Breeds with similar or same personality as Papillons?

[Kat09Tails]

Just curious about what you mean by passive.

Passive aggressiveness - it's a trait I noticed as a groomer that I mainly see with spaniels where under pressure the dog as passively as possible resists what you're doing. For my cocker spaniel it means she may have a bit of selective hearing like get off the couch, she may respond to nail clipping by laying down and tucking in all of her feet (we call it turtle mode). For my papillons it may mean that I have to carry Booker out to the front lawn to go potty on a rainey day (naw, I'll just poop on the porch Mom.) or convince them that swimming can be so much fun- I swear. In training terms it often appears as - may be stubborn.

As far as spaniels and cavaliers being active well... maybe because I've lived with all three, they just light up for their people. The foot slapping play, the ode to joy body wag as their person walks in the door, it all smacks of the spaniel group to me. I've never met a group of dogs quite like them and I don't consider a papillon an outsider. JMHO

There will always be dogs of varying activity level and temperament throughout a breed. Personally I look at the temperament of the dogs I have, and have met and ask myself how are they the same and in that I see the papillon as very much behavior wise a spaniel. Exactly alike- no, just as there will be variation between every breed. I don't see them like a mini border collie or sheltie. They are much softer temperament wise than I see the average herding breed although the drive levels can be high - above average just like pretty much every active american cocker I've owned under the age of 10.

All my opinion of course...

 

[Laurelin]

Perhaps it's because I've never personally owned a cocker or a cav and because I have owned herders for my whole life but I just see most the same traits I love in both. I've never been much of a gundog person, though. I've always thought of paps as being not really a true spaniel in the sense that there was likely a lot of spitz and maybe terrier influence in the breed as well. (Shelties also have small spaniel and spitz influence as well as collie type)

There is a bit of a different mentality between the two. I would not call my papillons softer though to be honest, especially Mia. Mia has more energy than any herding dog I ever owned and she is more intense than any I've owned. She is though at about the top of the pack as far as papillons go energy wise and there is variety in the breed of course.

The main differences I've noticed personally are that paps are more clownish and less serious about things. My shelties especially would get hung up more on something just not being 'right' to them. My herders were in many ways much more sensible and much less distractible. There was a 'wiseness' and level headedness that the paps don't have. My paps focus pretty well compared to most dogs I meet but they lose attention faster than the herders if the thing in front of them is not overly exciting. Mia actually focuses very well but it takes a bit more effort to keep her attention than my past dogs simply because she's a bit more independent minded. When she's on though, she is very very on. But the way they bond and are very owner oriented, the quickness of their minds, their drive, etc has been pretty similar. I remember asking Puppydog on here what her experience was with her BCs and her papillons and her response was that her BCs were simply much nicer. lol That's been my experience as well. Paps are devious little buggers.

I wish I had more experience with tollers. They seem like they could be a decent match for a bigger dog. They're not quite a sharp as a herder but still sharper than most gundogs.

Most people I've known in real life that have paps and another breed also have herders. BCs, Aussies, shelties, or GSDs seem most common in my experience. I like cockers and cavs but they're not breeds that I'd want to own to be honest.

I know a lot of that is just anecdote but that's been my experience.

 

[Bleuell Papillons]

I have Papillons, and they are truly unique. I do believe that they are toy spaniels closely related to the Cav and Charlie (Eng Toy). However, I do think that there may be a tiny bit of spitz in them. How do you explain the prick ears and curled tail? The Phalene is the original, and less common now. I am a dog groomer and in my experience paps are similar in temperament to Chis. They are not as soft as a Cocker or other large Spaniel. They do have certain "sharpness". Papillons are quite talkative, and moderate to high energy. The American bred paps are feisty. Whereas imports are more "spaniel-esque". They are bigger in bone and generally have more coat. My River is almost entirely American bred. She does have a bit of Swedish though. She is definitely feisty! She is princess and knows it. My pet boy, Cujo, is softer in temperament. He is such a sweet heart. Neither are immensely active. A few "zoomies" around the yard will do.

Other breeds that I can think of that are similar in temperament to paps are:

Kooikerhondje
-No personal experience, but I have researched them a bit. Very much like a large Phalene. They remind me of my pap Cujo.

Chinese Crested Powderpuff:
-Powderpuff, not hairless! Two totally different personalities. Hairless are crazy and food obsessed. Possibly some hyena and monkey in their background. LOL
Powderpuffs are softer and more gentle. Less obnoxious, and very sweet. Powderpuffs aren't too difficult to groom. They are double coated unlike the hairless.

Maltese:
-Quite similar to my paps. I really love Maltese. They have a certain daintiness, softness, yet are very feisty.

 

[puppydog]

I find the Paps to be very multi dimensional temperament wise.

They have the focus and drive of a Border Collie
The intensity of a JRT or a Cairn Terrier as well as the terrier happiness and enthusiasm
They have the Spaniel cuddles and love side, my guys have quite a nice off switch if Riley is not too wound up. When you sit they will sit and cuddle but only if they have been exercised enough.

With regards to trainability they are as trainable as a Border, just in a different way. Borders do it because they want to show off how clever they are, Paps will do it if you convince them there is something in it for them.

That about sums them up as best as I can.

 

[Dizzy]

All the paps I have met have generally been owned by old ladies, and I think are considered a breed for the older generation in the UK!!!

But, I have seen variations in temperament each time.

Personally I don't think they are bred consistently for temperament, which explains why no one has a straight answer.

So to find a comparable breed is nearly impossible.

 

[Laurelin]

Most pap people and breeders I know are older here too although I know quite a bit of pet people that have them as family dogs. Almost all the older people I know with them had bigger dogs like GSDs or Aussies but then wanted a smaller, easier to handle dog that was just as trainable and energetic. I think in that aspect they're great dogs for active seniors.

