Papillon dogs are one of the oldest toy breeds, and they're known for their long, floppy ears and playful personalities.
The name "papillon" means "butterfly" in French, which is a reference to the dog's large, butterfly-shaped ears.
Papillons were bred as ratters in order to rid homes of pests. They were too small to directly kill a rat, so they would bait the rat and tease it until it became too exhausted to fight back.
Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France, was a fan of papillon dogs. She had several papillons, and they were often seen with her at cou
Papillon dogs can have two different ear shapes. Butterfly ears are the most common, and they are long and floppy. Rose ears are shorter and point upwards.
Papillons are registered as a toy breed, but they don't make good lapdogs. They are high-energy dogs that need a lot of activity.
Papillon dogs were originally bred in Spain, but they became popular in Italy during the Renaissance.
Papillon dogs were also popular with painters in the 17th and 18th centuries. They were often depicted in portraits and still life paintings.
The most expensive papillon dog ever sold was a male named Puppy who sold for $2.2 million in 2014. Puppy was a champion show dog.