Papillons are an easy to groom breed.  The most important point to Papillon grooming is keeping the coat clean.  I recommend a weekly bath using a quality shampoo.  There are many excellent shampoo formulas available.  One of my favorites is Crown Royal OB Biovite shampoo, formula one.  It nourishes the coat and stimulates coat growth.  I have also used Vellus shampoo and EZ Groom.  Always follow the directions for dilution.  Shampoo left in the coat will attract dirt and will cause damage to the coat.  
     I follow the shampoo with a quality conditioner, diluted to the manufacturer's instructions.  I have been pleased with Vellus conditioning products.  I use their conditioner and rinse well.  I do not use conditioner on the ear fringe unless it is damaged.  After the conditioner, but while the coat is wet, I rub a small amount of Vellus Satin Cream in the palms of my hands and massage it into the coat and brush it through with a pin brush.  We especially like the Chris Christensen pin brushes with the brass pins.  This brush helps eliminate static in the coat.  I follow the Satin Cream with a light misting of grooming spray.  My favorite is Crown Royal Magic Touch, formula one.  I have also been pleased with De Mat and Ice on Ice. 
     To blow dry my Papillons, I keep the dog wrapped in a towel and first dry the ear fringe with an ionic blow dryer on the lowest heat setting and low power.  I begin by gently brushing the fringes from the base of the ear outward to the tip of the ear.  If the ear fringes seem to have a pointed appearance, I brush them over my finger to give them a beautiful rounded tip.  After the back of the ear is dry, I follow the same procedure on the inner ear fringes.  I use a stand for my blow dryer to make this process easier.  Two hands really are better than one when it comes to grooming your Papillon.
     After the drying of the fringes I unwrap the dog and blow dry the tail and breeches with the same ionic blow dryer on the same setting.  (I use a cool setting on male dogs due the possibility of damage to their sperm count caused by too much heat.)  I brush the tail straight back from the base to the tip.  I brush the breeches straight down, also.  After the drying of the tail and breeches, I use a power dryer to dry the coat.  I blow the coat downward from the center of the back.  I may stop the dryer and brush through the coat with a pin brush several times during the drying process.  I will again brush the dog after the drying process is complete.  Papillons should be brushed several times weekly.  A show dog should be brushed daily to remove any mats, tangles or dirt from the coat.  A gentle brushing is best.  Rough brushing will do more harm than good and is an unpleasant experience for your dog.
     If you do encounter a mat, gently work through the mat with a comb or pin brush.  Do not pull or cut the mat.  If you will keep gently working through the mat with your fingers and a pin brush or comb, you can save much of the fringes or coat. 
     Any trimming that is necessary is best done before the bathing process.  Trimming of whiskers is optional.  I usually trim whiskers on any dog that is being shown.  This can be done with electric clippers or blunt tipped scissors.  I've used both, but prefer scissors.  A friend of mine uses a bikini razor with much success.  Nails should be trimmed frequently.  I use a quality nail clipper and file the rough edges.  Some breeders use rotary nail trimmers.  There is nothing wrong with this practice.  I am not comfortable performing this task with a rotary trimmer because I fear catching the coat in the tool.  The hair should be trimmed from the pads of the feet.  Again, you may use scissors or an electric clipper.  The hair should be trimmed from the sides of the feet to give a clean appearance.  Small tufts of hair extending from the tip of the foot are acceptable.  If needed, I trim the hair from the hocks to give a cleaner appearance.  Carefully clipping a few hairs from the anal opening helps to keep your dog clean. 
     There you have it...the basics of grooming your Papillon.  You should always attempt to make the grooming experience pleasant for you and your dog.
    

     Where will your Papillon live?  What will your Papillon eat?  Who will provide medical care?  These are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself before bringing your Papillon home. 
     Papillons should have access to a safe and secure yard.  Most enjoy spending time outside, but Papillons are not "outdoor" dogs.  Do not plan on your Papillon living in a yard and a dog house.  Papillons should live in the home with their family.  Papillons were bred to be companions to their people.  They are not happy unless they are a treasured member of the family.  This does not mean they should be the masters of the household.  They are so cute and sweet that it is easy for us to spoil them.
     Your Pap should have their own special place in your home.  This is usually a crate.  Your Pap should not be kept in a crate 24/7, but they do enjoy having a place to retreat to when they are tired or just want to be alone.  Crates are an excellent tool in house training your Papillon.  Papillons are not the easiest to house train, but they are most definitely trainable.  Puppies should be put in their crates to eat and sleep.  Take your puppy to their potty spot after eating, drinking or upon awakening.  When your puppy potties in the proper place, praise him and a give a treat.
    New owners should be persistent and positive in their training.  I begin training our puppies around five weeks to use a Pish Pad.  These may be purchased at www.pishpad.com.  I put the Pish Pad in the puppy pen and their natural desire to keep their "home" clean encourages them to eliminate on the Pish Pad.  Later when they are moved from the puppy pen, the puppies find there are Pish Pads located throughout our home.  We also train our dogs to eliminate outside, but if no one is there to let them out, or if it is very cold or raining, they will use the Pish Pad.  They are washable and reusable and last forever.  Verbal praise or a treat reinforces the use of the pads or outside. 
     Some breeders train their puppies to use a litter box.  I have used this method.  I began using the pads because some puppies like to dig and play in the litter box.  If you choose to use a litter box, do not use clay or any type of clumping litter.  This is a choking hazard.  There is a litter product called "Yesterday's News", made from recycled newspapers.  It poses no hazard to curious puppies.
     What will your new puppy eat?  A quality diet is key to a heathy dog.  Papillon puppies should be fed a high quality diet at least twice daily.  My mature dogs are happy being fed once daily.  Do not feed the cheapest food you can find at the discount store.  What you save in food costs will be spent in veterinary bills.  We feed Purina Pro Plan Small Breed chicken formula.  There are many quality foods available.  Ask your breeder or veterinarian for suggestions.
     Speaking of veterinarians....if you cannot afford veterinary care, you should not own a dog.  I am not trying to be harsh, but medical care is part of being a responsible pet owner.  Dogs need vaccinations to protect them from diseases.  They need to be kept free of parasites and protected from heartworm disease.  Even healthy dogs need yearly health checks.  All Papillons should have yearly eye and patella exams, as well as general health exams.
     Papillons generally get along well with other animals.  I would not recommend having a Papillon if you have other large breed dogs.  A large dog can easily injure, even kill, a Papillon.  Even sweet and gentle large breed dogs can harm a Pap while playing.  Caution and supervision is a must if you choose to bring a Papillon into the home with a large breed dog.
     Children love small dogs, but small dogs are not always the best choice for homes with small children.  Small children can unintentionally harm a Papillon.  Small children are not always gentle and Papillons do not take kindly to rough handling.  If you have small children in the home, Papillons are not the best choice for a family pet.  Some families with small children have successfully adopted a Papillon.  Parents must be committed to teaching their children how to properly hold and pet a small, fine boned dog.  Children and pets should ALWAYS be supervised.  It only takes one incident to injure a child or a pet.
    Last, but certainly not least, love, cuddle and play with your Papillon.  Papillons are devoted to their owners.  Their greatest joy is spending time with you.  Some want to cuddle in your lap.  Some prefer to snuggle beside you.  All want to be near to their master.  Provide proper care and a loving home for your Papillon and you will be rewarded with love and adoration from your adorable Papillon for many years.  Some Papillons have been known to live up to 18 years.  I hope mine live even longer.