Welcome To Cosmo Cutie's - Papillon Home Page

WELCOME TO MY PAGE

Just scroll and roll and have fun! Most of the following information is text and I hope this will help you with your pursuit of deciding if you want a Papillon or any other puppy!

Nothing ultra fancy on this page but lots of information and facts. I have tried to give one a adequte background concerning Papillons and what is involved in their care as well as general dog info.

Hi- My Name Is Cosmo The Cutie Dog
(AKA the shopping cart pusher !!) because my mom taught me to push a toy shopping cart ! She never thought she would be able to teach me that trick! I was also taught many other tricks; why not?

I am a smart dog- one of the smarter dogs among the toy breeds. But I better let you read more about my kind so you get to know me better !

I am 5 years old now . I weigh about 6 1/2 pounds now. My Vet says I am a very healthy girl !

My story continues below.

Bumper Sticker:

look before you leap --- a dog is for keeps

Many people E-mail us wanting to know how we came to own Cosmo. So here is

COSMO'S STORY:

My husband and I always had cats as pets and we loved them so. After our last
cat passed on and after the Sept 11 World Trade Center tragedy , my husband and
I decided to take a bold step forward and get a dog. The girls were grown and
out of the house and I felt I could manage a pup with my part time work schedule.

Little did I know that caring for a puppy was really a full time chore. Anyway, we had been to a dog show a few years back and saw a sweet black and white dog with big ears called a Papillon. We fell in love with the small, friendly, fluffy, smart dog.

Until I researched the Net, I thought that all Papillons were only black and white with long fur. I really had my heart set on
a black and white dog since my one special cat was black and white.

After searching out local breeders and making calls, no Papillons pups were
available in our area, or at least I thought so. .

So December 3rd , 2001, an incredibly warm day in the 70's, my husband and I headed towards Manhattan seeking to find Papillons- just to look at them and to check them out. We fiqured if they were not available in NYC, then they would be truly hard to find.

However, after we got Cosmo, we found out that there were quite a few breeders in our area as well as in nearby states.!

Anyway, to my surprise after a dozen calls to pet shops, only 3 had Papillons.

Stop one, no pup- already sold,

Stop 2, a cute pup-sold as a " mini Papillon" and we were not allowed to see it up close.

Stop 3, the owner would arrive later and we had to wait a few hours- ( we also had a great parking spot too!- often hard to get in NYC ).

In the meantime, I tapped on the glass door and in a cage of 3 dogs, one little dog's ears perked up. Tap, tap and again ears raised. Every tap brought it's ears up. I guessed ( correct ) this must be the Papillon. When the owner arrived we told him we would like to see the pup but were only interested in getting a black and white dog. There was no hard sell from the owner at all.

To make a long story short, the owner let the pup out of the cage. We were told
she had only been there 2 weeks. The 3 lb pup pranced in the shop, head and ears
erect, tail curled over it's back, it's friendly, cheerful , personality saying: look at me, look at me!

She greeted every person and every animal who entered the shop and played with the resident cat. . She wasn't afraid of anybody or anything.

When picked up she settled quietly in my arms. I told my husband: this dog is
everything I would want in a dog but she is the wrong color!

An elderly man overheard this and said: "Lady if you don't get this dog, you'll be very sorry . Personality is more important than color.".

That afternoon we walked out of the
shop with our new pup. We had lunch at an outdoor bistro ( the pup sleeping on
my lap ) that 70F day in December , walked with the pup to the tragic mess of the once Twin Towers site and then drove home .

Cosmo slept all the way home..
The rest is history. She has been with us for 4 1/2 years and we have no regrets what so ever. I believe the events were meant to be.

Cosmo is a gem in all ways and we love her to death. She has added a new dimenson to our lives. No matter how stressful our day is, Cosmo is there with her " kisses " and her happy, cheerful demeanor.

Now if you asked me would I ever get a pet shop dog again; my answer would be no.

From what I read and learned. most dogs come from puppy mills ( some have been investigated and closed due to deplorable living conditions for dogs ) which constantly breed females dogs.

These females know no other kind of life except for being pregnant.. Buying a pet shop dog constantly promotes and reinforces this kind of life for female dogs of all breeds.. Buying puppies from a reputable breeder ( these puppies are healthy, already socialized, potty trained and well rounded ) would probably be best .

