Other names/Nicknames:
- Drop-eared Papillon
- Espagneul Nain
- Continental Spaniel
Country/Date of origin:
- Belgium
- 1400′s
Height:
- 8 to 11 inches
- Anything over 12 inches is a disqualification.
Weight:
- 8 to 10 pounds
Personality:
- A happy disposition.
- Gets along well with other pets and loves to be around people. Craves companionship.
- Can be assertive if it is threatened or stressed.
- Very protective and, because of its tendency to bark an alarm, is a good watchdog.
History:
The progenitor of the Papillon, the Phalene made its dainty way into the hands of French royal ladies via Italy and possibly Spain. The Phalene came to its refined flowering at the French court of Louis XIV in the 17th century. The dwarf spaniels were carried to England and then to the United States. The breed was accepted into the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1935 (see Papillon).
Body Type:
- A miniature Spaniel in appearance.
- The pendant ears are not altered.
- The plume tail is carried jauntily across the back and is not altered.
Coat:
- Long, silky, single coat.
- Hair is exceptionally long on the tail.
- Must be primarily white but has to have patches of color covering the ears and eyes. Additional patches of color on the body are allowed.
- Moderate grooming.
Health and Wellness:
- Sturdy and healthy in spite of its delicate appearance.
- Slipped patella which gives the gait a hop-and-a-skip appearance.
- Low blood sugar.
What you should know:
- Phalenes and Papillons may be born in the same litter.
- Dainty and clean. Easily housebroken.
- Requires little exercise.
- Recommended for apartment living or for older people.
- The Phalene’s original use was as a ladies companion.
- It has never had any job other than to grace the home and heart.
