HomeBright and perky, with elegant ears and a royal attitude, the Papillon is a hardy little dog that brightens the darkest day. Bred to be a companion, this toy dog fills that role to perfection, for it thrives on human company and delights in pleasing its owners. Developed from the Continental Toy Spaniel, the Papillon takes its name from the French word for "butterfly" for the distinctive head markings that resemble that magnificent creature. The Phalene, a separate variety of the breed with drop ears, takes its name from the butterfly's cousin, the moth, another winged beauty that folds its wings when at rest. Phalenes and Papillons can be born in the same litter, but Phalenes are not as popular as their brethren with the upright ears.
The Papillon is related to several toy spaniels, and it is difficult to ascertain when it became a separate breed. The dog is one of several developed during the height of royal reign in Europe as a lap dog for the ladies of the court, for the royal families were the only ones who could afford to buy and breed dogs solely as companions. European artists as far back as the 15th Century included Papillons in their paintings of kings and princes. The dogs figure in the lore of royal families. According to Carolyn and David Roe in their book "The Complete Papillon" King Henri of France suspended small, open baskets around his neck, filled them with Papillons, and appeared in council. One of these tiny dogs warned him of the treachery of the monk Jacques Clement, but the king did not listen. When the dog refused to cease barking at the monk, the king confined her to another room. The monk stabbed the king. Thanks to the din raised by the dogs, the monk was caught, but the king died.
Of the two types of Papillon, the drop-eared variety probably preceded the erect-eared dogs as it more closely resembles the other toy spaniel breeds.
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