FCI standard for the Continental Toy Spaniel

Please be aware of the fact, that the standard differs from country to country.
This is the standard used in Denmark at shows and for breeding.

Papillon & Phalene (butterfly-dog)

General appearance:
The Papillon is a small, friendly, elegant toy dog of fine-boned structure, light, dainty and of lively action; distinguished from other breeds by its beautiful butterfly-like ears.

Size, Proportion, Substance:
Size: Height at withers, aprox: 28 cm.
Proportion: Body must be slightly longer than the height at withers. It is not a cobby dog. Weight is in proportion to height. (the 2 weight-classes mentioned in the French original is not used in Denmark)
Substance: Of fine-boned structure.

Head:
Eyes dark, almondshaped, not bulging, of medium size and alert in expression. The inner corners of the eyes are on line with the stop. Eye rims black.

Ears:
The ears of either the erect or drop type should be large with rounded tips, and set on the sides and toward the back of the head. (1) Ears of the erect type are carried obliquely and move like the spread wings of a butterfly. When alert, each ear forms an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the head. The leather should be of sufficient strength to maintain the erect position. (2) Ears of the drop type, known as the Phalène, are similar to the erect type, but are carried drooping and must be completely down.

Skull:
The head is small. The skull is of medium width and slightly rounded between the ears. A well-defined stop is formed where the muzzle joins the skull.
Muzzle: The muzzle is fine, abruptly thinner than the head, tapering to the nose. The length of the muzzle from the tip of the nose to stop is approximately one-third the length of the head from tip of nose to occiput.
Nose black, small, rounded and slightly flat on top. Lips tight, thin and black.
Bite: Teeth must meet in a scissors bite.

Neck, Topline, Body:
Neck of medium length.
Topline:The backline is straight and level.
Body: The chest is of medium depth with ribs well sprung. The belly is tucked up.
Tail long, set high and carried well arched over the body.
The tail is covered with a long, flowing plume. The plume may hang to either side of the body.

Forequarters:
Shoulders well developed and laid back to allow freedom of movement. Forelegs slender, fine-boned and must be straight. The dog must not look too leggy. Front feet thin and elongated (hare-like), pointing neither in, nor out.

Hindquarters:
Well developed and well angulated. The hind legs are slender, fine-boned, and parallel when viewed from behind. Hocks inclined neither in nor out. Hind feet thin and elongated (hare-like), pointing neither in nor out.

Coat:
Abundant, long, fine, silky, flowing, straight with resilient quality, slightly wavy. A profuse frill on chest. There is no undercoat. Hair short and close on skull, muzzle, front of forelegs, and from hind feet to hocks. Ears well fringed, with the inside covered with silken hair of medium length. Backs of the forelegs are covered with feathers diminishing to the pasterns. Hind legs are covered to the hocks with abundant breeches (culottes). Tail is covered with a long, flowing plume. Hair on feet is short, but fine tufts may appear over toes and grow beyond them, forming a point.

Color:
Always parti-color or white with patches of any color(s). On the head, the white must not be too dominant. A clearly defined white blaze and noseband are preferred to a solidly marked head.The size, shape, placement, and presence or absence of patches of color on the body are without importance. Among the colors there is no preference, provided nose, eye rims and lips are well pigmented black.

Gait:
Free, quick, easy, graceful, not paddlefooted, or stiff in hip movements.

Faults:

• The skull too flat or too round, as seen at the english spaniels.
  The stop too heavily or too light marked.
  
• The eyes too round, light or profuse.
  
• Ears small, pointed, set too high; one ear up - one down, or ears partly down.
  
• The coat not silky, profuse, not wavy, undercoat.
  
• Overshot or undershot.
  
• Low set tail. The tail curled, laying flat on the back or hanging down the side.
  
• The coat thin, soft, puffy, stray or woolly, the presence of undercoat is a severe fault.
  

Disqualifying fault:

• Nose not black.
  
• Tongue visible when jaws are closed, and NOT withdrawn when touched.
  
• The teeth not touching in over- or undershot.

Males should have two normally developed testicles in the scrotum.