Nov 27 2009
Communicating To Your Toy Dog Through Papillon Training
With regard to temperament, one often-cited Papillon concern would be the slight inclination towards timidity. When it comes to training, this tendency may make housetraining an uphill battle, though not necessarily an uncertain one. Unless countered early, the Papillon’s behavior will spiral into marking spots of the house as their personal territory. What makes it more complex is that the dog is not a kennel dog; it will therefore need some careful and well-planned housebreaking. But far from being a symptom of what is coming, housebreaking the Papillon is actually only one of the very few major items in papillon training.
Training the Papillon is an enriching experience, given the dog’s intelligence and high activity level. The dog also needs to be socialized early on, otherwise the timidity mentioned earlier gains the upper hand and the dog matures with a lingering discomfort every time it is near children, strangers and cats.
Dog owners will also be able to help the dog much if they look into its tendency to have a sort of “big dog” attitude, which tends to affect the breed. The Papillon personality is actually midway between showing signs of aggressiveness towards larger dogs and jealousy towards other pets, and respecting other dogs and being less possessive. But ultimately, the dog can still end up developing an extreme personality leaning towards timidity or aggression. In the end, the decisive factor is still proper training and socialization.
Sometimes a lap dog and sometimes not, the Papillon insists on regular scratching behind the ears, petting and cuddling. The breed is also known for glossing over even the tiniest strange sound, and will answer it with a flurry of barking. In general, the breed is not hostile, and its barking fit is not meant to be aggressive, but the dog’s way of highlighting its surpirse or the arrival of company.
The upsides of the dog are its trait of obedience, and knack for performing tricks. Their intellect is captivated by any new learning, and they seem to view any new source of wonder as made exclusively for them.
If any of the above so far has given the hint of hyperactivity, then the reader is mistaken. This versatile dog breed can also forgo being on the move and receiving attention in order to be a patient and alert watchdog. With proper papillon training, this dog breed is indeed a jack of all trades.