I was very lucky with Cosmo since many pet shop dogs are sickly and I have
personally heard some horror stories.

Papillons are still not a very well known
breed to Americans and I urge you to read what you can about them if you desire
one. I hope my page and my links will help you .

Cosmo was a Lambriar Kennel dog.
After my own research I found out that Lambriar ( from Kansas ) is a national
distrubutor of puppy mill dogs. Search out Lambriar on the Net and read and learn and form your own opinions.

You'll probably want to get your next puppy from a private breeder though. Thank goodness I was lucky with Cosmo,!

"DOGS ARE MAN'S BEST FRIEND BECAUSE THEY WAG THEIR TAILS INSTEAD OF THEIR TONGUES"......ANONYMOUS

-----------------------------------------------------------

THE SAD SIDE:

Pet Store Puppy - A Sad Tale, Or Why Not To Purchase Pet Store Dogs

I don't remember much from the place I was born. It was cramped and dark,
and we were never played with by the humans. I remember Mom and her soft
fur, but she was often sick, and very thin. She had hardly any milk for me and my brothers and sisters. I remember many of them dying, and I missed them so.

I do remember the day I was taken from Mom. I was so sad and scared, my
milk teeth had only just come in, and I really should have been with Mom
still, but she was so sick, and the Humans kept saying that they wanted money and were sick of the "mess" that me and my sister made.

So we were crated up and taken to strange place. Just the two of us. We huddled together and were scared, still no human hands came to pet or love us. So many sights and sounds, and smells! We are in a store where there are many different animals! Some that squawk! some that meow! Some that peep! My sister and I are jammed into a small cage. I hear other puppies here. I see humans look at me. I like the 'little humans', the kids. They
look so sweet, and fun, like they would play with me!

All day we stay in the small cage, sometimes mean people will hit the
glass and frighten us, every once in a while we are taken out to be held or shown to humans. Some are gentle, some hurt us. We always hear "Aw, they are so cute! I want one!" but we never get to go with any.

My sister died last night, when the store was dark. I lay my head on her soft fur and felt the life leave her small thin body. I had heard them say she was sick, and that I should be sold as a "discount price" so that
I would quickly leave the store. I think my soft whine was the only one that mourned for her as her body was taken out of the cage in the morning and dumped.

Today, a family came and bought me! Oh happy day! They are a nice family,
they really, really wanted me! They had brought a dish and food and the little girl held me so tenderly in her arms. I love her so much! The mom and dad say what a sweet and good puppy I am! I am named Angel. I love to lick my new humans! The family takes such good care of me, they are loving and tender and sweet. They gentle teach me right and wrong, give me good
food, and lots of love! I want only to please these wonderful people! I love the little girl and I enjoy running and playing with her.

Today I went to the veterinarian. it was a strange place and I was frightened. I got some shots, but my best friend the little girl held me softly and said it would be OK. So I relaxed. The Vet must have said sad words to my beloved family, because they looked awfully sad. I heard "Severe hip dysplasia," and something about my heart... I heard the vet say something about backyard breeders and my parents not being tested. I know not what any of that means, just that it hurts me to see my family so sad. But they still love me, and I still love them very much!

I am six months old now. Where most other puppies are robust and rowdy, It hurts me terribly just to move. The pain never lets up. It hurts to run and play with my beloved little girl, and I find it hard to breathe. I keep
trying my best to be the strong pup I know I am supposed to be, but it is so hard. It breaks my heart to see the little girl so sad, and to hear the Mom and Dad talk about, "Now might be the time."

Several times I have gone to that Veterinarian¹s place, and the news is
never good. Always talk about Congenital Problems. I just want to feel the warm sunshine and run and play, and nuzzle with my family. Last night was the worst. Pain has been constant now, it hurts even to get up and get a drink. I try to get up but can only whine in pain.

I am taken in the car one last time. Everyone is so sad, and I don't know why. Have I been bad? I try to be good and loving - what have I done wrong? Oh if only this pain would be gone! If only I could soothe the tears of the little girl. I reach out my muzzle to lick her hand, but can only whine in pain. The veterinarian¹s table is so cold. I am so frightened. The humans all hug and love me, they cry into my soft fur. I can feel their love and sadness. I manage to lick softly their hands. Even the vet doesn't seem so scary today. He is gentle and I sense some kind of relief for my pain.
The little girl hold me softly and I thank her, for giving me all her love.
I feel a soft pinch in my foreleg. The pain is beginning to lift, I am beginning to feel a peace descend upon me. I can now softly lick her hand.

