RightPapillon

"Where happy Butterflies work:
Obedience, Rally Obedience & Therapy Dogs"

Reprinted with kind permission of Deb Wood.

The following was written in response to a post about...you guessed it - finding a Papillion...It is very solid advice.

Finding the RIGHT Papillon

by Deborah Wood

Papillons SHOULD be friendly, eager, outgoing and low-aggression dogs. They should be peaceable with humans and other small beasties.

That being said, there is a variety of temperaments in Papillons, just as in any other breed. There are certainly more than a fair share of timid Paps, and I've known a few that are rather nasty.

Not all dogs of ANY breed are created equal -- which is part of the joy of owning that individual dog whom you love. It's also why it's incredibly important to take your time, think about what you want, and find a great breeder. Since you've already waited 10 years, you probably have patience -- which is a good thing!

Here's what I would do:

1. Get to know the breeders in your area. The best way to do that is to go to dog shows. Sit and watch the dogs. See which breeders have happy, bold dogs and which ones have shy or snippy ones.

2. Talk to the breeders when they're not busy. Make an appointment to go visit them. Meet and play with the adult dogs, and decide which adults you like. More than likely, puppies from these dogs will grow up to have the personalities that you like.

3. Think about what you want.

Do you want a cuddle bug? (Some Paps love to snuggle, and others don't.)
Do you want an active performance dog? (Some Paps are always "on" like a Border Collie -- that's great for someone who wants to do agility, tracking, obedience, etc., but awful for someone who just wants a happy pet.)

There is no "generic" Papillon, so don't just take a dog because one becomes available. Take the time to find a Papillon that fits you and your lifestyle.

(When I was looking for my third Papillon, I met his mom at a show. I'd been semi-seriously looking for my next Pap, and when I met Lucy, and said to the breeder, "When you breed her, call me. I want one of her babies!" Pogo has a temperament almost identical to his mom's -- energetic, busy, curious, confident, friendly and stable. Pogo is perfect for me, but some of my friends thank their lucky stars that they don't have a Pap who is as pushy, independent, easily bored, and creative as my darling boy!)

4. Find a breeder you can trust. Everyone talks a good game. (No one will say, "Hi! I have a puppymill!" Or "Hi, I used to be a good breeder, but everything got beyond me a few years ago and my place is now chaos!") Lots of people seem terrific when you first meet them. BEFORE you're ready for a dog, talk to the breeders, visit their homes, see what their dogs are like.

Are the dogs an important part of the family, or are they stuck in cages all day long? Is everybody clean and well-cared for?
Does the breeder treat each dog as an individual, or are they all part of an amorphous pack?
Different people have a different number of dogs they can comfortably handle: for some breeders that might be five dogs, for others it might be fifteen. It's never 50.

5. Consider getting a "teenager" or young adult. Usually, show breeders keep most of their puppies until they're at least 6 months old. Sometimes, they keep the dog until he's a year or two. If it's a conscientious, loving breeder, the puppy is learning all the things he needs to learn to be a good adult. When he's ready for the pet home, you'll know what you're getting, since every puppy is something of an unknown.

Part of a nice Papillon is a nice home. Many Paps are pushy, demanding little dogs. If no one clearly, gently, non-violently sets limits, they will push. I've known two Paps who nipped who became nice little dogs when their owners taught them a little obedience -- then insisted the dogs behave before treats, games and other privileges.

BTW, I am NOT a breeder. A great breeder is a goddess who has abilities far beyond mine!

Hope this helps!

Deborah Wood (author of "Help for Your Shy Dog" and "The Tao of Bow Wow")
and Goldie CD CGC, U-CDX
Radar CDX HIC CGC and Pogo (it's time for him to start earning a few initials!)

Portland, OR
July 9, 2001

Please also read: Is A Papillon Right for You?, Papillons with Kids & Other Pets and Sources for a Papillon

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