dog, select a healthy, small puppy that is unlikely to outgrow the adult breed standard of 11 inches at the shoulder. It is important that show dogs have a lush coat that will grow the tail, ear and leg feathers that give this breed its distinctive look. Select a puppy with classic Papillon markings such as color patches completely covering ears and eyes, a white blaze on its face as well a color patch at the base of the pup's tail.

Resources

• Papillon Club