hi,everyone!!! I'm thinking of buying a dog but can't decide between a papillon n a chihuahua...so, which one do you guys think makes a better pet?? Anyway,r they similar?:? they are almost the same size and they look almost alike....somewhere in the internet states that paps are prettier version of chihuahuas (no offence to the chihuahuas fans;-) ).....
Looks wise i refer the chi, Sorry cant give out any advice as i really dont know much about them at all Im sure someone be come along soon
Totally different in almost everyway Chihuahuas were originally used for hunting in Mexico & can be quite terrier like in temperament, even the long coated variety don't need extenxive grooming Papillon's are more spaniel like(believed to have come from a small spaniel breed from spain)Their coats need a lot of regular grooming to keep them looking good Both have health problems so whichever you may chose make sure the parents are health tested
My mum used to own chihuahua's, one was short haired bolshy & protective (dog), the other long haired and very pretty and sweet natured (bitch). Cant comment on Papillon but they do look lovely. Go and visit a few breeders of each dog, you will know which one is the one for you after that Im sure.
wow,thanks for the quick reply ...chihuahuas were used for hunting?? dats kind of hard to believe...lol...anyway,i read from somewhere (can't remember where)that papillons are spaniels but might also be spitz bcoz paps have the curled tail & the head of a spitz...they also have the upright ear of a spitz,eventhough the shape closely resemble spaniel....now i'm confused:?
hi lillybet your chi is soooo cute!!!!:smt007 now i feel like getting a chi....but are they fragile??coz i currently got a dog at home...she's considered small,but almost double the size of an average chi and kind of rough...do you take your chi out for walks or do you juz let it(is your chi gal or boy??)exercise by playing with it?....i heard that you can't use collar to walk them (and all the other small breed)but instead have to use harness....:-(
History of the Chihuahua Not seen many toy dogs wearing harnesses except pet ones, never seen one toy dog wearing a harness at any of the shows I go to & as I show another toy breed(Cavalier King Charles Spaniels)I do see quite a lot of toy dogs, probably more in one day than the average member of the public ever sees in the street in a lifetime Do not confuse the small size for small intelligence/attitude A little dog doesn't know it is little only that other things are bigger than it is. TBH I wouldn't have a dog smaller than a Cavalier-way to physically fragile for me & way too expensive if bred for the wrong reasons-Good Chis & Paps are hard to breed-but there are lots of puppy farmers & backyard breeders producing very poor quality puppies & selling them for silly prices(local paper had some Chis for £1,500 each & no papers !!!!!
IMO they are very different, as has been said the Chi is terrier like the Pap is a spitz and almost twice the size of a Chi. As to which would make the best pet it depends on what you want from a pet and what activity you may wish to undertake with them. Neither are ready made pet material and I think should not be anyone’s first dog.
Why don't you contact the breed clubs and have a chat with them? They will be able to advise of the breed characteristics and how to go about finding the right puppy from a reputable breeder They may even be able to connect you with a breeder in your area so you can meet the dogs and see which breed will suit your lifestyle best. http://www.papillonclub.co.uk/index.htm http://www.the-british-chihuahua-club.org.uk/ Good luck!
I would not consider the two breeds alike either .. apart from the fact they are both toy breeds.. Paps are much bigger than the average Chi.. and Chi's do have a "terrier" type personality in as much as they are very very gutsy/brave little dogs when it comes to themselves and their people, they are extremely loyal to their owner and although they love all people in the household (and outside if well socialised) they seem to bond strongly with only one person, shadowing that person in all they do.. I only ever walk my girl on a body harness as Chis are prone to tracheal weakness/collapse so I don't want her to pull constantly on a collar .... yes.. despite their size they do still try to pull !! the harness is also handy for the odd occasion when you may need to scoop them up from dangers presented by others..They are not particularly fragile but do need different care and "awareness" than bigger dogs. My Chi definately needs walking and a lot of mental stimulation, personally I think it would be unkind not to walk her she is so full of energy and loves to run.. obdeince training is a must........... they are small but they have big personalities!! and can be extremely determined If I was you I would research both breeds throughly before deciding if either are right for you Rachel
Don't forget to read the profiles on them too: http://www.dogsey.com/papillon.htm http://www.dogsey.com/chihuahua.htm Good Luck!
hmmm....:-/ maybe i shud get a cavalier..or a min pin...coz i'm afraid my sis' dog will trample a chi or pap,eventhough she's not dat big herself (she's about the size of a jack russell)....do you all think its ok for a chi or pap to live with her??i mean, they can't be that fragile,right??
