Papiox

The Papiox is a designer breed of two purebred dogs, the Toy Fox Terrier and the Papillon, and does not have a documented history, so it is unknown when the intentional breeding of these two dogs first took place.  Additionally, details on the character traits and the breed standards are not yet formed.  Owners wishing to understand their Papiox, or Foxillon better as some are called, can review the histories and dispositions of the parent breeds. The Toy Fox Terrier was bred in America and rose from the Smooth Fox Terrier of England.  The Toy Fox Terrier's first role followed its ancestors as a vermin control dog, but Americans wanted a smaller dog that could fit into tighter spaces in barns on the farms as well as a good companion for inside the home.  Several small breeds, possibly including the Papillon and the Chihuahua were crossbred with the Fox Terrier to achieve this end.  The resulting canine was part Toy, part Terrier and fit the dual role perfectly.  The American Kennel Club did not recognize the Toy Fox Terrier, sometimes referred to as TFT, until 2003. The Papillon is a much older dog with roots extending back into the 16th Century.  The little Spaniel was a favorite in Spanish courts and particularly in French courts where the dog gets its name.  Papillon is a reference to the butterfly and is a marked feature on the breeds whose ears resemble wings.  A dropped ear variation of the Papillon exists called the Phalene, but it is extremely rare.  The name Phalene is also a French reference to the breed's ears, which rest like that of a moth.  Today, the Papillon enjoys a high American Kennel Club ranking and was first recognized by the AKC in 1915.