Do Papillons Shed?

When it comes to the Papillon dog breed, the phrase ‘good things come in small packages’ immediately springs to mind. Because lurking inside the body of this small dog is a personality and character that’s well and truly larger than life.

You see, what many people don’t know about the Papillon is that it’s actually a descendant of the Spaniel. And just like Spaniels, Papillons too are energetic, adventurous, lively, and extremely playful.

They’re also super-intelligent, which means they are surprisingly easy to train compared to other toy dog breeds.

So, we’ve established that this little dog packs a massive punch in the personality department, but what about the practicalities of owning a Papillon?

Paps certainly look cute and adorable with their beautiful coats, dainty features, and quirky, pointy ears. 

But are they easy to maintain – and what are their grooming needs?

And more specifically, do Papillons shed? Let’s find out…

So, Do Papillons Shed?

In short, yes, Papillons do shed.

In fact, all dog breeds shed, for that matter. Why? Because shedding is an important part of the natural hair growth cycle for a dog.

Shedding is the term we commonly use to describe the part of the process where a dog gets rid of damaged or old hair to make space for new hair to grow.

In all dog breeds, hair grows in a cycle that’s made up of four different stages:

Stage 1 – Anagen

This is the stage where a dog starts to grow new hair. It’s also the point at which a dog’s hair grows the quickest.

The length that a dog’s hair will grow very much depends on its breed.

In fact, hair growth in dogs is genetically pre-determined. And in the case of the Papillon, that’s pretty long compared to many other dog breeds.

Stage 2 – Catagen

The Catagen stage of the hair growth cycle is often described as a ‘transition’ phase.

Once your dog’s new hair reaches its desired genetic length, that’s when the hair follicles will stop any further new growth taking place.

Stage 3 – Telogen

You could describe the Telogen stage of a dog’s hair growth cycle as ‘the resting period’.

During the Telogen stage, your dog’s new hair has reached its desired length. It’s performing that all-important function of protecting your dog’s skin from a long list of external elements.

Stage 4 – Exogen

The Exogen stage is the fourth and final part of a dog’s hair growth cycle.

This is the stage where your dog will lose – or shed – its old and damaged hair so that the four-stage hair growth cycle can begin again.

When do Papillons Shed?

Papillons, like the vast majority of other dog breeds, go through two main shedding periods every year.

The first main shedding period takes place around Springtime. As winter turns to Spring, temperatures rise, which is when the first main shedding occurs.

The second annual shedding period typically happens during the Fall. As temperatures drop and winter draws in, the Papillon will shed its fur for a second time, preparing for the colder months.

In between these two main shedding periods, Papillons will, like all other dogs, naturally shed their old, dead, and damaged hair to make room for new hair to grow.

However, these periods of shedding are much less obvious. And in some cases, you might not even notice that your Papillon is shedding at all.

READ: Do Papillons Bark a Lot?

Preparing for Adulthood

Aside from seasonal shedding, Papillons also experience two other significant periods of shedding during their lifetime.

The first shedding period typically occurs when your Pap pup is around seven or eight months old. As your pup grows, it will naturally start to shed its baby fur to make way for new, more grown-up hair.

A second, similar shedding process will also take place once your Pap reaches the fifteen-month mark – or thereabouts.

Once this second shedding has taken place, your Papillon will be fully equipped with its new adult coat.

How Much do Papillons Shed? 

Given that Papillons have a long coat, you might assume that they shed a lot. But that’s not actually the case – you’ll be glad to hear.

Despite their long, flowy locks, Papillons shed surprisingly less than other dog breeds, and there are a couple of reasons why.

The first reason relates to what we talked about earlier in this article – the hair growth cycle.

You see, Papillon hair is genetically geared to grow quite long, especially when compared to many other dog breeds. 

Because Pap hair takes more time to grow to its full length than a shorter-coated dog breed, the full hair growth cycle takes longer to complete.

That means your Papillon won’t shed its old or dead hair as quickly or regularly as another dog might.

The second reason why Paps don’t shed as much as other dog breeds relates to their coat’s actual makeup.

Many dog breeds today have what we refer to as a double coat. But what do I mean by that?

Put simply, a double-coated dog basically has a coat that’s made up of two different layers.

