The Papillion Dog
Quite honestly, looking at the those ears, her tail and feeling the love as she barrels toward you for puppy kisses, how could you not fall in love with the Papillion? Small as they are (they average between three and ten pounds), they are energetic, very sweet and adorable, it’s no wonder they were the adornment of choice for the upper class of the Renaissance. But did you know that the Papillion is one of the most intelligent breeds? And, even more surprising, based on her perky disposition, Sandy makes a good watchdog.
If you are considering getting a Papillion, but you don’t know much about their disposition, their personality and any potential health risks you may need to know, read on.
Just the Facts Ma’am
A Papillion’s lifespan is generally 13-16 years. Assuming you feed Sandy a well-balanced diet, which means not too high in fat, fillers (such as meat-by-products), exercise her frequently and be mindful of her health, she’ll err on the long side of her lifespan. Her temperament can best described as friendly and perky. Sandy won’t be as hyper as a Jack Russell, but she also won’t be as low-key as a Greyhound. She may not be quite as friendly as your sister’s Golden Retriever but she’ll certainly be friendly enough.
Although the Papillion isn’t what you might call a brute and physically intimidating, such as her friend the Rottweiller, she is however alert and will let you know there is a stranger lurking about your property. Her bark may not be as intimidating as you’d like, but you’ll know in the dead of night that something isn’t right and then it will be up to you to investigate the noise.
Sandy will be as good with other dogs who already live in your home, as well any kids you have; although small children aren’t her strong suit. She likes attention and isn’t prone to snapping at people, unless of course you neglect to train her or attempt to humanize her.
When it comes to exercise, the Papillion is probably in the mid-range. Sandy won’t require two long walks a day, she does need exercise. All dogs, regardless of breed, require exercise. Some, including the Papillion tire easily, and so it’s best to go at her pace.
Known Health Issues
Papillions tend to develop a few health problems that you may want to be aware of. One is a bit of pain in the butt and will require you to be diligent about to avoid and the other two are potentially serious. Sandy is prone to developing tartar. Unless you want to try and brush her teeth daily – most dogs don’t take to the toothbrush well and like to swallow both it and the toothpaste – you could invest in deer antlers. They’re not expensive and didn’t require that a deer be harmed in any way to get one. Antlers, like the outer layer of our skin, shed naturally. Scour around an area where you know that Deer roam and you can pick up some for free. They’re full of marrow, which cleans all that unwanted tartar off their teeth. If you live in an area where they don’t live, a quick Internet search will have yours on order in no time.
The Papillion is prone to dislocating her kneecaps from time to time. Their kneecaps are loose by nature and they can be easily lodged out of place. If Sandy has shown evidence of this, you may wish to talk with your Vet about what can be done to avoid this.
Another problem Sandy has a good chance of developing is Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). The retina, which is in the back of the eye, is the place in our brain that receives light. In patients with PRA, what happens is that the retina starts thinning over time, causing first night blindness and eventually blindness. Unfortunately, this issue tends to exacerbate the dislocated kneecap problem. Owners of the Papillion have reported that as their beloved fur ball loses sight, he or she is even more apt to run into objects, which can increase the odds of dislocation.
If Sandy begins presenting with either or both of these issues, please take her to a Vet as soon as possible. A little intervention may not cure PRA (which is incurable) but may help you know the best course of treatment to take. If perhaps all it means is to remove objects that can easily fall on Sandy, that might be a start.