Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Papillons Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Papillons Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Papillons Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Papillons Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Papillons Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Papillons Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Papillons Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Papillons Easy to Train?
- Do Papillons Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Papillons Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Papillons have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Papillons Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Papillons Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Papillons Playful? What is the Energy Level of Papillons
- Conclusion on Papillon Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Papillon
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Papillon out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Papillon based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Papillon breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Papillon by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Papillon.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Papillon for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Papillon.
The summary table below shows the score of the Papillon for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Energy Level | 60.5 percent |
| Excitability | 44.4 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 44.2 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 41.7 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 40.9 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 40.3 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 40.0 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 34.7 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 31.4 percent |
| Prey Drive | 29.9 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 26.2 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 24.4 percent |
| Stubbornness | 21.2 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 20.5 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Papillon`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Papillon, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Papillon.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Papillons Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Papillons are a little bit aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Papillon ranks low for aggression towards strangers.
The Papillon ranks number 84 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 45 Papillon owners reported on the temperament of their Papillon in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Papillon has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 26.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit aggressive towards strangers just like the Papillon are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 27.0 % |
| 82 | English Bulldog | 26.4 % |
| 83 | Shetland Sheepdog | 26.3 % |
| 84 | Papillon | 26.2 % |
| 85 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 26.0 % |
| 86 | Ibizan Hound | 25.9 % |
| 87 | Irish Water Spaniel | 25.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Papillons Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Papillons are quite a bit aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Papillon ranks high for aggression towards its owner.
The Papillon ranks number 46 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 45 Papillon owners reported on the temperament of their Papillon in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Papillon has an owner-directed-aggression score of 20.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit owner-aggressive just like the Papillon are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | English Springer Spaniel | 21.9 % |
| 44 | Newfoundland | 21.2 % |
| 45 | Samoyed | 20.9 % |
| 46 | Papillon | 20.5 % |
| 47 | Miniature Schnauzer | 20.1 % |
| 48 | Parson Russell Terrier | 19.8 % |
| 49 | Australian Cattle Dog | 19.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Papillons Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Papillons are somewhat aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Papillon ranks average for aggression towards other dogs.
The Papillon ranks number 72 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 45 Papillon owners reported on the temperament of their Papillon in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Papillon has a dog-directed aggression score of 40.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat dog-aggressive just like the Papillon are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 69 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 41.9 % |
| 70 | French Bulldog | 41.9 % |
| 71 | Poodle (Miniature) | 41.1 % |
| 72 | Papillon | 40.3 % |
| 73 | Gordon Setter | 40.2 % |
| 74 | Great Dane | 39.8 % |
| 75 | Bulldog | 39.4 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Papillons Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Papillons are quite a bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the Papillon ranks high for fear of strangers.
The Papillon ranks number 29 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 45 Papillon owners reported on the temperament of their Papillon in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Papillon has a stranger-directed-fear score of 40.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit stranger-fearful just like the Papillon are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Mastiff (English) | 42.1 % |
| 27 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 42.1 % |
| 28 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 41.9 % |
| 29 | Papillon | 40.9 % |
| 30 | Bichon Frise | 40.7 % |
| 31 | Dalmatian | 39.5 % |
| 32 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 39.5 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Papillons Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Papillons are somewhat fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Papillon ranks average for fear of other dogs.
The Papillon ranks number 55 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 45 Papillon owners reported on the temperament of their Papillon in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Papillon has a dog-directed-fear score of 40.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat other-dog-fearful just like the Papillon are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Shetland Sheepdog | 40.8 % |
| 53 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 40.2 % |
| 54 | Belgian Tervuren | 40.1 % |
| 55 | Papillon | 40.0 % |
| 56 | Jack Russell Terrier | 39.9 % |
| 57 | Cairn Terrier | 39.8 % |
| 58 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 39.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Papillons Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Papillons are a little bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Papillon ranks low for non-social fear.
The Papillon ranks number 76 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 45 Papillon owners reported on the temperament of their Papillon in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Papillon has a nonsocial-fear score of 24.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Papillon are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 26.0 % |
| 74 | Golden Retriever | 25.8 % |
| 75 | Belgian Sheepdog | 24.4 % |
| 76 | Papillon | 24.4 % |
| 77 | Pug | 24.1 % |
| 78 | Akita | 22.9 % |
| 79 | Keeshond | 22.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Papillons Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Papillons are a little bit competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Papillon ranks low on dog rivalry.
The Papillon ranks number 87 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 45 Papillon owners reported on the temperament of their Papillon in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Papillon has a dog-rivalry score of 31.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit competition-driven just like the Papillon are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 84 | Borzoi | 31.5 % |
| 85 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 31.5 % |
| 86 | Irish Water Spaniel | 31.5 % |
| 87 | Papillon | 31.4 % |
| 88 | Greyhound | 31.3 % |
| 89 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 31.1 % |
| 90 | Bullmastiff | 30.7 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Papillons Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Papillons are quite a bit easy to train.
