Grooming – caring for a Papillon

A Papillon’s coat should be long, silky and without an undercoat. Generally speaking, looking after a Papillon is not very complicated and should not pose a major challenge, even for inexperienced owners. However, a great deal depends on the type and quality of the individual dog’s coat, as there can be significant differences in coat quality between different dogs. You can easily check the quality of the coat by running your hand against the direction of hair growth. If it easily springs back into place, it is of good quality. If, on the other hand, it remains bent out of shape, this indicates that the quality is poorer and there may be an undercoat present.

For a Papillon, it is worth stocking up on a few basic grooming products:

  • Moisturising and nourishing shampoo
  • Brightening shampoo
  • Moisturising and smoothing conditioner
  • Anti-static and moisturising spray
  • Detangling spray

 

Papillons should be bathed approximately every 3 weeks, but this depends largely on the quality of the dog’s coat and its lifestyle. It is worth brushing them regularly, at least once a week, to minimise the formation of mats and the shedding of dead hair. It is particularly important to brush the areas behind the ears and under the armpits, as this is where mats form most quickly.

Most grooming products are concentrates that need to be diluted, so shampoos and conditioners are quite economical. The manufacturer specifies on the packaging the ratio at which the product should be diluted. The steps for bathing a Papillon are as follows:

  1. Bathe the whole dog in a moisturising shampoo. If the dog is very dirty, you can also use a cleansing shampoo to bathe the dog first, followed by the moisturising shampoo. Rinse the shampoo off thoroughly.
  2. Apply a whitening shampoo to particularly dirty areas, e.g. the paws and belly, leave it on for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
  3. It’s a good idea to dilute the conditioner with water in a larger container and pour the mixture over the dog’s entire body. Leave it on for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
  4. Wrap the dog in a towel and hold it for about 10 minutes to allow the water to drain off. Avoid rubbing the dog to prevent the coat from becoming matted.
  5. Spray the dog with a moisturising spray and give the coat a preliminary comb-through. The coat should be dried with a hairdryer so that it falls nicely and does not look flat. Use a detangling spray on any tangles.

 

A Papillon should not be clipped! You should only trim the fur around the paws and between the pads, and on the hind legs below the hock. Trim the nails every 3–4 weeks.

 

Front paws – trim the fur to give them a neat, elongated shape, cutting it into a triangle. Do not trim it too short or into a rounded shape resembling a cat’s paw.

Hind legs – also trim the hair below the hock. As with the front paws, give them an elongated shape.

Also trim the hair between the pads on the underside of the paws.

 

BRUSHES

A poodle brush is not suitable for grooming a Papillon’s coat.

A brush with soft, short metal pins

A bristle brush

COMB

 

 

TEETH

It is advisable to teach your dog to have its teeth brushed, as some dogs develop tartar very quickly, which causes gum inflammation and can even lead to tooth loss. You should have your dog’s teeth checked by a vet at least once a year and, if necessary, have them cleaned under anaesthesia.

We recommend buying a small, very soft children’s toothbrush and toothpaste, such as StomaŻel or OraZn gel. It is a good idea to brush your dog’s teeth daily to minimise the build-up of plaque and tartar.

 

EYES

Some dogs develop discharge under their eyes, which causes rust-coloured discolouration. It is worth keeping some eye wash to hand and cleaning these areas as needed. If the discharge is particularly troublesome, you should have this checked by a vet, as it may indicate inflammation or an eye infection. In our experience, discharge is largely an individual matter and also depends on the structure of the skull and the shape of the eye.