| General Appearance: |
Dainty well balanced little dog. An alert
bearing and intelligent expression. |
| Characteristics: |
The name 'Papillon' is derived from the shape
and position of the ears. When erect they are carried obliquely like the spread wings of a
butterfly, hence the name. When the ears are completely dropped this type is known as the
'Phalene' (Moth). Head markings should be symmetrical, about a narrow white clearly
defined blaze which is desirable but not essential to represent the body of a butterfly. |
| Temperament: |
Lively, intelligent, friendly, with no
aggression; always alert. |
| Head & Skull: |
Skull slightly rounded between ears, muzzle
finely pointed and abruptly finer than the skull, accentuating well defined stop. Length
from tip of nose to stop approximately a third of the length of head. Nose black |
| Eyes: |
Medium size, rounded, never bulging, dark
with dark rims, placed rather low in skull. |
| Ears: |
Very large, mobile with rounded tips, heavily
fringed; set towards back of head far enough apart to show slightly round shape of skull.
Leather firm but fine. When erect each ear should form an angle of approximately 45
degrees to head. |
| Mouth: |
Jaws strong, with perfect regular, and
complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square
to the jaws. Lips thin, tight and dark in colour. |
| Neck: |
Medium length. |
| Forequarters: |
Shoulders well developed and sloping. Chest
rather deep. Forelegs straight, slender and fine boned. Elbows close to chest. |
| Body: |
Fairly long with level topline; well sprung
ribs, loin strong, of good length, slightly arched belly. |
| Hindquarters: |
Well developed, well turned stifle. Legs,
when viewed from behind, parallel. Dewclaws on hind legs removed. |
| Feet: |
Fine, fairly long, hare-like. Tufts of hair
between toes extending far beyond them. |
| Tail: |
Long, well fringed, set on high, arched over
back with fringes falling to side to form plume. |
| Gait/Movement: |
Light, free-flowing, positive and free from
any restriction. Viewed from in front or behind, legs and feet moving parallel to each
other, with feet turning neither in nor out. Viewed from side, dog covering ground well
with no hint of hackneyed action. |
| Coat: |
Abundant, flowing but without undercoat; long
fine silky, falling flat on back and sides; profuse frill on chest; short and close on
skull, muzzle and front parts of legs. Rear of forelegs to pasterns, tail and thighs
covered with long hair. |
| Colour: |
White with patches, which may be any colour
except liver. Tri-colours black and white with tan spots over eyes, tan inside ears, on
cheeks and under root of tail. |
| Size: |
Height 20-28 cms (8-11 ins). Dog will appear
slightly longer than high when properly furnished with ruff and hind fringes. |
| Faults: |
Any departure from the foregoing points
should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded
should be in exact proportion to its degree. |
| Note: |
Male animals should have two apparently
normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. |
