You know what is super frustrating?

[Laurelin]

Originally Posted by Cali Mae

Agreed, although I have only ever run into two other people with a Papillon and both raved about how great they are.

The thing that bugs me most is seeing the breed suggested when somebody wants a "small, easy, not so energetic dog". Based on my own experience and from the forum Papillons, the only adjective from the above assumption is "small".

Although Cali does get possessive over chews (which is something we are working on), she is incredibly smart, craves attention, and can go all day. Not to mention that she is the most outgoing, excitable (sometimes has its downsides though) I have ever met. Sure, she has an off switch and will be lazy with you but she wouldn't be suitable in a home where she gets minimal exercise and training. I know I slack off in the winter months, but I still get her out for a walk and we play fetch, etc.

I get incredibly frustrated with some of the all breed websites out there. I come across a lot that will go out and say shelties are incredibly high energy and you MUST exercise them and then turn around and say 'papillons need 5 minutes of exercise a day'. I literally saw one that said 5 minutes a day. What the ****. A lot say 'up to 30 minutes a day'.

Well there is the main problem right there. You exercise your papillon 5 minutes a day and then are shocked when it acts out in frustration? Mine have as much energy as my shelties did. Mia has more energy. So saying shelties need all this exercise but papillons don't is... ridiculous. It's shocking that when you do stuff with your dogs they tend to behave better. I mean, who would've thought?

I took mine to a store the other day and a lady was asking about them. I heard the store owner telling the lady that paps didn't ever shed. I see that one a lot. Trust me, they do shed. I even told the lady at the store that they do shed and she didn't believe me. Too bad I wasn't wearing black, it's pretty obvious they shed when I am wearing a black shirt.

Most people I meet have good impressions of the breed though. I think the most common question I get is 'aren't those supposed to be smart dogs?' Of course that one is a double edged sword too.