My vision is becoming dreamlike now, and I see my Mother and my brothers and sisters, in a far off green place. They tell me there is no pain there, only peace and happiness. I tell the family goodbye in the only way I
know how - a soft wag of my tail and a nuzzle of my nose. I had hoped to
spend many, many moons with them, but it was not meant to be.

The pain ends now, and I know it will be many years until I see my beloved family again. If only things could have been different.

"You see," said the veterinarian, "pet shop puppies do not come from ethical breeders."

THE HAPPY SIDE:
WHAT ARE THOSE JOYFUL PAPILLONS ????

BACKGROUND: Papillons are perhaps descendents of the European continental/ toy/squirrel spaniel. Belgium and France were major countries of breeding the upright ear feature. Most likely the original Paps desended from the drop ear or Phalene breed.

Small dogs, 3 to 8 pounds are average but some can be much larger, as large as 20 pounds. I even know a few sweet 14 pound Paps!

These dogs are usually very healthy,
outgoing and smart and make wonderful companion dogs.

For the breed standard, check the AKC link at the link section . This link will give specific requirements for each breed.

Papillons ( butterfly ) come in a variety of colors with white as the base (ex: black and white, red and white, tri- color and sable and white as I am etc. ) and different lengths of fur mostly genetically predisposed: ( some do have shorter, silky and smooth fur as I do, ) normally others have much longer and more flowing fur .

Good health and nutrition, plus genes are some of the factors which determine fur length. Often spayed females have fluffier fur.

Sometimes it takes 2 to 3 years until a Paps full fur pattern is achieved.
People have written to me indicating that sometimes sable and white Papillons
may have shorter fur than others, thus easier to view many of classic Papillon
features and coloration.

A famous short haired sable and white Pap is Genevieve:
Genevieve, the doggy-author of "The Canine Guide to Living with Humans without Going Mad." -

However there are many long furred sable and white Paps. Genetics play a major
role in fur length.

Note: same breed: Phalenes ( night moth ) have ears that droop down opposed to Papillons who have erect ears . See the photo at the top of this page of The Divine Miss Midge who is a phalene .

Most breeders of Papillons it seems to me, breed dogs for very long ear fringes
and for long flowing hair and of course other desired qualities. If you want to
show or breed a Papillon or even just have a pet, do choose you puppy carefully.

Papillon trademarks:

See any of the Pap links below or the AKC link for detailed specific descriptions and explanations:

Common : A white blaze across the face. All have ear fringes of differing lengths and all with fluffy plume like tails and culottes ( flowing fur on the back legs), a chest frill, and fringes of fur on the back of all 4 legs.

Get onto some of the Papillon links in the links sections below to see what some
of my other brothers and sisters look like. We are all so cute!

Although some say males are the more affectionate sex, and females can be moody, personality is always individual.

-----------------------------------------------------------

ALL ABOUT ME AND PAPILLONS:
WE ARE THE BUTTERFLY EAR DOGS

At 3 months old, Cosmo weighed 3 lbs on 12/2001 .

They chose my breed because :

We are ultra affectionate to all pets and people
We are active companion dogs
We can be quiet lap dogs at times.
We love to travel and go and see people and places.
We love to be cuddled, hugged and kissed as well as return a lot of "kisses "
We are very loyal. Very smart.
As with many small toy dogs, some of us may be difficult to house train- but
time, patience and positive reinforcement are the keys to our success.
And for a small dog we hardly ever bark ( some Paps will bark and are very
protective of their territory and can make good "alert dogs" ) as most Paps are
yapless and not high strung!
High energy is a better description!
Our coats will become long, thick and silky and our ears will have typical 'fringes" as we get older.
Our breed is normally active, cheerful, agile and always happy . We usually are not couch potatoes and we may often have boundless energy!

If you are considering buying a Papillon :

Search out my links . Papillons are active , inquisitive, thrive on attention , benefit from obedience training and almost never leave you out of their sight.