The ‘undercoat’ layer is short and sits immediately next to a dog’s skin. The undercoat is there to help a dog regulate its body temperature, particularly in hotter or colder climates.

The second layer of the double-coat is commonly referred to as the topcoat or outer-coat. This layer of the coat is longer, and it’s made up of what we call ‘guard hair’.

The topcoat’s role is to fend off dirt, mud, debris, and different types of moisture.

Papillon, however, don’t have a double coat. They are what we refer to as a single-coated breed.

Typically, single-coated dog breeds don’t shed quite as much or quite as dramatically as dogs with a double coat – and that’s the case with the lovely Pap.

While Papillons do shed, it’s more a case of shedding little and not really all that often. And that’s great news if you want to keep your house furniture and clothes relatively dog hair free!

Understanding a Papillon’s Coat

Before we get into some of the specifics of a Papillon’s coat, let’s talk about aesthetics. According to the American Kennel Club Breed Standard, Pap coats come in five main color groups. They are:

1. White, black, and tan
2. White and black 
3. White and lemon 
4. White and red  
5. White and sable

And now, on to the specifics.

As we mentioned earlier, Papillons have no undercoat. The main advantage of being a single-coated dog breed is that Papillon shedding is kept to a manageable minimum.

But there is a downside to being single-coated. You see, undercoats serve an essential purpose in helping a dog to regulate its body temperature.

An undercoat also protects a dog’s skin from sunburn. Because Papillons don’t have an undercoat, there’s nothing there to protect them – so that means you’ll have to.

In the Summer months, you’ll need to keep a close eye on your Pap to ensure they don’t burn.

And in the cold winter months, you’ll need to help your Pap stay warm by slipping on a doggy coat or jacket when you’re out walking and playing in the great outdoors.

While we’re on the subject of single-coated dog breeds, I’d like to take a moment to discuss whether or not single-coated dogs are hypoallergenic.

I’m not going to go into too much detail here – because we’ll discuss the matter in more depth in a future article.

But what I will say is this. Single-coated dog breeds are not hypoallergenic.

In fact, no dog breed is hypoallergenic. It’s quite simply a myth.

But that said, you could argue that a dog with a single-coat is less likely to spread allergies than a double-coated dog breed.

Why?

Because single-coated breeds like Papillons shed less hair on average than dogs with double coats. And less shedding of old, dead, or damaged hair means there’s less opportunity for allergies to be spread around your home.

How to Help your Papillon from Shedding so Much

First thing’s first. You’ll never be able to fully prevent a Papillon – or any other dog breed – from shedding. Nor should you want to.

It’s an entirely natural process, and it’s super important in helping your Pap maintain a happy and healthy coat.

That said, you can do lots of different things to help manage your Pap’s shedding and help keep that glorious coat in tip-top condition.

Give your Pap lots of Exercise

As I explained in the introduction to this article, Papillons might be a small dog, but they have bundles of energy.

And while they are happy to spend time inside the home with their family, Pap’s need plenty of exercise, and they love nothing more than chasing a ball.

Giving your Pap plenty of exercise is a great way to keep them fit and healthy – and that will show in their healthy coat.

Another huge benefit of giving your Papillon lots of outdoor exercise is the sunshine.

While you and your Pap are having fun in the great outdoors, you’ll be exposed to lots of Vitamin D, and that’s great for you and your dog. Especially your dog’s coat and skin.

A Healthy Diet Equals a Healthy Dog

As you’re undoubtedly aware, dogs need a healthy and well-balanced diet to keep them in the best possible shape.

A nutritional diet is also a significant factor in maintaining your Pap’s silky coat.

In addition to feeding your Papillon with a good, respected source of dog food, there are a couple of other things that you can also bring into their diet to help keep their coat in good health.

The first thing is food supplements. Food supplements containing Omega 3, 6, and 9 fish oils help keep your Pap’s shedding to the bare minimum.

Take these bacon flavor Zesty Paws Omega Skin and Coat Soft Chews, for example.

It’s packed full of super healthy ingredients like pollock oil and cod liver oil. These daily supplements will make a massive difference to your Pap’s coat while reducing the amount your dog sheds.

And if your Pap is a foodie, there are even treats you can buy that will specifically help to keep its coat and skin in excellent condition.

