Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer vs Papillon - Breed Comparison

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.

The Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer is a gundog from Slovakia. The dog came about by crossing the Cesky Fousek, German Wirehaired Pointers and Weimaraners. Other names for this dog include Slovensky Hrubosrsky Stavac.

Developers were looking for a dog with good stamina – a dog capable of tracking hares and birds. The dog was first introduced into the United Kingdom in 1997.

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

The Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer has got some looks from each of the dogs he was derived from. He is a fairly large dog and the coat is short to medium length and harsh and wiry and he has some additional hair around the face area.

Most times the coat is a grey-brown shade. The ears are medium length and floppy and the tail is mostly docked at 50% of natural length, although these days it is often left long. It is carried downwards when at rest but raised when in action.

He stands between 62 – 68 cm in height and he weighs 25 – 35kg.

Temperament:

This is an energetic dog that is going to need a lot of exercise, so he won’t suit living with people who aren't active. He just loves to be outside and will thrive on a farm.

He is good with children and other dogs, but training and socialization should be provided for this dog. He is intelligent and will learn easily.

They’re affectionate dogs and their social nature makes them ideal for lively families. Because he is so active he is best suited for living in the suburbs or the countryside as opposed to living on a small property in the city.

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.

People who have owned these dogs rave about their loyalty and affection. They’re also intelligent and become very well behaved as they are dogs that also want to please their owners.

They’re gentle dogs too, just wanting to be loved by their human family and craving attention.

They’re also regarded as low maintenance pets and all these positive aspects of this dog make him a splendid choice if you're looking for a wonderful pet and companion

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.

Your Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer can reach 14 or 15 years of age if he is looked after well but hip dysplasia is a threat for any dog.

Hip Dysplasia:

Any aged dog can be affected and this mobility disease is caused when the hip joint develops abnormally. Although hip dysplasia is genetic, environmental factors can also play a part. The idea is to get treatment from the vet so that your canine friend isn’t in pain.

Dental Problems:

This can cause so many problems in the body and not just the teeth. Have your dog’s teeth checked regularly and have them cleaned.

Discospondylitis:

Your dog can have neck or back pain from this ailment, occurring when the discs and vertebrae of the spine become infected. Provide your dog with healthy food to ensure a strong immune system to fight off diseases like this.

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.