The name Papillon is French for butterfly, which the face and ears of this spritely little dog should resemble.The Papillon has its roots in the dwarf spaniels so popular throughout Europe from at least the sixteenth century. These little dogs were extremely popular with the nobility; as time went on, Spain and Italy became the centers of dwarf spaniel breeding and trading. The court of Louis XIV of France was particulary fond of these little dogs and imported many of them. At one time the Papillon was known as the squirrel spaniel because it carried its plumed tail over its back in the same way a squirrel does. These early dogs had drooping ears, but through some unknown event, some dogs sported erect ears. Both drop - and erect- eared Papillons could be found in the same litter. Even today both ear types are equally correct.