Many Paps are trained to be therapy dogs as well as achievers in agility training. Paps were bred to be companion dogs and that is exactly what they are.!!!

If you want a dog that sleeps on the rug all day , with low energy or with a low keyed personality , then don't get a Pap.

If you want a dog that will constantly amaze you with energetic personality, loyal demeanor , constant affection, and with myriad of facial expressions then consider a Papillon.

Having a Pap as a pet is almost like having another child or family member!

Paps are very interactive with the family. I enjoy the companionship, devotion and
affection I receive from my special dogs. I love them so dearly.

People have discussed disadvantages of owning Paps
Some people's opinions are that these dogs are tiny and fragile,

Some may have health problems ( esp knee problems and genetic retinal eye problems )

Some may be hard to house train and can be little dictators and demand constant attention..

Others say these small dogs are usually fearless of other animals and may be prey for larger dogs .

Some people are so very protective of their Paps and they wouldn't even consider walking them where other dogs may be !

So read up as much as you can about the breed.

My personal opinion is that the advantages of owning a Pap greatly out weigh any
disadvantage!!!!

Some WORDS, to describe Paps:

loyal, intelligent, energetic ( not high strung ), playful, affectionate, characters, stubborn, manipulative, agile, charming, licking, curious, fearless, little dictators, hard to to house train, lovers, barkers ( some do! ) snugglers and cuddlers, lap dogs, fetchers, attention seekers

Papillon's are energetic and playful
Paps love to play fetch with a toy or ball. Cosmo and Midge are naturally happy, enegetic, sweet dogs .

Cosmo's play mode: head down, tush up! Cosmo especially loves dog squeak toys and stuffed animals for dogs. When she was a puppy she loved to pull socks off our feet, and collect and play with our dirty underware.

Midge loves her small squeak toys too and even though less than a year old she will be considered in "puppy mode" as most Papillons are until she is almost 2 years old.

Papillon's are sweet, affectionate, loyal and smart dogs !

Paps will look at you with devotion, and sense how you feel. They just know.
It is uncanny how well they can read your body language and your tone of voice.
It is amazing they know the meanings of many of a spoken word and what you are
taking about.

If I cough or sneeeze, Cosmo looks at me as to say: are you okay Ma?

Midge cocks her head to the side when I speak to her. Amazingly cute !

They are wonderful alert dogs and are protective of their property. Mostly quiet, they will bark to alert.

Papillon's Love to cuddle too.
Although Paps are not primarily lap dogs, they will indeed sit on your lap at times, or snuggle up next to you and give you lots of licks and kisses. Cosmo curls up and rests in my lap when I use the computer or watch T.V. Midge loves her dog beds and will lay beside me on the floor in her bed.

Some say Papillons who are not the cuddling type, would rather run and bring you a ball to play fetch. Then there are dogs like Cosmo who does all those things!

PAPILLONS LOVE TO BE INVOLVED WITH EVERYTHING

Paps will follow you everywhere , so don't close that bathroom door!

Cosmo loves to jump in the laundry basket; and can be a little devil at times too! We love her enthusiastic personality.

Now you get to see she has a fluffy tail!
She really is a big show off and loves to have her picture taken! Search: http://dogs.about.com/

See a different photo of her in the laundry basket at: http://www.doghoroscopes.com/ There are quite a few dog photos there so you will have to search.

At 8 & 12 months old and Cosmo was still getting a bit furrier each month. Her coat
is super soft and silky and these fringe things are starting to grow down from
her ears. You should see her fluffy tail and the long flowing hair on her back legs. These are called culottes.

People are always stopping me to ask her what breed of dog she is. They
constantly tell me she is cute. Don't worry, compliments won't spoil her. She has had a myriad of obedience lessons over the years.

She knows a lot of commands such as : walk, give, get, come, sit, sit pretty, stay, lay down, leave it alone, stop, shake hands, roll over and dance, jump, put in, take out, photo session.

She knows bunches of words/phrases such as : carrot ( her favorite), toy, bone, treat, brush teeth, who's there?, let's play, car, good girl, go for a walk, go out, go in and especially pee and poop plus a multitude of other words and phrases.!

We often have to spell words when we don't want her to hear certain things !!

