Last Updated: Apr 12, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Pomeranian Versus Papillon: Introduction
- Pomeranian versus Papillon: Overview
- Pomeranian versus Papillon: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Pomeranian and the Papillon
- The Similarities Between the Pomeranian and the Papillon
- Size Comparison of the Pomeranian versus Papillon
- Appearance (Colors) of the Pomeranian and the Papillon
- Lifespan of Pomeranian versus Papillon
- Temperament of the Pomeranian Versus the Papillon
- Price of Pomeranian versus Price of Papillon
- Adopting the Pomeranian versus Adopting the Papillon
- The Intelligence of the Pomeranian versus the Intelligence of the Papillon
- The Popularity of Pomeranian versus Popularity of Papillon
- Health Problems of Pomeranian versus Health Problems of Papillon
- Tolerates Being Alone: Pomeranian versus Papillon
- Do Pomeranians shed more than Papillons?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Pomeranian or the Papillon?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Pomeranian or the Papillon?
- Are Pomeranians good family dogs? What about Papillons?
- Is the Pomeranian Easier to Train than the Papillon?
- Which one drools more, the Pomeranian or the Papillon
- How Kid-friendly are Pomeranians and Papillons?
- Does the Pomeranian Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Papillon?
- Do Pomeranians Bark and Howl? What about Papillons?
- Can Pomeranians Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Papillons Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Pomeranian vs. Papillon
- Can Pomeranians Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Papillons Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Pomeranian Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Pomeranian versus Papillon. Which One is a Better Pet?
Pomeranian Versus Papillon: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Pomeranian and the Papillon? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Pomeranian and the Papillon better suits you.
We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Pomeranian and the Papillon.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Pomeranian and the Papillon is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.
Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Pomeranian and for the Papillon. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Pomeranian and the Papillon.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Pomeranian or the Papillon.
Pomeranian versus Papillon: Overview
Both the Pomeranian and the Papillon are similar in size. The Pomeranian and the Papillon are both tiny-sized dogs.
Furthermore, both the Pomeranian and the Papillon are Companion Dogs. This means both the Pomeranian and the Papillon were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.
Pomeranian versus Papillon: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Pomeranian to the Papillon based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.
When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets
Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.
However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.
Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Pomeranian and the Papillon
| Factor | Pomeranian | Papillon |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Life Span | 12 to 16 years | 12 to 16 years |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Weight | 3 to 7 pounds | 4 to 9 pounds |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Easygoing | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Height | 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder | 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Average Lifespan | 14.0 years | 14.0 years |
| Average Price | $2150 | $1760 |
| Price Range | $1500 – $2500 | $1050 – $2000 |
| Temperament Score | 77.8 percent | 82.3 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | ||
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 22 | 49 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 23 | 8 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pomeranian in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Papillon. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.
The Better-Pet score for the Pomeranian is 79 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Papillon is 89 out of 125.
Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Papillon, we still believe that the Pomeranian is a better pet than the Papillon.
This is because Pomeranians are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Pomeranian will come out on top.
Also, we are biased in favor of the Pomeranian :-). We are for the Pomeranian. So get a Pomeranian!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Pomeranian and the Papillon
Below is a list of where the Pomeranian and the Papillon are most different:
The Similarities Between the Pomeranian and the Papillon
The Pomeranian and the Papillon are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Pomeranian and the Papillon are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Pomeranian versus Papillon
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Pomeranian and the Papillon.
The Pomeranian weighs 3 to 7 pounds when fully grown. The Pomeranian is 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, the Papillon weighs 4 to 9 pounds when fully grown. The Papillon is 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Appearance (Colors) of the Pomeranian and the Papillon
Pomeranian Colors
The Pomeranian comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Red / Chestnut / Orange
- Brown / Chocolate
- White / Cream
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- Black
- Apricot / Beige
- Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
- Merle (Blue)
- Sable
- Gray / Blue / Silver
- Bicolor
- Golden
- Brindle
The Pomeranian comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
- Black
- White / Cream
- Brown / Chocolate
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- Brindle
- Red / Chestnut / Orange
- Apricot / Beige
Papillon Colors
The Papillon comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- White / Cream
- Red / Chestnut / Orange
- Brown / Chocolate
- Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
- Sable
- Black
The Papillon comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
- White / Cream
- Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
- Black
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
Lifespan of Pomeranian versus Papillon
The lifespan of the Pomeranian is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Pomeranian is 14.0 years.
The lifespan of the Papillon is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Papillon is 14.0 years.
The Papillon live as long as the Pomeranian.
Temperament of the Pomeranian Versus the Papillon
The Papillon has a better temperament than the Pomeranian.
This is because the temperament score for the Papillon is 82.3 percent while the temperament score for the Pomeranian is 77.8 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).
The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.
Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.
The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.
With its temperament score of 77.8 percent, the Pomeranian has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 82.3 percent, the Papillon has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Pomeranian and the Papillon by measuring the temperaments of 36 Pomeranians and 96 Papillons.
Price of Pomeranian versus Price of Papillon
The average price of the Pomeranian puppy is $2150. The price of the Pomeranian typically ranges from $1500 – $2500. However, the price of a Pomeranian can be as low as $150 and as high as $10000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1412 Pomeranian puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Papillon puppy is $1760. The price of the Papillon typically ranges from $1050 – $2000. However, the price of the Papillon can be as low as $300 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 205 Papillon puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Pomeranian is more expensive than the Papillon.
| Pomeranian | Papillon | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $2150 | $1760 |
| Price Range | $1500 to $2500 | $1050 to $2000 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Pomeranian and Papillon. For different price points, the charts show how many Pomeranian puppies or how many Papillon puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Pomeranians. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Papillons
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Pomeranian puppy or the Papillon puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.
Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.
Adopting the Pomeranian versus Adopting the Papillon
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Pomeranians and many Papillons are currently available for adoption.
These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male Pomeranian named Tom that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Pomeranians like Tom on pefinder.com.
Also, like Pomeranians, Papillons are also available for adoption. For example, Sparky is a Male Papillon that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Papillons like Sparky that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Rhva-Stray-Rh1213 is the name of another Pomeranian (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
Also, Clark Blake Shelton is an adorable Male Papillon on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Pomeranians and Papillons that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Intelligence of the Pomeranian versus the Intelligence of the Papillon
| Pomeranian | Papillon | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 23 out of 130 dog breeds | 8 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions |
Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.
This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.
To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.
Prof. Coren found that the Pomeranian has an obedience intelligence rank of 23 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pomeranian belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Pomeranians tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
The Papillon has an obedience intelligence rank of 8 out of 130 dog breeds. The Papillon belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Papillons tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.
The Papillon is more intelligent than the Pomeranian.
However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.
The Popularity of Pomeranian versus Popularity of Papillon
Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).
The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Pomeranian and the Papillon over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pomeranian is more popular with dog owners than the Papillon. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pomeranian is 22 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Papillon is 49 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Pomeranian
Popularity of Papillon
| Year | Pomeranian Popularity Rank | Papillon Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 19 | 38 |
| 2014 | 20 | 43 |
| 2015 | 21 | 48 |
| 2016 | 22 | 53 |
| 2017 | 22 | 53 |
| 2018 | 23 | 54 |
| 2019 | 24 | 53 |
| 2020 | 23 | 53 |
| 2021 | 24 | 54 |
Health Problems of Pomeranian versus Health Problems of Papillon
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.
Both the Pomeranian and the Papillon are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.
The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.
Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Pomeranian is prone to more genetic health problems than the Papillon.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Pomeranian than for the Papillon.
6 health tests are recommended for Pomeranian while 2 tests are recommended for the Papillon.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Pomeranians and in Papillons.
Pomeranian Health Problems
Pomeranians are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Pomeranian puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Pomeranian puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Pomeranian breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Pomeranians for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Pomeranians here.
Papillon Health Problems
Papillons are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Papillon puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Papillon puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Papillon breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Papillons for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Papillons here.
More Discussions on Health Problems in Pomeranians and Papillons
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Pomeranian Breed is Patella problems.
This is because the Pomeranian ranks 1 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1542 Pomeranians, 456 of them had Patella problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Pomeranians, and how common these diseases are in Pomeranians relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Papillon Breed is Patella problems.
This is because the Papillon ranks 55 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 2362 Papillons, 70 of them had Patella problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Papillons, and how common these diseases are in Papillons relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
The table below lists the common health problems in Pomeranian and in Papillon and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Pomeranian and the Papillon:
| Disease | Pomeranian Rank | Papillon Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Patella problems | 1 out of 145 dog breeds | 55 out of 145 dog breeds |
| Congenital Cardiac problems | 49 out of 159 dog breeds | 67 out of 159 dog breeds |
| Hips problems | 75 out of 198 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Thyroid problems | 89 out of 115 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Eyes problems | 171 out of 182 dog breeds | 148 out of 182 dog breeds |
*To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.
Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.
Tolerates Being Alone: Pomeranian versus Papillon
Pomeranians do not like to be left alone.
Papillons do not like to be left alone.
Do Pomeranians shed more than Papillons?
Pomeranians shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Papillons do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Pomeranian or the Papillon?
Pomeranians require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Papillons are moderately easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Pomeranian or the Papillon?
Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs.
Papillons get along very well with other dogs.
Are Pomeranians good family dogs? What about Papillons?
Pomeranians are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Papillons are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Pomeranian Easier to Train than the Papillon?
Pomeranians are very easy to train.
Papillons are very easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Pomeranian or the Papillon
Pomeranians do have a very low tendency to drool.
Papillons do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Pomeranians and Papillons?
Pomeranians do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
Papillons get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.
Does the Pomeranian Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Papillon?
Pomeranians have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.
Papillons have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.
Do Pomeranians Bark and Howl? What about Papillons?
Pomeranians are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Papillons are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Can Pomeranians Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Papillons Tolerate Cold Weather?
Pomeranians can very well tolerate cold weather.
Papillons cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Wanderlust Potential: Pomeranian vs. Papillon
Pomeranians do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
Papillons do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
Can Pomeranians Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Papillons Tolerate Hot Weather?
Pomeranians cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Papillons can tolerate hot weather.
Is the Pomeranian Better for Apartment Owners than the Papillon?
Pomeranians adapt very well to apartment living.
Papillons adapt very well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Pomeranian or the Papillon?
Pomeranians are very good for new dog owners.
Papillons are very good for new dog owners.
Pomeranian Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Pomeranian compares to other breeds aside from the Papillon. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Pomeranian to other breeds:
Pomeranian versus Cane Corso Pomeranian versus Pomeranian Pomeranian versus Labrador Retriever Pomeranian versus Pyredoodle Pomeranian versus Golden Retriever Pomeranian versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog Pomeranian versus Weimaraner Pomeranian versus Glen of Imaal Terrier Pomeranian versus Fila Brasileiro Pomeranian versus Rhodesian Ridgeback Pomeranian versus Airedale Terrier Pomeranian versus Whoodle Pomeranian versus Carolina Dog Pomeranian versus Finnish Spitz Pomeranian versus Portuguese Water Dog
Conclusion: Pomeranian versus Papillon. Which One is a Better Pet?
In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Pomeranian and the Papillon better suits you and your family.