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Papipoo (Papillon & Poodle Mix): Info, Pics, Puppies & Facts

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By Nicole Cosgrove

Papipoo (Papillon & Poodle Mix)

Height: 9 – 12 inches
Weight: 6 – 14 pounds
Lifespan: 10 – 14 years
Colors: Black, white, tan, red, grey, with patches of white or black
Suitable for: Families and apartment and city dwellers
Temperament: Affectionate, intelligent, active, curious, playful

The Papipoo is a loving and intelligent “designer dog” who will swiftly become your shadow and wants nothing more than to be a part of your every activity. They are a mixed-breed dog, a cross between a Papillon and Poodle, and are breeds both known for their royal histories. The Papipoo is a fairly new breed, and not much is known about their exact origins. They were likely part of the worldwide trend that began in the mid-1980s to create new and unique Poodle mixes. The quest was to create a smaller Poodle who still had all the ideal traits of intelligence, friendliness, and energy, as well as a short, “hypoallergenic” coat.

The Standard Poodle, one of the oldest breeds of dog around, originated as a duck-hunting dog in Germany but quickly became a firm favorite companion among the French. Their hunting capabilities were soon pushed aside in favor of their flashy coats and ease of trainability, making them a highly sought-after entertainer and show dog. Elvis Presley is known to have adored Poodles and had quite a collection. He was also known for giving Poodle puppies as gifts.

The Papillon is a breed of Toy Spaniel and was the beloved dog of choice of Marie Antoinette. They were so loved, in fact, that the legend goes that she took her Papillon with her to the guillotine for execution. These tiny dogs were commonly bred as lapdogs and companions for the royal courts of Europe.

With both their parent breeds’ history steeped in European royalty, you may expect Papipoos to be pampered lapdogs who are content to be spoiled by their owners. While they do love a good cuddle, Papipoos are also highly active and energetic dogs who love to run as much as they want to warm your lap. If you are on the lookout for an active dog who doesn’t take up too much space, the guide below will tell you everything you need to know about these royal little pooches.Divider-Dog Paw and Bone- New

Papipoo Puppies

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

Being a fairly new breed of dog, Papipoo puppies can be difficult to find. A reputable breeder who can provide you with a history of the parents is ideal. It’s even better if you can find one who needs a home in a shelter. A dog rescued from a shelter will save two dogs: the one you take home and the one who will take their place.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Papipoo

1. Papillons are one of the oldest Toy Spaniel breeds.

Named after the French word for “butterfly” due to their characteristic long-haired ears that resemble butterfly wings, the Papillon is one of the oldest Toy Spaniel breeds, being found immortalized in paintings dating as far back as the early 1500s. Their highly recognizable ears are not always erect, and some are born with dropped ears, often even from the same litter. This variety is called a Phalene, which is French for “moth.” Despite this small distinction, both fall under the same breed classification.


2. Papipoos are highly intelligent.

Both the Standard Poodle and Papillon are listed among the top 10 dogs in the 1994 book, “The Intelligence of Dogs,” widely considered the go-to book when assessing canine intellect. With rankings like this for parent breeds, you can be sure your Papipoo will have inherited smarts too! With their adorable fluffy coats and endearing brown eyes, they truly have the best of both worlds.

The breeds had to meet specific requirements to reach the top 10 of intelligent dogs, including obeying a command the first time and understanding new commands in five or fewer repetitions.


3. There is more to Poodles than their good looks.

The thick, dense and curly coat of Poodles has a historically vital purpose. Because Poodles were originally bred in Germany as hunting dogs — specifically, duck hunting — they were frequently jumping into freezing water and needed the extra protection. Of course, this wet hair would weigh the Poodles down, so hunters would strategically shear them, leaving fur in vital areas that needed to be protected. Also, Poodle hair never stops growing and needs regular trimming to keep them knot-free.

Parent Breeds of the Papipoo
Image Credit: Jumpstory

Temperament & Intelligence of the Papipoo 🧠

Both the Papipoo’s parent breeds are among the most intelligent in the world, so you can rest assured that the Papipoo will inherit this trait. Some owners say that Papipoos use this intellect to manipulate, as these adorable little dogs know how to get their way. But this intellect also translates into eager-to-please pooches who are easy to train.

They are friendly and easy-going dogs who want to be friends with everyone and everything they come into contact with. That said, they are also alert little watchdogs and will quickly sound the alarm if there is a stranger around.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Yes! Papipoos love being around their owners and make great family pets. Their playful and lively nature, plus small stature, will make them a great pet for kids. They rarely, if ever, show any aggression, and if they do, it will be only when they are in “guard-dog” mode protecting their families. Because they love being around humans, they can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for long periods and become quite attached to their owners.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Papipoos are a friendly, sociable, and non-aggressive breed that will get along great with other dogs and pets, provided that they are socialized at a young age. These dogs have a big personality packed inside a small package and will often boss larger dogs and pets around.

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Things to Know When Owning a Papipoo

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

These small dogs don’t require large amounts of daily food intake but do require the most nutrient-dense and healthy food possible.

We recommend feeding your Papipoo the best quality dry kibble that you can find — around 1 cup a day is suitable — with additional meat or canned food whenever possible. But be careful, as many commercial dog foods often contain harmful filler ingredients, including wheat, corn, and soy, which can be detrimental to dogs. Dairy products, over-abundance of grains, sugar, and fatty meats should also not be given to your Papipoo, as these can quickly lead to diabetes or obesity.

