| AKC Papillon & Phalene Breed Standard |
General appearance
The Papillon is a small, friendly, elegant toy dog of fine-boned structure, light , dainty and of lively action; distinguished from
other breeds by its beautiful butterfly-like ears.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size---Height at withers, 8-11 inches, Fault-Over 11 inches. Disqualification-Over 12 inches.
Proportion--Body must be slightly longer than the height at withers. It is not a Cobby dog. Weight is in proportion to height.
Substance-of fine-boned structure
Head
Eyes--Dark, round, not bulging of medium size and alert in expression, the inner corners of the eyes are on line with the stop.
Eye rims black.
Ears--The 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. (1 ) Ears of the erect type are carried obliquely and move like the spread wings of a butterfly, When alert, each ear
forms an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the head. The leather should be of sufficient strength to maintain the erect
position. ( 2 ) Ears of the drop type, known as the Phalene are similar to the erect type, but are carried drooping and must be
completely down.
Faults-ears small, set too high: one ear up , or ears partly down.
Skull-the 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.
Muzzle-- 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 stop is approximately one-third the length of the head from tip of nose to occiput.
Nose-black, small, rounded and slightly flat on top. The following fault shall be severely penalized-Nose not black.
Lips-tight, thin and black. Tongue must no be visible when jaws are closed.
Bite-teeth must meet in a scissors bite. Faults-overshot or undershot.
Neck, Top line, Body
Neck-of medium length
Topline--The back is straight and level.
Body-- 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 a long, flowing plume. The plume may bang to
either side of the body. Faults-low set tail: one not arched over the back or too short.
Forequarters
Shoulders well developed and laid back to allow freedom of movement. Forelegs slender, fine-bones and must be straight ,
Removal of dewclaws on forelegs optional. Front feet thin and elongated ( hair-like )_, pointing neither in nor out.
Hindquarters
Well developed and well angulated. The hind legs are slender, fine-boned, and parallel when viewed from behind. Hocks
inclined neither in nor out. Dewclaws, if any, must be removed from hind legs. Hind feet thin and elongated ( hair-like ), pointing
neither in nor out.
Coat
Abundant, long, fine, sulky, 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 well fringed, with the
inside covered with silken hair of medium length. Backs of the forelegs are covered with feathers diminishing to the pasterns.
Hind legs are covered to the hocks with abundant breeches ( culottes ). 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.
Color
Always particolored or white with patches of any color(s) . On the head, color (s) 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. Symmetry of facial markings is desirable.
The size, shape, placement and presence of patches of color on the body are without importance. Among the colors there is no
preference, provided nose, eye rims and lips are well-pigmented black.
The following faults shall be severely penalized- Color other than white not covering both ears, back and front, or not extending
from the ears over both eyes. A slight extension of the white collar onto the base of the ears, or a few white hairs interspersed
among the color, shall not be penalized, provided the butterfly appearance is not sacrificed.
Disqualifications-an all white dog or a dog with no white.
Gait
Free, quick, easy, graceful, not paddle-footed, or stiff in hip movements.
Temperament
Happy, alert and friendly, neither shy nor aggressive.
Disqualifications
Height over 12 inches.
An all white dog or a dog with no white.
Approved June 10, 1991
These standards are for show, Papillon puppies are just as beautiful even if they are not so perfect.
Whether they have a solid color face or a little white on one ear or both ears, or maybe only one eye
has color around it. Some may be smaller or bigger than the standard reads. It is a puppy you can love
for always and it will only ask to be loved and to be given food and water and a warm place to sleep.
Please remember your new Papillon puppy is a toy breed and can not be raised outside. They do
tolerate heat and cold to go for a walk, to play or to go out to potty. Papillons love to go out in the snow
to play. They will be covered in it when they come back in.
Patty
The Papillon is a small, friendly, elegant toy dog of fine-boned structure, light , dainty and of lively action; distinguished from
other breeds by its beautiful butterfly-like ears.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size---Height at withers, 8-11 inches, Fault-Over 11 inches. Disqualification-Over 12 inches.
Proportion--Body must be slightly longer than the height at withers. It is not a Cobby dog. Weight is in proportion to height.
Substance-of fine-boned structure
Head
Eyes--Dark, round, not bulging of medium size and alert in expression, the inner corners of the eyes are on line with the stop.
Eye rims black.
Ears--The 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. (1 ) Ears of the erect type are carried obliquely and move like the spread wings of a butterfly, When alert, each ear
forms an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the head. The leather should be of sufficient strength to maintain the erect
position. ( 2 ) Ears of the drop type, known as the Phalene are similar to the erect type, but are carried drooping and must be
completely down.
Faults-ears small, set too high: one ear up , or ears partly down.
Skull-the 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.
Muzzle-- 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 stop is approximately one-third the length of the head from tip of nose to occiput.
Nose-black, small, rounded and slightly flat on top. The following fault shall be severely penalized-Nose not black.
Lips-tight, thin and black. Tongue must no be visible when jaws are closed.
Bite-teeth must meet in a scissors bite. Faults-overshot or undershot.
Neck, Top line, Body
Neck-of medium length
Topline--The back is straight and level.
Body-- 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 a long, flowing plume. The plume may bang to
either side of the body. Faults-low set tail: one not arched over the back or too short.
Forequarters
Shoulders well developed and laid back to allow freedom of movement. Forelegs slender, fine-bones and must be straight ,
Removal of dewclaws on forelegs optional. Front feet thin and elongated ( hair-like )_, pointing neither in nor out.
Hindquarters
Well developed and well angulated. The hind legs are slender, fine-boned, and parallel when viewed from behind. Hocks
inclined neither in nor out. Dewclaws, if any, must be removed from hind legs. Hind feet thin and elongated ( hair-like ), pointing
neither in nor out.
Coat
Abundant, long, fine, sulky, 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 well fringed, with the
inside covered with silken hair of medium length. Backs of the forelegs are covered with feathers diminishing to the pasterns.
Hind legs are covered to the hocks with abundant breeches ( culottes ). 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.
Color
Always particolored or white with patches of any color(s) . On the head, color (s) 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. Symmetry of facial markings is desirable.
The size, shape, placement and presence of patches of color on the body are without importance. Among the colors there is no
preference, provided nose, eye rims and lips are well-pigmented black.
The following faults shall be severely penalized- Color other than white not covering both ears, back and front, or not extending
from the ears over both eyes. A slight extension of the white collar onto the base of the ears, or a few white hairs interspersed
among the color, shall not be penalized, provided the butterfly appearance is not sacrificed.
Disqualifications-an all white dog or a dog with no white.
Gait
Free, quick, easy, graceful, not paddle-footed, or stiff in hip movements.
Temperament
Happy, alert and friendly, neither shy nor aggressive.
Disqualifications
Height over 12 inches.
An all white dog or a dog with no white.
Approved June 10, 1991
These standards are for show, Papillon puppies are just as beautiful even if they are not so perfect.
Whether they have a solid color face or a little white on one ear or both ears, or maybe only one eye
has color around it. Some may be smaller or bigger than the standard reads. It is a puppy you can love
for always and it will only ask to be loved and to be given food and water and a warm place to sleep.
Please remember your new Papillon puppy is a toy breed and can not be raised outside. They do
tolerate heat and cold to go for a walk, to play or to go out to potty. Papillons love to go out in the snow
to play. They will be covered in it when they come back in.
Patty