This is because the Papillon ranks high for trainability.
The Papillon ranks number 32 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 45 Papillon owners reported on the trainability of their Papillon in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Papillon has a trainability score of 78.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit easy to train just like the Papillon are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Standard Schnauzer | 79.9 % |
| 30 | Eurasier | 79.2 % |
| 31 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 78.9 % |
| 32 | Papillon | 78.8 % |
| 33 | Labrador Retriever | 78.8 % |
| 34 | Weimaraner | 78.8 % |
| 35 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 78.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Papillon is and how the intelligence of the Papillon affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Papillon is.
Do Papillons Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Papillons are not into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Papillon ranks very low for small-pet-chasing.
The Papillon ranks number 101 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 45 Papillon owners reported on the temperament of their Papillon in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Papillon has a chasing score of 29.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are not into chasing after smaller pets just like the Papillon are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 98 | Belgian Sheepdog | 30.6 % |
| 99 | Labrador Retriever | 30.5 % |
| 100 | Bichon Frise | 30.4 % |
| 101 | Papillon | 29.9 % |
| 102 | Italian Greyhound | 29.9 % |
| 103 | Pointer | 29.6 % |
| 104 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 28.7 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Papillons Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Papillons are a little bit attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Papillon ranks low for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Papillon ranks number 82 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 45 Papillon owners reported on the temperament of their Papillon in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Papillon has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 44.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit attachment/attention-seeking just like the Papillon are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 79 | Bulldog | 45.5 % |
| 80 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 45.4 % |
| 81 | Beagle | 44.9 % |
| 82 | Papillon | 44.2 % |
| 83 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 43.7 % |
| 84 | Pekingese | 43.4 % |
| 85 | Lagotto Romagnolo | 42.2 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Papillons have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Papillons are somewhat prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Papillon ranks average for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Papillon ranks number 57 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 45 Papillon owners reported on the temperament of their Papillon in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Papillon has a separation anxiety score of 41.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Papillon are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | English Springer Spaniel | 42.5 % |
| 55 | Dalmatian | 42.3 % |
| 56 | Chow Chow | 42.2 % |
| 57 | Papillon | 41.7 % |
| 58 | Pointer | 41.3 % |
| 59 | Brittany | 40.9 % |
| 60 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 40.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Papillons Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Papillons are quite a bit touch-sensitive.
This is because the Papillon ranks high for touch sensitivity.
The Papillon ranks number 44 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 45 Papillon owners reported on the temperament of their Papillon in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Papillon has a touch-sensitivity score of 34.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit touch-sensitive just like the Papillon are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | Keeshond | 35.6 % |
| 42 | Basenji | 35.3 % |
| 43 | Greyhound | 34.8 % |
| 44 | Papillon | 34.7 % |
| 45 | West Highland White Terrier | 34.5 % |
| 46 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 34.5 % |
| 47 | Border Collie | 34.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Papillons Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Papillons are somewhat hyper (excitable).
This is because the Papillon ranks average for excitability.
The Papillon ranks number 66 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 45 Papillon owners reported on the temperament of their Papillon in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Papillon has an excitability score of 44.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat excitable just like the Papillon are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 63 | Belgian Sheepdog | 45.0 % |
| 64 | Irish Water Spaniel | 44.4 % |
| 65 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 44.4 % |
| 66 | Papillon | 44.4 % |
| 67 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 44.2 % |
| 68 | Basset Hound | 43.8 % |
| 69 | Doberman Pinscher | 43.8 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Papillons Playful? What is the Energy Level of Papillons
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Papillons are somewhat energetic.
This is because the Papillon ranks average for energy level.
The Papillon ranks number 54 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 45 Papillon owners reported on the temperament of their Papillon in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Papillon has an energy-level score of 60.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat energetic just like the Papillon are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Havanese | 62.0 % |
| 52 | Old English Sheepdog | 61.8 % |
| 53 | Pomeranian | 61.5 % |
| 54 | Papillon | 60.5 % |
| 55 | Miniature Schnauzer | 60.5 % |
| 56 | Poodle (Toy) | 60.3 % |
| 57 | Dachshund | 59.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Papillon Temperament
The temperament of your Papillon comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Papillon is exposed to.
You cannot change your Papillon`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Papillon to.
Exposing your Papillon to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Papillon to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Papillon`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Papillon.
If you think the Papillon is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Papillons cost and Papillon puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Papillon breeders in the United States and the prices of their Papillon puppies.