The Papillon enjoys meeting new people and rarely shows a shy or aggressive nature. They love people and greet everyone confidently with affection. Despite their small stature, they are a very hardy breed with a high energy that does well in agility trials. The Papillon can get defensive of their owner, and will alert their family to danger or visitors with a tendency to bark at unfamiliar sights and sounds. As part of a family, they do well with older children as small children may be too reckless for this breeds fragility.

Like many other small breeds, they can develop negative behaviours if allowed to become master of the house. Sometimes called ‘small dog syndrome’, the dog assumes the alpha role in the household and exhibits behaviours such as possession guarding, picky eating, separation anxiety and nipping. This is rectified when the owner of this breed shows firm, calm and confident leadership and instigates a routine of early training and socialisation, making sure the dog develops as a well-rounded individual. They can be great with other animals and children if they are properly introduced to them and learn how to behave around them, but if not the Papillon can become untrustworthy and not a suitable family pet, which is a shame as this is the fault of the owner, not the dog.