She gives me certain looks since she is not a big barker ( unless someone comes to the door ) and she knows what to do or if she has to go potty . She sleeps on my bed everynight and hasn't had an accident yet.

Cosmo stays in a dog crate when I have to work. It's only a few hours until Dad
comes and so she usuallys nap. Truthfully, she really wants to be with all the time. After all it's her genes being bred as a companion dog !

Cosmo tries to attract people's attention by standing on her hind legs and paddeling her front feet for a kiss and a pet. She adores children and people more than other animals.

Because of her extreme good nature we have to be cautious of agressive animals such as large dogs etc. and active small children who could step on her small feet and cause injury. She loves to ride in shopping carts in certain dog friendly stores. She also enjoys be carried in a Pet Purse !

Midge has the same qualities and seems to enjoy everything Cosmo does. We are blessed that both dogs get along so well together!

We enjoyed tent camping ( Lake George N.Y. ) as well as walking around the city
streets meeting new people and fellow dogs. Our trip to Central park in NYC was
great. Wow, Cosmo got to meet so many other dogs and see so many things.

People called her "Rufus"( the Papillion on the Zyrtec commercial.) Personally I think she is a lot cuter!

We have stayed at dog friendly hotels and motels too. We enjoyed a dog friendly beach in N.J. and stayed at a dog friendly motel ( the Surf 16 in Wildwood, N. J. ) while my parents vacationed there. We visited Mystic Seaport , Ct ( Red Roof Inn ) and there were a few dog friendly stores
there!

One fall, we found a ( small ) dog friendly motel in Vermont ( Braeside Motel
in Woodstock ) and we can't wait to walk around to see the fall foliage!

A recent trip was to Boston and we stayed at another dog friendly hotel. That was our first unhappy experience where Cosmo was wrongly accussed of barking ( she hardly evers make noise ) and we got a free breakfast as well as an apology call from the hotel manager.

Anyway, we are always glad to get home. Cosmo usually does the zoomies when she gets in the door !

We also went to Martha's Vinyard ( Surfside Inn is pet friendly ) a past summer and we can't wait until our next adventure!!

I just heard the Outer Reach Motel is dog friendly at Provincetown, Mass

Please Note: In case you are wondering: Cosmo/Midge are always walked on a leash where ever we go. They are only leash free in the house or indoors.

Their poop no matter how small is always picked up where ever we go.
It amazes me how many dog owners do not pick up their pets. Please remember pick
up after your dog !!!!

Things that Papillions may do

Papillons have some unique behaviors. Let me know what your Pap does!! Some of
these behaviors may be present in other breeds as well but I think some are very
unique to Paps :

zoomies: run around back and forth or in circles as fast as their little legs can
take them

paddle: stand up on hind legs and paddle front feet to get attention

slide: across the floor on their stomachs with front and back legs all stretched
out

cat like behaviors: chasing light beams etc, playing with toys as cats do, rolling on their backs with feet up in the air. Sitting on a couch looking out the window. Paps even lick and preen themselves as cats do.

Jumping: amazing how high and far they can be trained to jump. They are very
agile.

Sniffing /Chasing Prey : It was thought that Paps could sniff out rabbits, mice
or rats and later catch them by tiring them out by chasing them!

Vocal: Although mostly quiet, Cosmo has her: errs, grrs, whines and wimpers, ( she sounds like a human baby ) , cries, a-roos, woofs and roofs. A large vocal
reportoire. I only heard her growl one time when she was protecting her beloved
car she rides in. She will bark to alert ( ex: the door bell rings etc. )

Licks and Kisses: Her tongue is always darting in and out and she always wants
to kiss new people she meets. Usually a few kisses and a licks and she is
satisfied. She licks her daddy's forehead and ears almost every night. I just
get a kiss on the nose!

Sneezing: Although Cosmo has never done this, many people mention their Paps may
do this for attention. A Reverse sneeze sounds like a choking cough.

The Look: Papillon's will look at you when you are talking. They'll cock their head and act as if they know what you are saying ( and maybe they do! ). They have particular looks you will get to know. Many will give you the look which means they have to go potty. They can simply look at you and then look at the door ( which means they need to go out ).

