All are brought up as a part of the family. They are happy to mix with my grandchildren who adore the dogs, especially when they are puppies. Jazz (Pap) and Razzle (Dachsie) are very close having been together since puppies, when Razzle was taken ill in the early hours, Jazz  woke me up by barking until I came down to see what was going on.  The expression “not just a pretty face” is particularly appropriate when it comes to paps!

Butterfly Dogs?  

Papillon is the French word for Butterfly. Butterfly Dogs aptly describes the breed, as the ears are the shape of a butterfly and have long silky hair known as 'fringes'. The Papillon  is a very adaptable breed of dog and will be equally happy on in the country or in the town. It is intelligent and extrovert dog, extremely playful and very affectionate.  They will enjoy as much or as little exercise as you care to give them! With brains as well as beauty, often it is seen in obedience and agility competitions. The breed is one of the oldest with a recorded history in Europe going back nearly 700 years, originally called the epagneul nain or dwarf spaniel, and sported spaniel-type dropped ears, later they became known as the Continental Toy Spaniel or sometimes just Toy Spaniel.  There are two types of Continental Toy Spaniel, the Papillon (Butterfly dog) with its upright ears and the Phalene (Moth) with its “dropped” ears.  The Pap is a friendly and intelligent little dog.  They should never show any signs of aggression, they love their human family , always try to please.  The Pap was bred to be a companion dog and this is what it does best.  interacting with all the members of the family.  The tail of the Pap is set high and arched over the body in a  luxurious plume it is a perfect counterpoint for the lovely ears. The coat is profuse and silky. There is no undercoat. Height at the withers should be 8-to-11 inches.  The paps body is longer than it is high, and its structure is fine-boned. Papillons are two colored or tri colored, with the usual coloration being white and black, white and sable or white and red, and of varying shades. A blaze is desirable but not essential. The Paps head and tail are its most distinctive features. The head is slightly rounded between the beautiful ears, and the muzzle is thinner than the head and tapers to the nose. The erect ears fan out from the skull like butterfly wings, their long fringes adding to the elegance, and the bright eyes and button nose complete the picture.  A truly beautiful dog.

History of the Papillon.

The Papillon is thought to have descended from the European Toy Spaniel. Although the breed's origins are subject to debate (Italy, Belgium, France and Spain are the leading contenders, the little toy spaniels were well-established as continental court favorites by the time of Renaissance. They appear in European art as early as the 1300's, and portraits by many of the Grand Masters (e.g. Rubens, Watteau, Fragonard, and Boucher) often include a Papillon or two.  Madame Pompadour and Marie Antoinette of France, Queen Sophia Dorothea of Germany, and Queen Ann of Austria are among the aristocratic ladies who allegedly owned Papillons. France's King Henry IV is said to have carried his dogs to court in a basket.  Papillons have not always been called Papillons.  Over the years, they have been known as Epagneuls Nains, Dwarf or Continental Spaniels, Little Squirrel Dogs or Belgian Toy Spaniels. Throughout most of their history they have had drop ears, making their Spaniel ancestry more obvious. In some European countries, the name Papillon (French for "butterfly") is reserved for this erect-eared dog while the earlier variety, the drop-eared Phalene ("moth") is regarded as a separate breed. In the U.S. and U.K., however, the two are considered varieties of the same breed, and are shown together.

Care of your canine.

Exercise.

Don't be fooled by the Paps sweet, dainty looks they are hardy and can walk for miles, but will come to no harm if kept at home for a few days, however, like any canine they will benefit from regular exercise and love to be included in family activities.

Grooming.     

Paps need their teeth cleaning regularly, I use a baby's tooth brush and start when teething is over with a little doggy toothpaste on my finger.  

A few minutes grooming each day, especially under forearms, ear fringes and trousers, will stop any tangles from forming.

Feeding.

Paps are generally not fussy feeders. Mine live contently on a “complete diet”, but also enjoy the occasionally doggy treat and biscuits.

Papillons Social Behaviour.

Paps usually mix well with other breeds. Mine live with and are great friends with Mini Longs.  They thrive on human companionship, their lively and affectionate disposition make them a good companion for young or old.

Miniature Longhaired Dachshunds.

The Dachshund is refer to as a hound who is Low Long and Level.  Low to the ground -  long in body - with a level back/top line.  Dachsies are well balanced dogs, have a bold, confident manner with an intelligent, alert facial expression.  The Miniature Longhaired Dachshund has long silky hair, soft and sleek often slightly wavy.  It should be longer under the neck, on the underside of the body and behind the legs, becoming a pronounced feather, it is longest on the underside of the tail where it forms a “flag” enhancing the Miniature Longhaired Dachshunds elegant looks. 

Dachshund History.

Dachshunds were developed in Southern Germany and Austria in the late sixteenth century.  German foresters wanted a hound small enough to go underground in pursuit of the badger.

Dachs = Badger, hund = hound, Dachshund = Badger hound.

The smooth and wire coated Dachsies came first.  The German nobility later evolved the longhaired Dachshund.

In Germany Dachshunds (called Teckels) were bred in three sizes of hound, The Standard and two smaller sizes, the Swergteckel (miniature) and the Kaninchen Teckel (rabbit size).  Elsewhere there were two sizes of hound, The Standard and The Miniature.

Dachshund Care.

Grooming.

A few minutes grooming each day, especially under forearms, ear fringes, and trousers will stop any tangles from forming.  Mini Longs need their teeth cleaning regularly, as tartar can accumulate.  I use a baby's tooth brush, but start them off when teething is finished with a little doggy toothpaste on my finger.

Exercise.

Miniature Longhaired Dachshunds do enjoy their walks and although they only have short legs, they have plenty of stamina enabling them to walk for miles.

Feeding.

Dachsies, like most hounds love their food.  They are not “fussy” eaters.  Mine thrive on a “complete” diet.  But like most hounds they are greedy and will put on weight if over indulged.

Dachshund Social Behaviour.

Miniature Longhaired Dachshunds usually mix well with other canines, my mini longs live with our paps and they have always got along really well, enjoying each others company.  Mine love children, my grandchildren enjoy playing with them, dressing them up – wheeling them around in a wheelbarrow “pram”!  Beanie in particular loves to play with the Pap or Dachsie puppies.

Mini Long Dachsies are a delightful breed and will soon become a firm family favorite.  When my daughter Abi went to live in Newcastle upon Tyne she missed Razzle so much that now Razzle is a "Geordie", loving walks in the park and being spoiled by all Abi's friends.

Buying a Puppy.

The most important things to consider when looking for puppies are:-

Are you up to looking after this little animal, who may not be house trained and who is quite likely to need a fair amount of attention in the first few weeks/months?

Where will you keep him/her?

Are you at work all day, if so, who will keep him/her company?

What about vet fees and food bills?

I don't want to put you off with all these questions, but you do need to think carefully about everything before buying your puppy.  The way to ensure that you are buying good quality puppy is to buy from a reputable breeder rather than a pet shop.  You can find a reputable breeder  through The Kennel Club or Breed Club.  A reputable breeder will be using long established blood lines, and will be breeding to type, and trying as much as possible to rule out health problems in the dogs they use.

The pet-buyer should concentrate on getting a healthy happy puppy with a temperament suitable for their situation, try to remain flexible in your choice.

Further Information

Puppy buyers using an accredited breeder will gain the assurance that the breeder has undertaken to follow basic good practice as laid out by the scheme. 

Further information about the scheme at the UK Kennel Club website - see links page.

Further information about Paps can be found on the UK Pap Club web site - see links page.