Protein should make up a large part of your dog’s nutrient intake, and while it can be found in commercial kibble, this is usually extracted from vegetables, which is not an ideal source of protein. The best form of protein is found in good-quality lean meats and fish. A small amount of fat is also essential, as it helps maintain a healthy skin and coat and protect your dog’s internal organs. Papipoos are prone to getting overweight, so they should not be freely fed. Table scraps should also be avoided — even when they look up at you with those adoring eyes.

Most dogs need around 25-30 calories per pound per day on average to maintain a healthy weight. Depending on their age, size, and energy levels, Papipoos will need to get anywhere from 125-500 calories a day. Most commercial kibble will have a caloric guide on the packaging so you can accurately keep track.

Exercise 🐕

Being animals of such high intellect, Papipoos must have both physical and mental activity every day. Even though these dogs are not extremely high energy, they will need a minimum of an hour of exercise a day in order to stay happy and healthy. Without it, Papipoos will have a great deal of pent-up energy that can swiftly lead to behavioral problems that can manifest in the form of barking, digging, and ripping up furniture and shoes. A daily walk is ideal. Not only is this a good form of exercise, but the different sights and smells also offer plenty of mental stimulation.

Mentally stimulating play, including “fetch” with a stick or ball, is a great way of bonding with your pooch. This includes frisbee, as the frisbee itself is harder for them to catch than a ball or stick, and will provide hours of challenging play, as well as training and improving their timing and coordination.

Training 🦮

A Papipoo has intelligent parent breeds, so you can be sure that training will be a breeze. This, combined with an innate desire to please, means that Papipoos will love all the activities involved in training and will enthusiastically respond to commands. Training should begin as early as possible, as this will establish a strong bond between the two of you and promote correct habits early on. These dogs learn quickly, and it’s far better to get them learning good habits first! Females mature faster than males and can thus be trained at an earlier age.

We highly recommend reward-based training for a Papipoo, as this is a gentle method that won’t put off an easily frightened Papipoo. This method takes dedication and relies on consistency and repetition from the owner, which means you’ll need to do some form of training every day with your Papipoo. We recommend training sessions of no longer than 15-20 minutes, as longer sessions may lead to boredom and frustration.

The keys to good training with these dogs are consistency, repetition, and most importantly, patience.

Grooming ✂️

The Papipoo’s coat is a mix of the thick, dense coat of Poodles and the long, wispy coat of Papillons and will require a fair amount of grooming. They will love the occasional brush, and a trim every month or so is all that’s necessary. While the occasional bath is recommended, try and keep bathing exclusively for when your Papipoo is dirty from playing in the dirt or mud. Too much bathing can cause skin issues and the depletion of the natural oils in your dog’s coat.

Their nails may need trimming once or twice a month, but regular activity will usually keep them short. Nails that get too long can cause pain for your pooch and may even lead to infection. Regular teeth brushing, at least once a week, will prevent plaque build-up and dental issues.

The Papipoos ears should be checked regularly for redness and infection, especially if they are dropped ears. Keeping them dry after swimming or bathing will assist in preventing infection.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Both Poodles and Papillons are healthy and robust breeds, and the Papipoo is the same. Due to their diverse genetics, they also have the advantage that mixed breeds have of being tougher and stronger. Most of the common issues that can affect Papipoos are usually size-related, as they are small to medium-sized dogs.

For Poodles, common health concerns include hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, and Addison’s disease. They can also suffer from more minor problems like bloat and various skin allergies. One of the most common problems in Standard Poodles is sebaceous adenitis, which is an inflammation of the sebaceous glands. This disorder can lead to skin disease and hair loss.

Papillons are commonly affected by patella luxation, hypothyroidism, and collapsing trachea. A dental issue due to the overcrowding of teeth in their small mouths, called supernumerary teeth, is common among small dogs but is usually fairly harmless.

It is widely recommended to neuter males and spay females, as this will lead to overall greater health and lessen the risk of various cancers in both sexes.

Minor Conditions
  • Bloat
  • Sebaceous adenitis
  • Supernumerary teeth
  • Ear infections
Serious Conditions
  • Cancer
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Collapsing trachea
  • Patella luxation
  • Addison’s disease
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Male vs. Female

As with any breed of dog, personality and temperament can vary greatly from dog to dog, and this is mostly due to their upbringing and environment. That said, there are a few small differences in male and female Papipoo dogs, but these are most prominent if they are not spayed or neutered. Neutered and spayed dogs will usually have a more even and relaxed temperament.

Females are known for being moodier than males and more protective of their owners. Female Papipoos are also said to be more independent, preferring to do their own thing, while males need almost constant entertainment. Females are generally fussy eaters, while males are more likely to eat whatever is in front of them. Males are more playful and are consequently slightly more difficult to train. They also mature later than females, so females can begin training earlier.

Divider 3Final Thoughts on the Papipoo

The Papipoo is a highly intelligent dog with adorable looks to match. Their friendly and eager-to-please temperament makes them a wonderful family pet who is also easy to train and has low-maintenance grooming needs. They are hardly ever aggressive, are highly affectionate, and their attentive nature makes them great as little yapping guard dogs too. They are perfect little dogs for active owners who don’t have huge amounts of yard space.

If you are looking for a low-maintenance, easy-going, and highly lovable dog, the Papipoo may just be a perfect choice.

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Featured Image Credit: Goldenacresdogs.com

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