Papillons know they are cute and they act it!!! They enjoy praise. My Cosmo
enjoys it also when I say "yea, good girl " and clap my hands in approval. They
love to entertain and are easily trainable. Everything is a new adventure for
them.

Playing Fetch and Tug Of War with their toys: I think this may be the most
favorite game of a Papillon. And they just love their pile of dog toys and are
quite selective which they choose to play with!

All sorts of tricks: Cosmo pushes a small toy shopping cart , pulls a kidde wagon, plays dead, does the Cha Cha, jumps through hoops, fetches the newspaper, just a few of her 2 dozen tricks she enjoys doing !

-----------------------------------------------------------

COSMO'S FIRST PLAY DAY AND BARBECUE :

Cosmo hosted her first play day and barbecue June 13th 2004 in her
fenced in yard 23 dogs, from puppies, teens and fill grown attended. 3 lb Biba to 14 lb Pippin, plus and a large variety of other endearing Papillons enjoyed themselves.
Of course the humans enjoyed the barbecue .

Cosmo's mom, Joan, offered a short presentation about First Aide Kits for Dogs,
Anxiety Wraps and Dog Massage .

Great weather, great people and great food and of course the great Paps- Now what else could we ask for to make a successful party.

See Cosmo's Play day photos
and other Pap Play days she attended.

Link forthcoming as Yahoo photos have moved to Flickr .

----------------------------------------------------------

Cute nicknames we call Cosmo:
And she responds to them all!

Coz
Cosmoco
Cosmopolitan
Cosmo the Cosmolian
Cosomoto
Cossi or Cozzi
Cozer
Cosgrove
Cosmore
Cosmond
Cosgi
Cosgins
Putchel Poo
My poo doggie
The Girlie with the curley ( ie. my curled tail )
Good Listen Doggie
Cosmo Cutie
Good Foundation Doggie

-----------------------------------------------------------
To err is human, to forgive Canine........... Author Unknown

------------------------------------------

Dog stuff and trivia for you:

COSMO'S SPECIAL TIP FOR YOU:

My mom takes a package/box of those disposable gentle baby wipes and fills them with a little warm water to make them even moister. Each car has a package. Then
if I have an accident and need my fur cleaned ( such as my culottes ) cleaning
me is a snap. I am clean and smell good too!
If you have a special tip, let us know and my Mom will post it here.

About Collars Etc.:

Cosmo wears a harnass or halter collar, not a collar around her neck. Please be
aware that small dogs have fragile and small tracheas and especially active dogs
such as Paps need no pressure around their neck which could cause damage. There is a lot to learn about collars. Some are the "click" collars and harnasses
which come off easily. Others buckle. In case of emergency you need to get a
collar off F- a -s -t .

Generally Paps are healthy, hearty, little creatures.They have a fragile structure ( tiny feet , thin legs ) but are extremely agile and they love to jump, fetch, play etc. They are easy to care for and sometimes referred to " wash and wear" dogs. Also , They are small dogs who think big !!
In cold weather Cosmo wears a heavy sweater. Sweaters may seem cute but it is important to keep your small dog clean and dry in cold damp weather..

Cosmo loves to romp in the snow but dislikes to go out in the rain although she will indeed go out with me in the pouring rain so she can so her business. Generally Paps do not like to remain in anything wet

Papillons love the outside and adventure but they are not backyard dogs; that is they should not be left outside to live or be exposed to extremes in weather.
After all they are companion dogs and want to be with you!

Bath Time :
I bathe Cosmo only once a month; twice a month if she is exceptionally dirty. I
use a gentle dog shampoo or a whitening shampoo plus a dog cream rinse/conditioner. There are many good products available in major pet stores.

Good brushing especially to prevent mats behinds the ears and hind quarters
should be done a few times a week. Never pull out any fur balls, instead use your fingers to gently separate them.

When Cosmo was a puppy she hated bathes. I tried a lot of suggestions: bath mat in the tub, a spritz spray which she hated. As she grew older she settled on a
simple bath. I put her in the tub and used large pitchers of warm water to wet
her down, lather her and rinse her. The bath takes 5 minutes.Afterall she is a
small 5 lb doggie! She seems to really enjoy the warm water bath now. I hold
down her ears close to her head, so no water gets in them . She didn't like the
cotton balls stuffed in her ears. Currently I use Kelco Plum White Shampoo
I wrap her in a thick terry towel for a few minutes. Then I put her down and she
does the "zoomies" for about 5 minutes which naturally dries her off!

