Papillon vs Yorkshire Terrier

Compare the Papillon to the Yorkshire Terrier. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Papillons and Yorkshire Terriers.

Quick Summary

Below are a few quick comparisons between the two breeds.
  • Owner Experience - Both the Papillon and Yorkshire Terrier are excellent choices for new or inexperienced owners.
  • Children - Both the Papillon and Yorkshire Terrier are child friendly, but the Papillon is a better choice for young children.
  • Grooming - The Papillon is easy to groom. The Yorkshire Terrier has very high grooming needs.
  • Barking - The Yorkshire Terrier has an above-average tendency to bark, while the Papillon is an average barker.
Choose Another Breed to Compare
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Papillon vs Yorkshire Terrier
White & Red Papillon Dog
Black & Tan Yorkshire Terrier
Breed NamePapillonYorkshire Terrier
General Details
Breed TypePurebredPurebred
Is Hypo­allergenicNoYes
Lifespan12-16 yrs.12-15 yrs.
Height8-11 in.8-9 in.
Weight4-9 lb4-7 lb
IntelligenceAverageAverage
History
Origin CountryFranceUnited Kingdom
Origin Year1500 AD1865 AD
Temperament
Overall FriendlinessVery GoodGood
Family FriendlyVery GoodVery Good
Kid FriendlyGoodBelow Average
Pet FriendlyVery GoodGood
Stranger FriendlyVery GoodBelow Average
Personality
  • Affectionate
  • Loving
  • Willing To Please
  • Affectionate
  • Aggressive
  • Enjoys Attention
  • Jealous
  • Loving
  • Does Not Like Being Alone
  • Likes To Snuggle
  • Stubborn
  • Willing To Please
Living Environment
ApartmentYesYes
IndoorYesYes
Small YardNoNo
Medium YardNoNo
Large YardNoNo
Temperature Tolerance ¹50°F to 80°F55°F to 80°F
Barks/HowlsBelow AverageOften
Exercise Needs
Energy LevelHighMedium
Exercise RequiredHighLow
Top Running Speed14 mph11 mph
StrengthLowLow
Grooming Needs
Coat Main­tenanceLowHigh
SheddingNone-LowLow
DanderLowLow
Drool AmountNoneNone

¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
Instincts & Behavior Comparison
Breed NamePapillonYorkshire Terrier
Breed Mentality
Dominant/AlphaYesYes
Family/PackNoNo
IndependentYesYes
Breed Focus
Distracted EasilyNoNo
AverageYesYes
Focused & PatientNoNo
Breed Instincts
AggressionBelow AverageVery Low
Burrow/DiggingBelow AverageVery Low
ChasingBelow AverageVery Low
Follow CommandsBelow AverageBelow Average
FightingVery LowVery Low
GuardingVery LowVery Low
HerdingVery LowVery Low
HuntingBelow AverageAverage
ProtectionVery LowVery Low
Remove VerminAverageHigh
SleddingVery LowVery Low
WatchAverageAverage
Health Comparison
Breed NamePapillonYorkshire Terrier
Lifespan
Lifespan12-16 yrs.12-15 yrs.
Common Health Issues
Collapsed TracheaYesYes
HypoglycemiaYesYes
Open FontanelYesNo
Patellar LuxationYesYes
Portosystemic Liver ShuntNoYes
Progressive Retinal AtrophyYesYes
Reverse SneezingNoYes
Appearance Comparison
Breed NamePapillonYorkshire Terrier
Coat
HairYesYes
Coat Type
Single CoatYesYes
Coat Texture
SilkyYesYes
StraightYesNo
Coat Length(s)
LongYesYes
Coat Color(s)
Black, Brown, & WhiteYesNo
Black, Red, & WhiteYesNo
Brown & WhiteYesNo
Fawn & WhiteYesNo
RedYesNo
Red, White, & SableYesNo
SableYesNo
WhiteYesNo
White & BlackYesNo
White & LemonYesNo
White & LiverYesNo
White & RedYesNo
White & SableYesNo
White & SilverYesNo
White, Black, & TanYesNo
Black & GoldNoYes
Black & TanNoYes
Blue & GoldNoYes
Blue & TanNoYes