Related breedChinese Crested Dog1500 to 1965 · ChinaPapillon at a glance
- Origin
- France, Belgium
- Appeared
- 1500 to 1935 (likely)
- Family
- Toy Spitz
- Type
- Companion
- Size
- Toy
- Life span
- 14 to 16 years
- Recognised by
- FCI, AKC, KC
- Status
- Living
- FCI standard
- No. 77
- DNA clade
- Toy Spitz (Parker 2017)
The name. French for "butterfly", after its ears; the drop-eared variety is Phalène ("moth").
Family and relatives
Sister breeds
Same family: Toy Spitz
Same time, same continent
Bearded Collie, Beauceron, Bergamasco Shepherd, Cairn Terrier, English Setter, Kooikerhondje
Closest relatives by shared DNA
- Pug12.9 Mb
- Griffon Bruxellois12.6 Mb
Source: Parker et al. 2017, shared haplotypes in megabases.
Place in time
The Papillon appears 1500 to 1935 (likely), in the Age of Exploration, when 87 breeds first appeared.
A full article on the Papillon is coming. Meanwhile, the Border Collie shows what every breed page will hold: see the Border Collie.