She knows she'll get a few treats as I try to brush/comb her. She really doesn't
like to be brushed but will tolerate being combed. I only use a metal comb with rolling thick teeth which does an adequate job.

I tried all kind of suggested brushes
but she tolerates the small soft plastic brushes well, often found in the dollar stores.

I use my fingers to separate the fine whispers of ear fur fringes. I also use a professional grooming spray ( used on wet or dry fur ) to detangle and condition her fur. ( Oster Pawformance detangler
conditioning spray is one of a few I use. There are many others. ). This helps
prevent tangles and repels dust , urine etc..
So all in all bath time is not so bad for either of us any more! She even lets
me dry her with a hand held hair dry on low speed!

IT'S COLD/Hot IN THE EAST

Many Papillons dislike rain but love to romp in the snow. Mom and dad made it a
point to get me used to rain and snow since outside is where I am supposed to do
my business. Of course in real cold weather we don't stay out for more than 5
minutes or so. And I always wear my winter sweater and coat. As for booties, I
haven't found a good pair that I would wear yet.

Mom and dad bought me a Wonder Bed ( self warming bedding ) by Lazy Pet
products. They put it on the car seat or in my cage when it is really cold. It
keeps my body heat in and I stay warm and toasty. There are also simlar products. There are also doggy heating pads/beds ( electric ) available for indoor and outdoor use.
Once they also bought a small car heater ( 150 watts ) which fits in the cigarette
lighter and has a 5 Ft. cord. This adds an extra boost of heat in my dad's car
which was old and cold . Now we have a modern car!

Of Course I wear all kinds of coats and sweaters in inclement weather. Sometimes
my mom just loves to dress me up!
Mom says pet clothes don't have to be expensive. K-Marts and Pet Smart, Pet Co.
etc, have reasonable prices as well as other pet stores. My grandma knitted me some turtelneck sweaters too.!

Advice for hot weather: We bought a crate fan for Cosmo. In real hot weather
place a large cold gel pac* on the floor of the cage. Have plently of fresh cold
water when you travel. We usually have a small cooler in the car with small sized bottled water
*Cool Coats and Cool Mats can be ordered off the Net or seen at Dog Shows.

Never, ever leave your dog alone and locked in a hot car even for a few minutes
or even with the windows open a crack.

ODOR CONTROL PRODUCTS:
2 products I have used for success for cats and dogs, there are plenty other good ones!

Amazing Nok Out multi purpose odor eliminator ( any odor: sewage, decay, smoke, pet urine, feces, mold, mildew etc) : Manufactured by Amazing Concepts of
Beaverton, MI
Search the Net for distributors---often sold at cat and dog shows
No after scent- just neutralizes the odor, non cationic

MYCODEX odor neutralizer - any odor from pets: used on rugs, bedding, carpets,
neutralizes pet urine, feces, anal gland secretions etc.
Veterinary Products laboratories: www.vpl.com
Leaves a fresh scent after it neutralizers pet odors.
-----------------------------------------------------------

SO YOU ARE BRINGING HOME A NEW PUPPY

Remember owning a dog is a full time responsibilty. Just as if having your own
child, one has to love, nuture, nourish, protect and maintain good health for
the pet. Your dog looks up to you and worships and loves you. So provide that
puppy the best life you possibly can. Read and learn as much as you can about
providing proper nutrition, exercise, socialzation, health maintanence etc.

BASIC ESSENTIALS :

1. make sure you have a good Vet
2. make sure you have a proper collar and leash for your breed of dog
3. have your puppy food/dish/bowls ready or make your own food
4. buy the proper size crate if you are going to crate/house train or wee wee
pads if you paper train
Have on hand some pet odor/ stain removers
5. have a dog sweater/coat if the weather is cold and you plan to take it outside
6. have on hand some chew toys for your new puppy
7. buy a pet/baby gate if you need to close off a particular area of the house for your dog
8. Take personal time off so you can be with your new puppy
9. socialize your new puppy: take it everywhere: Pet stores like Pet Co or Pet Smart are a great start, car rides, walks, meeting new people etc etc.
Consider obedience training school initially as a socialization process. You can
easily train your dog at home.
10. Talk to people who have pets. Read all about dogs and puppies. Use the Net
for resources.
11. Ultimately it will be your personal decision how you wish to feed, train and care for your pet.