A few paps do agility so they can't be that delicate but all young dogs need proper care and control so size should not matter, have a friend who keeps Italian Greyhounds and Rotties together and the IG have delicate bones. If your sister has a terrier then perhaps you would be better getting something a little less feisty than a Chi and a bit more biddable than the Pap. Most of the toys have their problems so perhaps you should look at something like a Dachshund or a Border terrier neither that biddable but easier than the Papillon or you could look at a Staffie.
actually,my sister's friend gave her the dog...her mother is a cocker spaniel and her father is a mix breed...terrier mix,i think....she doesn't look like a spaniel at all..lol.. ok,i might sound dumb,but wat exactly is the meaning of feisty?? another question,are min pin fragile too?coz they are terriers,rite? I thought all terriers are tough...:?
I have a Papillon, shes a great little dog. Reserved with strangers but lovely with all her family. Shes almost 14yrs now and is still very bouncy and active and can still keep up with 3 Border Terriers. Dawn.
All toy breeds need careful handling, it is perhaps because the toy breeds have, in most cases, been bred down to a small size which means that somewhere in their background the smallest of the available dogs have been bred in order to achieve the 'toy' size, and sometimes the smaller members of a breed are not the fittest. Feisty means, lively, spirited, in your face and sometimes aggressively determined. It is not a derogative term and describes a working terrier to the letter. Think perhaps you should tell us what it is you want from your dog and the sort of surroundings it will be living in, also is someone at home all day and will it be with the Spaniel cross a good deal. PS Must say I think the Papillon is more Spitz than toy so may be what you are looking for but they need a good deal of attention and activity.
Cavaliers have not been bred down from a larger dog in the 100 years, their orgins lie with the spaniels of the Royal courts of the Plantagenets way back in the 13th Century, they always had small spaniels that were used to hunt Woodcocks They were companions for the ladies & working dogs for the gentlemen. Queen Elizabeth I had them & obviously the Charles I & II were never without them, these dogs were Black & Tan. There was also a similar strain of small spaniels that were owned by the Churchill family, whose family seat was Blenheim & these dogs were chestnut & white-hence this colour is known as Blenheim. The ladies were given the dogs with the lozenze mark on the skull & the others belonged to the gentlemen. The close relationship between John Churchill & King James II(he was employed by him as a very young man & eventually became Prime Minster & The 1st Duke of Marlborough)meant the two strains of spaniels-the Royal Spaniels(King Charles Spaniels) & the blenheim spaniels were bred together-hence the four colours we have today Their size was such that they could be carried by a man at arms on horse back during hunting over the pommel of the horse & they had to be agile enough to jump from the horse, flush out & rerieve the Woodcock. They really should be in the Gundog group as the Cavalier today is very close to the pre Victorian King Charles. In the 19th century the dogs were bred for the short muzzles seen today on the King Charles simply because the Royal Ladies(including Queen Victoria)liked their dogs with a more"human look"The resurrection of the slightly bigger longer muzzled dogs started around 1926 & mine can certainly hunt & although they restrict it to mice they definitely "bird dogs"given half a chance & would not look out of place in the old paintings of the Royal family & Marlboroughs & their spainels They do have their health problems as do most breeds & none breeds but the are certainly not as fragile as lots of the other toy breeds
Sorry Joodee, was not picking on any special breed to be honest I do not think of the Cavalier or the Papillon as being typical of most toy breeds, but I did say ' in most cases'. When you think of it, if all dogs started the size of wolves then a fair number must have been bred to a smaller size. Think what I was trying to get over was that small dog does not equal easy dog, the more specialised the bred the more care it is likely to need.
