PHALENES

 In Continental Europe the Papillon is one variety of the breed known
 as The Continental Toy Spaniel. The Phalene was the original of the
 breed with the Papillon (erect ear) being a considerably later
 development.

 Although the breed has been traced through Old Master paintings, and
 church murals to around the 14 the century, and the breed is thought
 by most breed historians to be a direct decedent of a small Italian
 Spaniel, the FCI considers both France and Belgium to be the home of
 the modern development of the breed.

 In the countries governed by the FCI the Continental Toy SPaniel,
 variety Phalene, is judged as a separate variety to the Papillon, each
 variety having its own set of CAC's and CACIB's and both varieties
 being represented in the 'Fancy (Toy) Dog' group.

 In the early years of the breed in this country the Phalene was often
 seen at the shows but as more and more emphasis was put on the fact
 that 'Papillon' was the French word for 'Butterfly' the Phalene, or
 drop ear variety of the breed, gradually disappeared until it was
 almost extinct.

 While the original small Continental Toy Spaniel (Epagneul Nain
 Continental) was often seen in paintings as the pets of Royalty and
 members of the aristocracy the larger type of the CTS was purported to
 be used on farms for herding geese and, from the way I have seen the
 CTS of today go on 'point' or try to herd other animals, I can well
 imagine that they were well suited to such work.

 Today fanciers are making a concentrated effort to bring this, the
 original variety of the breed, back to its correct place as an equal
 partner of the Papillon.  In this effort considerable thanks must be
 given to the PCA and our Judges Education committees for endeavoring
 to assist the breeders in this very worthwhile, but very difficult,
 endeavor.
 

The Phalene enthusiasts are very proud of the Heritage of the breed
 In an endeavor to maintain the original Spaniel heritage fanciers are
 attempting to maintain not only the intelligence and 'birdiness' that
 is inherent in the breed but also the dainty size, and the structure
 and movement of the true toy sized sporting spaniel.

 In Judging the Phalene it should be remembered that apart from the
 ears the variety is identical in all other respects to the Papillon
 and should be judged accordingly.

 The ears are probably the most important area for discussion for
 although the Phalene is a true Spaniel in a miniature size there are
 notable differences between the Phalenes ears and those of most other
 Spaniel breeds.

 The Phalene ear is set onto the skull in the normal fashion of the
 Papillon, that is at the 45 degree angle. It should not be low set on
 the side of the head as in the Cocker Spaniel. Due to the ear carriage
 Phalene ears will often look as if they are a little low set so it is
 not unreasonable, when judging the variety, to wish to take a closer
 look at the set on.  This is not done by pulling the ears up by their
 tips but rather by gently pushing the ears up until the set can be
 clearly seen.

 The ear has a slight rise where it joins the skull and this slight
 rise is extremely important to the health of the dog.  Whereas in most
 Spaniel breeds the ear leather lays heavy against the ear canal, and
 the breeds are often plagued with ear infections as a result of this,
 the slight rise in the set-on of the Phalene ear, along with its
 mobility, allows for adequate ventilation of the ear canal which, in
 turns, helps to maintain the ear health.

 The mobility of the light ear leather of the Phalene is not only
 normal but desirable. Light currents of air, as will be present when
 the dog is in motion, will often lift the ear leather lightly and give
 the appearance of gently wafting 'wings'. The ears do not come up in
 the manner of the erect eared Papillon but rather pull back against
 the neck.

 When at rest the ears are dropped in the manner of any other Spaniel
 breed but with the slight rise being present.  As with the erect eared
 Papillon the ears need to be large  with a reasonably wide base and
 rounded tips and, in the adults, covered with long silken hair.

 Some Phalene puppies will tend to have more lift to the leather at the
 base of the ear and it takes time for the ears to 'settle'.  As the
 puppy  grows into an adult and gets the normal ear fringing the weight
 of the ear fringe will stabilize the drop of the ear leather.  Slight
 instability of the ear leather on a puppy should be faulted to the
 same extent that an erect eared puppy of like age, with a slightly
 soft ear, would be faulted. No more and no less.

 Another area that can be quite deceptive is the backline. In the erect
 eared variety of the breed the eye tends to be drawn along the back
 and up to the top of the ears.  In the Phalene the eye follows the
 line from the back and down the drop of the ear. This can result in a
 Papillon and Phalene of equal proportions on the body length appearing
 different, the drop eared Phalene will have a tendency to appear to
 have a longer backline than the erect eared Papillon.

 The same deception of the eye can occur in height. The drop ear
 Phalene that is of the same height as its erect ear Counterpart will,
 because of the drop ears, sometime look smaller than it actually is.

 Once judges, and breeders, are more used to seeing the Phalene the eye
 will automatically adjust but for those who are unfamiliar with the
 drop ear variety of the breed it is sometimes interesting to take a
 second look at the proportions.

 Head shape can also be somewhat deceptive as the drop ear will
 sometimes have a tendency to make the exhibit look wider and flatter
 between the inner set-on of the ear.

 The drop ear does have a tendency to give a softer look to the dogs
 face as opposed to the more 'perky' appearance of the erect eared
 Papillon and this difference in expression should be taken into
 consideration when judging the drop ear variety.

 Pearl George