If You Haven't Loved An Animal, Your Soul is Incomplete

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU TRAVEL WITH YOUR PET

Make sure your travel destinations ( hotel/motel ) allows dogs
Bring along a copy of your pet vaccinations , innoculations and rabies shots etc
Bring along your Vet's phone number
Bring along a photo of your dog ( in case doggie gets lost )
Bring along your dog's favorite toy , blanket and or pillow
Bring along a pet first aid kit
Bring along a travel water bottle and bowl
Bring along extra treats, dry food for travel
Bring along extra leashes, pet sweaters etc.
Make sure your dog wears it's ID tag ( name and phone number etc. )
Make sure dogs don't ride the front seat of a car or van. Consider a pet car seat.
For frequent travel consider lining the floor of your van with carpet cover, seat covers
Consider pet seat belts
Bring along pet wipes for quick clean ups and accidents.
Carry pet poop baggies and pick up the poop no matter how small. (people do
watch ,you know! )
No one wants to step in doggy doo

-----------------------------------------------------------

OKAY- ALREADY- HOW DO I FIND MY PAPILLON?

Want to find a Papillon in New York, Ct or N.J - ( or any other state )?

Consider Adoption

http:// www.papillonclub.org/rescue

OR
Buying from breeders.

Or Attending dog shows

Search: www.breeders.NET

and www.infodog.com

Subscribe to Yahoo groups. There are at least 20 groups about papillons

If you are a breeder and want to add your site to mine, please E-mail me and I will add your link and information to my Friend's of Cosmo Page.

I currently removed a list of breeders I had originally listed because too many things have changed regarding Emails, telephone numbers, web sites , etc.etc.

ASSORTED READING MATERIAL:

I often go to Barnes and Noble Bookstores. There are a tons of books on pet care. I bought a dog medical encyclopedia for home and another about over the counter medicine, one can use for pets..

I also bought a book: Smarter Thank You Think by Paul Loeb because it was
reccomended by one of the relatives. It contains lots of useful information ( some feel controversial information , esp on dog diet and food , house breaking etc.) but I found it very useful to help train Cosmo!

The Magic Touch advice helped Cosmo listen to me better. When she was small, she oftened ignored my call to "come ". But the Magic Touch advice changed all that and since then she always comes when called.

Please note, I do not agree on every topic he wrote.( i.e he doesn't believe in crate training and he believes in feeding people food to dogs)

I wrote the following review of the book at Amazon.com, one of many, many reviews
about 3 years ago:

Being a brand new dog owner I tried to read and research as much as I could about puppies and small dogs ( my dog is a Papillon ). I also enrolled her in obedience school when she was 3 months old. Most instuctors I found out use food as a reward and later praise to teach dogs. My puppy would never come 100% when called .

When I first got her I tried the magic touch and threw a soft slipper at her.
She looked at me quite hurt and hubby and I thought we may "damage" her cheerful, energetic nature papillons are known for.

As obedience lessons continued she still didn't come 100%. So one day before
lessons I got so frustrated I decided to try the magic touch again.

I called her, she didn't come and she continued playing with her stuffed dog
toy. I threw a 3 inch roll of bandage tape at her which smacked her in the side.
From that moment she was a changed dog. She looked at me in disbelief ( I didn't
physically hurt her- just her pride ) and came immediately. Since that moment
she looks at me in a different light. She respects me, always comes now and
still is the same cheerful energetic dog.

Another topic I was interested in is diet since small dogs have skin problems..
I tried the supermarket brands and Vet recommended dry foods plus natural
expensive dry food and yet my dog seemed to scratch despite no fleas.

So I decided to use a natural brand of "canned food" which worked out well. The
book advised canned over dry food plus people food supplements at times. My dog
hardly scratches now.

So I recommend this book despite some negative reviews . Mr Loeb's knowledge, plus the information in the book helped me and my dog.!!

Note: there are many wonderful books about pet care and I urge you to read as
many as you can.

GOOD SEARCH ENGINE:

HTTP://WWW.GOOGLE.COM