Schnauzer vs Papillon - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

With his eye-catching butterfly-look-alike feathery ears, the Papillon, also called the Continental Toy Spaniel or the Squirrel Spaniel, is one of the oldest of the toy spaniels.

You can see that the history of the Papillon goes very far back as the dog has been depicted in early works of art dating back to the 1500s. They were at first bred for the companions of noblewomen, appearing in many paintings where they are seen in royal courts.

The AKC registered its first Papillon in 1915. It is believed that the dog hails from France and Belguim. The Papillon was first recognized by the AKC in 1935 and the Papillon Club of America was also formed.

These dogs hail from Germany and are particularly well known for their stern faces and their facial hair - the mustache and eyebrows. You get 3 types of Schnauzer – the Miniature, Standard and Giant.

These dogs have always been used for their rat catching skills. The Standard Schnauzer is also known as Mittelschnauzer and they have been categorized as working dogs but also as Terriers.

They've always been good herders of livestock and have been regarded as a good all-round farm dog. Most Standard Schnauzers have earned American Kennel Club (AKC) herding titles. They also make excellent watchdogs.

A breed standard for this dog was written in 1880. Also, the Bavarian Schnauzer Klub was formed in Munich in 1907.

Papillon means 'butterfly' which refers to the dog's fringed upright ears. You also get the floppy eared variety which is known as phalene, meaning 'moth'.

The Papillon dog stands at between 20 – 28cm in height and weighs between 3 and 4.5kg. The tail arches over the back in a feathery plume. His coat is thick and silky but he doesn't have an undercoat. The coat is white with tan or white with black.

When you look at his bright little face, you can see that he is an intelligent dog who can be trained and socialized with ease. In fact he loves to be occupied with something challenging, so it will be a good ides to buy him some stimulating toys to play with.

Temperament:

When you first see the Papillon dog you might think he is fragile like a butterfly – a typical lap dog – but this isn't so at all. He is tough, robust, energetic, alert and friendly. Bright and alert, they also make great watchdogs.

He'll be able to adapt to life in the city or the countryside. Even though he is good with children and pets in the home, he'd prefer to live with adults as he couldn't handle undisciplined rough and tumble children who haven't learned how to respect dogs, especially little ones that can get hurt easily.

This is such a sweet-natured little dog that you want to do everything you can to keep him content

You get the miniature and giant Schnauzer as well as the Standard. The Standard Schnauzer stands at between 43 to 51cm and weighs between 14 and 20kg. The dog comes in different color variants - black, black and silver and a greyish color.They have wiry coats that don’t shed much.

They are squarely and robustly built and a typical feature is the mustache, beard and significant eyebrows of the dog. The ears are set high and were once clipped but they are left floppy these days.

The tail has always been traditionally cropped to around three vertebrae,giving the dog a distinctive look, but now it is often left as is and is medium length and curls over the dog’s back.

Temperament:

The Schnauzie is a seriously intelligent dog and this makes them highly trainable so that he can obey quite a few commands. These dogs get bored easily and will require exercise and games that will stimulate him mentally and physically.

They’re alert too, and will bark in warning at any intruders, making them excellent watchdogs. Other notable characteristics are courage and stamina and they have been used for search and rescue work.

These dogs have strong personalities, and are inclined to be stubborn so you want to be sure that they are trained and socialized. This makes them more amicable to be around – they’re obedient and know their place.

The Papillon is a bright, intelligent and energetic little dog. When you bring him into your home you must remember that small though he is, he will require lots of mental and physical exercise.

You're going to love having the Papillon in your home as he is guaranteed to make the sweetest, most loving pet and companion.

Energetic, strong-willed and loyal, the Schnauzer can be an affectionate friend for children in the home as well as adults.

He is cool towards strangers and he is also a bit snooty and aggressive with other dogs, but if he is brought up with them, he will show some loyalty and friendship towards them too.

As a responsible dog owner you want to make sure that your pet has the best chance to reach the age of 14, 15 or 16. Unfortunately, there are always some common dog illnesses that you need to be aware of -

Patellar Luxation:

This condition occurs when the dog's patella or kneecap is dislocated and then it can only be returned to its normal position once the quadriceps in the hind legs of the dog relax and lengthen. You’ll see dogs with this condition holding up a hind leg. This joint abnormality is more common in toy breeds like this.

Collapsing Trachea:

The windpipe of a dog is made out of tissue membranes and when the dog breathes, air quickly moves through the trachea, causing the pressure inside of it to go down. A weak cartilage in the windpipe causes a collapsed trachea in dogs, and occurs almost exclusively in small dogs such as the Papillon.

Many small dogs are born with cartilage that is strong enough to hold the trachea open. As cartilage ages though, it weakens. You’ll notice your dog has a rasping cough when he is excited. Sometimes it is mistaken for kennel cough which can be remedied fairly quickly while a collapsed trachea in dogs is a lifelong syndrome.

Schnauzers are very healthy dogs. Nonetheless even these dogs can succumb to some of the many dog illnesses there are.

Hip dysplasia is a common dog ailment and the Schnauzer isn’t immune to it. Hip dysplasia can be very sad in dogs as it can cripple a dog, with painful arthritis being his lot as well. It is no comfort for dog owners to know that hip dysplasia is common in most dog breeds – they are devastated when their once playful dog is brought down by hip dysplasia and exhibits signs of stiffness and pain.

Grooming:

Papillons are average shedders so they will require brushing at least twice a week. Certainly the long ear fringes will need to be washed and brushed, after all this is this little dog’s trademark.

Diet:

You’ve got to be careful with a small dog like the Papillon as it can easily become overweight and that in itself can bring on health problems. There are excellent commercially manufactured dog foods for small breed dogs that have the right amount of minerals and vitamins in them. Choose the best quality ones.

Home-made food such as chopped-up boiled chicken, some brown rice or pasta and cooked vegetables such as carrots, spinach and sweet potatoes can keep your little dog healthy and fit. Dogs just want simple, nutritious meals which aren’t changed often as it could upset their digestive system.

Keep things consistent and avoid human foods such as chips, chocolates, coffee and spices Never leave your pet without a steady supply of fresh, cool water.

General Care:

Provide your pet with a nice warm, dry bed.

If you bring a puppy into the home, check on puppy vaccines to avoid some deadly diseases.

Get your dog neutered or spayed if you don’t want it to become a parent.

Exercise your pet and provide him with love and attention.

Your Schnauzer will need to have his hair brushed twice a week as well as being professionally groomed. This is by hand-stripping or by clipping.

Standard Schnauzers have lots of energy and will require adequate exercise every day – walks, ball games and runs off the leash.

Check his eyes and make sure there is no discharge. Check inside the ears and make sure there is no sign of redness and discharge. Look inside his mouth for rotting teeth. Bad teeth can cause lots of health problems with a dog, not just in terms of the teeth, but bad teeth can negatively affect other parts of the body too.

You want your Schnauzer to benefit from good food, after all nourishing food contributes to good health and longevity. If you choose to give your Schnauzer one of the commercially manufactured dog foods there are, make sure it is one of the better brands with more natural ingredients, The cheaper ones are filled with toxic ingredients.

Choose food according to his age, size and activity levels. To add some variety, feed him some home made food twice a week which can be added to his dry kibble. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet. Try and include some raw meat into the diet. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water for him.