along the line of the back and curved, the extreme tip may touch the back” Faults: “tail curly, resting on the back; falling on the side (that is the bone and not the fringes.”
front and rear legs to be straight and movement to be free, easy, graceful and elegant. IN SUMMARY In studying the Papillon as a breed- er or judge, it is useful to examine standards of the breed internationally while using the AKC standard in the US when judging. The best Papillons bred in each of these traditions can compete successfully in other coun- tries. In terms of form and function, Papillons are first companions. They are lap dogs, bed dogs, family enter- tainers and partners in many activities. They are athletic, very intelligent and always friendly. They should be lovely to look at, graceful butterflies with an elegant way about them, confidence, and joie de vivre . ABOUT THE AUTHOR Charlotte McGowan has been show- ing purebred dogs since she was an 11-year-old junior handler in the late 50s. In the past, she bred and showed Shelties, Dandie Dinmont Terriers and finished a Smooth Fox Terrier. She owner-handled BB at both the Sheltie and Dandie nationals and 2 AOMs at PCA nationals. She has had Papillons since 1985 and has bred over 50 Papil- lon champions to date from a small number of dogs. Charlotte judges all Sporting, Working, Terrier, Toy and Herding breeds. She has judged at both the PCA national and Papillon Canada national and a number of regional specialties.
A difference here is that the FCI standard appears to allow a looser tail although the US and UK standards don’t specifically say if the bone of the tail touches the back. GAIT US: “Free, quick, easy, graceful, not paddlefooted or stiff in hip movements.” UK: “Light, free-flowing, positive and
Dog bred in the UK that won in the UK and US. (Photo © Ian Raper)
free from any restriction. Dog covering ground well with no hint of hackneyed action.”
it is clearly marked without ever showing sudden break.” Under faults, it lists: “stop too much or insufficiently accentuated.” Eyes are listed as almond shape with too round as a fault. So the head is markedly different.
FCI: “Proud, free, easy and elegant.” POINTS OF AGREEMENT All three standards call for ears with rounded tips set at 45 degrees to the head. The US and UK standards empha- size that ears should be large. The FCI standard does not spend as much time on size. The ears are to be fringed. In the US, the ears are well fringed. In the UK, they should be large and are heav- ily fringed and the FCI calls for long fringes. All standards call for hare feet. All standards call for the Papillon to be lively, friendly and elegant. Shyness and aggression are not wanted anywhere. None of the standards describe basic structure in the detail many utilitar- ian breed standards use, but all call for fronts and rears to be well angulated,
Many imports from FCI coun- tries tend to have longer muzzles than dogs in the US or from the UK pri- marily due to standard differences. EARS US: “Distinguished from other breeds by its beautiful butterfly-like ears”. Ears can be erect or drop (phalene). Set approximately 45 degrees to the head. Large with rounded tips. Well fringed. Mobile. UK: Very large, mobile with rounded tips, heavily fringed. Set 45 degrees off the head. Also includes phalenes. FCI: Whether erect or phalene, should not end in too sharp a point. Set 45 degrees off the head. Not much language in the standard related to ear size. Phalenes are shown as a separate variety in FCI. TAIL US: “Long, set high and carried well arched over the body. The plume may hang to either side of the body. Faults-low-set tail; one not arched over the back or too short.” UK: Long, well fringed, set on high,
UK Champion male with winning offspring in the US and FCI. (Photo © Lisa Croft Elliott)
arched over back with fringes falling to side to form a plume.”
FCI: “Set quite high, rather long,
abundant fringe. Carried raised
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