Healthy treats like these SmartBones Skin and Coat Care Chicken Chews are made with real chicken, real vegetables and are full of those all-important essential fatty acids that’ll help support a healthy coat and skin.

Pamper your Pap

Your Pap will love nothing more than regular opportunities to bond with you. And one of the best ways to build that essential bond with your pooch is through a regular grooming routine.

Irrespective of your dog’s breed, grooming matters, and it’s vital in helping to keep your dog’s coat and skin in mint condition.

When it comes to your Papillon’s grooming routine, it should include:

Regular Brushing 

If you can brush your Pap daily, go for it. But if that’s not possible, two to three times a week will also go a really long way in helping to keep your dog’s coat immaculate.

Brushing your Papillon regularly is a fantastic way to reduce shedding. And, on top of that, regular brushing means you can tackle any knots and tangles that might have formed while your Pap is out playing and adventuring.

If you want to find out more about the best brushes for Papillons, keep your eyes peeled over the coming weeks. In that article, I’ll be going into much more detail about what brushes you can use to give your Pap the very best brushing experience.

Bath Time

If you can give your Papillon a monthly soak in the tub, that’s great. By giving your Pap a monthly bath with a mild dog shampoo, you’ll be doing his or her coat a huge favor.

To help minimize your Papillon’s shedding, bathing products like this TropiClean Lime and Coconut Deshedding Dog Shampoo are ideal.

But they don’t just help to manage shedding. They also deeply moisturize and exfoliate your Pap’s coat and skin while leaving them smelling almost good enough to eat!

When it comes to bathing your pooch, I’ll be giving you more guidance and advice about the best shampoo for Papillons in a future article – so keep a lookout for it.

Keep those Beady Eyes Peeled

A straightforward and effective way to help keep your Pap’s shedding under control is to actually check its coat while you’re grooming it.

But what should you be looking out for?

Basically, anything that shouldn’t be there! Doing a physical coat check is a great way to spot fleas, ticks, and other unwanted nasties that might have found their way on to your Papillon’s coat.

Parasites like ticks and fleas are the reason why some dogs shed excessively, so you must find them and treat your dog’s coat as soon as possible.

Do Papillons Need Haircuts?

From time to time, your Papillon will benefit from having a haircut. However, because Papillons are, for the most part, single-coated dogs, you won’t need to have their coat excessively cut.

A regular trim and tidy up will more than suffice in making sure your Pap’s coat remains healthy and in good condition. The most critical areas of your Papillon’s body to trim regularly are:

• Paws and pads – trimming these areas of your Pap’s body will help keep them neat and tidy but will also help with their grip, especially on wet or slippery surfaces. Regular trimming of their pads and paws will also help to keep them nice and clean
• Tail – Paps have long, silky tails that attract dirt and debris. They can also get knotted and tangled from time to time. Trimming your Papillon’s tail will help to keep it clean, tidy, and knot-free. It’ll also prevent your dog’s fur from dragging along the dirty pavement!
• Private Parts – A bit of a trim around your Pap’s bottom and genitals will make sure it stays healthy, clean, and hygienic

Do Papillons have Hair or Fur?

If you’re interested in finding out more about the difference between dog hair and dog fur, Pets magazine recently wrote a great article on this very subject. 

But to answer this specific question, we need to go back to the hair growth cycle we discussed earlier.

To put it simply, hair and fur are slightly different things. While fur is short and sheds pretty frequently, hair grows longer and doesn’t shed as often.

And if you remember what we said about the Anagen stage of the hair growth cycle (stage 1), dog hair spends more time in the Anagen stage of the cycle than dog fur.

On the whole, dog fur completes the full hair growth cycle a lot faster than dog hair does.

So, do Papillons have hair or fur?

Based on this summary, you might have reached a conclusion by now that Papillons have hair, not fur. And if you reached this conclusion, you’d be absolutely right.

We’ve covered a lot of ground in this article. Hopefully, you’ve found it useful in helping you to understand whether or not Papillons shed and what you can do to best manage your Pap’s silky coat in the future.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be giving you even more information about the Papillon dog breed.

So, if you want to find out more about whether or not Papillons are hypoallergenic, what is the best shampoo for Papillons, and what are the best grooming brushes for your Pap, please keep visiting our site over the coming weeks.