I believe one of the possible reasons for the lack of specific details describing movement in our breed standard is that our breed anatomically is rather ordinary. A Papillon does not have any skeletal abnormalities or exaggerations of movement like other toy breeds, such as Pekes or Min Pins, which need to be explained. Despite its small size, our breed is rather normal, beautifully balanced and when given a reasonable amount of exercise, is made to move well. Since any good judge or breeder should know movement, it is the details of type and the finer points of our breed which are emphasized in the standard.

Many standards describe breeds according to their purpose. Papillons, however, were originally bred to be a lapdog, adored and pampered, not having a specific purpose for their design, like some sporting breeds to flush game, or terriers to burrow and catch critters.

Under “General Appearance,” the breed is described as a small, friendly, elegant toy dog of fine-boned structure, light, dainty and of lively action. It goes on to say, free, quick, easy and graceful. These characteristics emphasize the refinement of the breed because they are fine boned and dainty, which is repeatedly mentioned throughout the standard. Papillons, with their inquisitive nature and keen mind, keep active in their joie de vivre. However, do not misconstrue to think a Papillon should not be equipped to move well.

If you read in the standard of how the breed should be constructed, and understand its proportions, you should be able to visualize how a well-balanced Papillon should move. The standard describes what the forequarters should be: Shoulders well developed and laid back to allow freedom of movement. Forelegs slender, fine-boned and must be straight. Front feet thin and elongated (hare-like), pointing neither in nor out. It also specifies what the movement should not be: not paddlefooted, or stiff in hip. Movement should be fluid and not constricted. Papillon upper arm length, which is not short, must be in balance with their shoulder blades and be adequately laid back to allow their forelegs to reach well forward and back, giving it the freedom and lightness of movement.

In describing the rear, The hindquarters are well developed and well angulated. The hind legs are slender, fineboned, and parallel when viewed frombehind. Hocks inclined neither in nor out ... Hind feet thin and elongated (hare-like), pointing neither in nor out.

The upper thigh bones, the tibias,and the lower bones, the fibulas, should meet at the joint of the stifle. When the dog stands, the stifles should be of sufficient length. Too long and the dog will not have control of its hocks, and too short, the dog will not be able to drive well with their hind legs. To move well, a Papillon should be well balanced with a front and rear assembly that has matching angulation.

Their proportion, which is rectangular in shape, not square, is also described, slightly longer than the height at withers. It is not a cobby dog. Having the proper balance and proportion, along with a length of leg, help add to the elegance of the breed. Ideally, a Papillon should have good reach and drive, cover ground well, be fine boned and dainty, and still exude its beautiful type. —Roseann Fucillo; cilloette@yahoo.com