Why Papillons Are So Special
By Roseann Fucillo
Published in March 2004 AKC GAZETTE

The ears of the Papillon are their crowning glory and are one of the physical characteristics that make them totally unique from all other breeds.  Their ears are large, butterfly-shaped, and held proudly at a 45-degree angle when alert.  They also move like radar disks, seeking signals and sounds, often acting independently, and ever vigilant.

Papillons can do such silly things.  They make you laugh out loud with their antics, such as perching themselves on the roof of a dog house like a weather vane.  Or they can play games with each other like “ride the tail,” where one will chomp on another’s tail and go for a ride.

Another characteristic that makes them such a special breed is that they are very people-oriented and truly want to be with you.  They have sweet and endearing personalities that tug at your heart.  My Morgan and her son, Colby, lick my legs when I walk, my Mannie pokes my hand with his nose in order to get his head petted, and many years ago, my Jelly used to tug at my hems to get my attention.

But the most special quality of this breed is their intelligence.  Papillons are problem solvers and are able to create solutions on their own, without training.  For example, my Darby has figured out a “bait and switch” routine to retrieve her toy, after it has been swiped by another Pap.  She cleverly grabs another toy as a decoy, squeaks it, shakes it, throws it up in the air, and pretends to have a great time just to attract the other dog’s attention.  She taunts the Pap who has the toy she really wants, hoping that he/she will drop it and take hers.  Darby is always successful – she gets her toy back every time!

Another problem that Darby has solved is how to get a Pap off my lap so she can take his/her place.  She will grab a toy and squeaks it in order to entice the other dog.  When he/she jumps down to get Darby’s toy, she jumps up. If all her toy squeaking doesn’t work, she drops the toy in my lap knowing I will throw it, which makes the other Pap jump down to fetch the toy!  Darby identifies the problems and is clever enough to solve them without aggression of fighting.

Papillons are also smart enough to anticipate things, such as your next move.  This can be a problem for obedience routines!  They will anticipate when you are getting off the phone when they hear some key words, like “all right” or “OK.”  This is their cue to bark or jump at you for attention!  They are also intuitive, good at reading your moods, and knowing when to leave to alone or when to sit beside you if you need comforting.

Published with permission from the AKC GAZETTE.  This article is not to be copied, whole or in part, without written permission from the author.