The idea of paps as a performance breed is imo relatively new but they're really rapidly gaining popularity in that venue these days (and with very good reason). When we were doing the meet the breed at Reliant, what struck me is all the older people in the breed were involved in showing and all the younger people were there because of performance. There is really a bit of a disconnect I notice between the older people in the breed and the younger. Especially listening to the information the 'just show' people put out there versus the information the performance people put out there about the breed. Interesting to me...

I find most paps to be pretty similar in temperament to be honest. Most are very active and busy and most are very people oriented and friendly. In any breed there is some variety (all three of my shelties were completely different from each other for example) I have noticed that certain lines definitely tend to be more intense and sharp than others.

 

[Fran101]

I have met a few paps and have a chihuahua, and ya, very different temperament wise.

Its not a good vs. bad thing, I just think chihuahuas in general are more mellow and more clingy and cuddly. Romeo would be happy to sit around and cuddle and snooze all day for example lol
Romeo is very outgoing with new people, but I've noticed this is something that isn't very common in Chis, they are usually more reserved (but shouldn't be aggressive..that is never OK, they just aren't like OMGHI!)

Breeds that are similar in temperament... I dunno if this is an individual thing or not

but I met an American eskimo dog that had the same kind of energy/vibe as a pap, his owner also owner papillons and said they were very similar!

 

[Laurelin]

I have met a few paps and have a chihuahua, and ya, very different temperament wise.

Its not a good vs. bad thing, I just think chihuahuas in general are more mellow and more clingy and cuddly. Romeo would be happy to sit around and cuddle and snooze all day for example lol
Romeo is very outgoing with new people, but I've noticed this is something that isn't very common in Chis, they are usually more reserved (but shouldn't be aggressive..that is never OK, they just aren't like OMGHI!)

Breeds that are similar in temperament... I dunno if this is an individual thing or not

but I met an American eskimo dog that had the same kind of energy/vibe as a pap, his owner also owner papillons and said they were very similar!

That's been my experience too. Paps seem to have a kind of energy that I just haven't seen in any chis. And I definitely think chis are cuddlier too. My dogs are cuddly on occasion but the chis I know are more likely to just want to sit in your lap. It's not good or bad, just different as you've said. Which is 'better' will really depend on what you want in a dog.

My neighbor's chi is much more of a go with the flow kind of guy. He's good with about any amount of exercise whereas my dogs would definitely not be.

 

[Michiyo-Fir]

All the paps I have met have generally been owned by old ladies, and I think are considered a breed for the older generation in the UK!!!

Come to think of it, when was in the UK, all the Paps I've met belonged to old ladies too!! How strange!

 

[Michiyo-Fir]

That's been my experience too. Paps seem to have a kind of energy that I just haven't seen in any chis. And I definitely think chis are cuddlier too. My dogs are cuddly on occasion but the chis I know are more likely to just want to sit in your lap. It's not good or bad, just different as you've said. Which is 'better' will really depend on what you want in a dog.

My neighbor's chi is much more of a go with the flow kind of guy. He's good with about any amount of exercise whereas my dogs would definitely not be.

Our Chi will try to claw his way into people's laps or on their bodies when you're relaxing or trying to sleep LOL! My Pap will claw her way off your body when you try to hold her and get her to relax. Seriously though, Popcorn is the most cuddly and clingy dog I've ever ever met. Especially with his person and he'll lay for hours and hours in her arms not even moving a hair.

 

[Laurelin]

Mia is actually REALLY cuddly. She's one of those dogs that just melt into your arms. The problems? she only cuddles a very select few people (I think she is up to allowing 3 people cuddles now). And it's only when she's tired. If you're not one of those three or she's too busy at the moment then you can expect to be chewed out pretty good.

Summer is kind of cuddly but she's just too pushy about it sometimes. Cuddling Summer is hardly relaxing because she'll just shove her way on top of you then try to make out with you.

Nard is always up for cuddles though. If you pick him up he'll just lay his head down on your chest and fall asleep right away. He LOVES being held.

Rose... not cuddly at all. Beau... moves too much to hold.

 

[Michiyo-Fir]

Nia cuddles only in the few hours after a long day and only if you give her scratchies, she sort of flops in your arms for like 10 min.

If she's tired, she's content to sleep in your arms for a bit but she's generally not cuddly at all.

If you pay any attention to her, the first thing she does is brings you all the toys. She is never content to just lay there and receive attention or petting @_@

I miss Truffles, she's super cuddly and loving and you can squish her all over and she won't move or leave lol.

 

[Kat09Tails]

I have one cuddler. He is very into it but only with me. He really doesn't let other people in the house touch him.

Booker is not a cuddler but he LOOOVES pets and scritches. He leans in.

Rain only gets cuddly around bed time. She's a busy beaver otherwise.

Misty doesn't cuddle. She doesn't even really like pets. She is a tapper though.. If she wants something... tap tap.... tap tap tap.... TAP TAP!

 

[Laurelin]

Beau's a leaner. In fact he's leaning on me now. But if you try to pick him up he usually seems to think that's an invitation to wrestle.

Mia actually will lay on top of me if I lie down. She likes to nestle herself on my back if I'm asleep. She is definitely much more cuddly with me but will allow both my sisters to hold her too.

Bernard is definitely the cuddliest. And he's that way with anyone too. My 3 year old cousin held him for probably a good hour once and he just laid there in pure bliss.

Rose likes scritches but really isn't a touchy-feely kind of dog. She'd rather just chill on the back of the couch than be right on top of you.