Papillon Breed Standard
The Papillon is a small, friendly, elegant toy dog of fine boned structure, dainty and of lively action.
8-11 inches at the withers. Body slightly longer than the height at withers. Of fine bone structure.
Eyes dark, round, not bulging , of medium size and alert. The inner corners of the eyes are in line with the stop. Eye rims black.
Ears of either the erect or drop type should be large with rounded tips and set on the sides and toward the back of the head. Ears of the erect type are carried obliquely and move like the spread wings of the butterfly. When alert each ear forms and angle of about 45 degrees to the head. The leather should be of sufficient strength to maintain the erect postion. Ears of the drop type (Phalene) are similar to the erect type, but are carried drooping and must be completely down.
Head is small. The skull is of medium width and slightly rounded between the ears. A well defined stop is formed where the muzzle joins the skull.
The muzzle is fine, abruptly thinner than the head, tapering to the nose. The length of the muzzle from the tip of the nose to the stop is approximately one third the length of the head from the tip of the nose to occiput.
Nose black, small, rounded and slightly flat on top. Lips tight, thin and black. Teeth must meet in a scissors bite.
Neck of medium length. The backline is straight and level. The chest is of medium depth with ribs well sprung. The belly is tucked up. Tail long, set high and carried well arched over the body. The tail is covered with long, flowing plume that hangs to either side of the body.
Shoulders well developed and laid back to allow freedom of movement. Forlegs slender, fine-boned and must be straight. Front feet thin and elongated (hare like), pointing neither in or out.
Well developed and well angulated hindquarters. The hind legs are slender, fine boned and parallel when viewed from behind. Hocks inclined neither in or out. Hind feet thin and elongated (hare like), pointing neither in or out.
Coat is abundant, long, fine, silky, flowing, straight with resilient quality, flat on back and sides of body. A profuse frill on chest. There is no undercoat. Hair short and close on skull, muzzle, front of forelegs, and from hind feet to hocks. Ears are well fringed with the inside covered with silken hair of medium length. Backs of forelegs are covered with feathers diminishing to the pasterns. Hind legs are covered to the hocks with abundant breeches. Tail is covered with a long, flowing plume. Hair on feet is short, but fine tufts may appear over toes and grow beyond them forming a point.
Always parti color or white with patches of any colors. On the head colors other than white must cover both ears, back and front and extend without interruption from the ears over both eyes. A clearly defined white blaze and nose band are preferred to a solidly marked head. The size, shape, placement and presence or absence of color on the body are not important.
The gait should be free, easy, quick and graceful.
A happy, alert and friendly temperament.
