THE PAPILLON
Everyone knows that Marie Antoinette was beheaded. Not many know that she actually walked to the guillotine
clutching her small dog under her arm. Fortunately her pup was spared, and was cared for in a building in Paris
still called the Papillon House.
Marie's leadership style was certainly problematic. However, her choice in dogs was excellent, a small spaniel that had
been brought to the French court from Spain on the back of pack mules. It was a perfect match for life with the aristocracy.
Marie's small spaniel descended from a very old breed that started showing up in church frescos and paintings as far back
as the 13th century.
The Papillon is believed to be one of the oldest toy breeds of dogs originated in continental Europe and was a favorite at
the French court. The breed was originally known as Epagneul Nain Continental, or Continental Dwarf/Toy Spaniel. Some
say that the name Squirrel Spaniel has also been used, most likely referring to an earlier standard in which the tail set is
referred to as “curling over the back as a squirrel’s.”
In Europe, you can find a number of 16th century paintings that included small droop eared dogs, clearly ancestors of the
Papillon, curled up on the laps and at the feet of aristocratic women. Obvious artistic license was taken here, as no
self-respecting papillon would ever lower itself to lie on a cold stone floor!
In time, Papillons firmly established themselves as royalty. As well as Marie Antoinette, Madame de Pompadour was also said
to be an admirer of Papillons and owned one herself. There is documentation that Henry III was also devoted to this breed,
which was evident by his declaration of the Papillon as the official dog of the Royal Court during his tenure. In the 17th
century, Louis XIV created a political officer responsible for the care and breeding of the royal pups. It was undoubtedly
at this crossroads that the Papillon recognized its political pull and began to run every aspect of their households, a
characteristic that is strongly reflected in the modern breed!
Toward the end of the 19th century, a new version of the spaniel started appearing. Up until this point the breed still had
dropped ears characteristic of most spaniels. This newly created version featured ears that were the same in every way,
except that instead of dropping, they stood erect. The early name for the breed, the Toy Continental Spaniel, was dropped,
and this dog was tagged a Papillon (French for butterfly) based on the impressively large erect ears that resembled the
wings of a butterfly edged with long fringe. It is rumored that it was Marie Antoinette herself who gave them their new
title.
The droop-eared version of the breed came to be called the Phalène, (night moth in French). Both types are still bred today
and can show up in the same litter, although the Papillon is much more common.
The modern Papillon has a beautiful coat, short on the head but profuse around the neck, chest, and pantaloons. It is
considered proper only if it is a single coat (i.e., has no fluffy or cottony undercoat). A proper single coat insures
relatively low maintenance in grooming.
But it is the fringe on the ears that is of greatest interest to the Papillon breeder. Breeders call it (I kid you not),
the “precious fringe.” At its best, it resembles heavy drapery. The precious fringe is never trimmed, and it is combed
very carefully to avoid breakage. Recently, one Papillon owner had to be sedated when she returned from vacation and found
that her housesitter had trimmed her champion's ear fringe.
Even though the breed has the connotation of a dainty toy breed, and is classified as a toy breed by most kennel clubs
including the AKC, CKC and FCI—at first glance, the Papillon appears quite dainty, and to be of show quality, the Papillon
must be twelve inches or under—many owners are fond of saying that their dogs are big dogs in small-dog bodies. There are
many possible reasons for this:
First, the Papillon is very capable of handling a good five-mile walk. Or perhaps it is because they seem to be larger dogs
because they are not prone to small-dog quaking when confronted with a new situation. In fact, Papillons generally seem to believe
that any new event has been put on for their benefit, and they do their best to be an attentive host or hostess. Another
aspect of the Papillon that has lead to the big-dog assertion is that this breed is surprisingly athletic. Papillons did
their best to hide this for centuries by maintaining a focus on the artistry of lap sitting. However, in recent years the
truth has been revealed, as the Papillon has become a small-dog star in the sport of agility.
In general Papillons take their main assignment—to win the companion and lap dog sweepstakes—very seriously. This does
not mean that they are cloying. Papillons are capable of napping quietly in a patch of sun (on top of several pillows) for
hours. However, when called upon to provide company, they always rise to the occasion with serious chest draping, face
kissing, and snuggling.
The Papillon is not without issues. Each year, as the announcer for the Westminster dog show introduces each dog into the
ring, he carefully captures the personality of that breed with just a few sentences. In the case of the Papillon, the
description has been less than subtle.
“The Papillion is a very old breed,” he intones. “They are bright, interactive dogs. However, without the proper handling”
he cautions, “they will live up to the nickname ‘Little Tyrant’.”
While dog owners with other breeds sometimes take offense at the quick profiling of their breed, Papillon owners have never
questioned this description. The truth is that the Papillon is programmed to run every household, and will take it to
the extreme without an owner who establishes a reason for joint leadership.
But what else would you expect from a breed that hung out with Marie Antoinette?
