Brittany Spaniel or Papillon? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Brittany Spaniel is the heavier at 30–40 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Brittany Spaniel and Papillon and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and barking, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Papillon rates 5/5 against 3/5. There is no origin story here — only what changes about your week.
Between Brittany Spaniel and Papillon, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Papillon is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose Brittany Spaniel if there are young children at home, you already have another dog and you want a dog that can keep up with an active routine.
Choose Papillon if you are in a flat or a smaller home, shedding is a problem in your house and your walking routine is modest.
| Feature | brittany | papillon | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | small | Equal |
| Weight | 30–40 lbs | 5–10 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 17–20 in | 8–11 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–15 years | 14–16 years | papillon |
| Exercise need | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | papillon |
| Grooming need | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Shedding | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | papillon |
| Energy level | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | brittany |
| Apartment suitability | Moderate (3/5) | Very high (5/5) | papillon |
| Good for first-time owners | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Trainability | Very high (5/5) | Very high (5/5) | Equal |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Good with other dogs | Very high (5/5) | High (4/5) | brittany |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | papillon |
| Coat | Medium, wavy coat | Long, silky single coat | Equal |
| Origin | France | Various | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $90–$180 | $80–$150 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,300–$2,500 | $1,100–$2,300 | Equal |
Line up a Brittany next to a Papillon and the difference is almost comic: 30-40 lbs versus 5-10 lbs, 17-20 inches versus 8-11. You could fit two or three Papillons in the space one Brittany takes up in the back seat. This isn't a case of close cousins with different names -- it's genuinely two different categories of dog, and that should drive most of your other decisions.
Both breeds are lively -- Brittany at high (4/5) energy, Papillon also high (4/5) -- but exercise needs diverge: 4/5 for the Brittany against moderate (3/5) for the Papillon. A Papillon can burn off plenty of energy indoors with play and short bursts; a Brittany needs actual outdoor mileage. Don't mistake the Papillon's small size for low energy -- a smaller body just needs less distance to tire out.
Grooming need ties at low (2/5) for both breeds, which surprises people expecting the Papillon's fringed coat to be high-maintenance -- it isn't, since it's a single coat without an undercoat to mat. Shedding is where they split: moderate (3/5) for the Brittany against low (2/5) for the Papillon. If shedding bothers you more than brushing time does, the Papillon has a slight edge.
The Papillon rates very high (5/5) for apartment suitability against the Brittany's moderate (3/5) -- small size helps here. But barking flips the advantage: the Papillon is high (4/5), the Brittany low (2/5), and toy breeds are frequently more vocal about visitors and noises. If your apartment has thin walls, factor the Papillon's bark into the equation, not just its footprint.
Trainability ties at very high (5/5) for both, and both score high (4/5) as first-time-owner breeds -- neither is a bad choice for someone new to dog ownership. The difference is what you're training for: the Brittany's drive channels into fieldwork and long-distance obedience, while the Papillon's quick-witted, confident streak responds well to trick training and agility in tighter spaces.
The Brittany rates very high (5/5) with kids and with other dogs; the Papillon rates moderate (3/5) with kids and high (4/5) with other dogs. That gap with children matters if you have young, boisterous kids -- a 5-10 lb dog handles rough play worse than a 30-40 lb one. Both are equally friendly to strangers at high (4/5).
The Papillon actually outlives the Brittany on average -- 14-16 years versus 12-15 -- typical for a much smaller breed. Their health lists barely overlap: progressive retinal atrophy is the one condition both carry. The Brittany's sheet runs longer overall, including hip and elbow dysplasia and bloat; the Papillon's shorter list adds patellar luxation, dental disease, and collapsing trachea.
Cost level rates moderate (3/5) for the Brittany against low (2/5) for the Papillon, and the ranges track: $90-$180 a month for the Brittany versus $80-$150 for the Papillon, with first-year totals of $1,300-$2,500 and $1,100-$2,300. The gap isn't huge, but a smaller dog eating less and needing less gear adds up over a decade-plus lifespan.
Brittany Spaniel weighs 30–40 lbs and lives 12–15 years; Papillon weighs 5–10 lbs and lives 14–16 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability, barking and good with kids. They are level on tolerates being alone, energy level and good for first-time owners, so those cannot decide it. Where the table declares a winner it means less work for the owner, nothing more; descriptive rows are left as ties on purpose. The value here is in the differences between the two columns; treat any single score as approximate.
Yes -- a Papillon weighs 5-10 lbs against the Brittany's 30-40 lbs, roughly a fourth to a sixth of the size. Height follows the same pattern: 8-11 inches versus 17-20.
The Papillon, rated low (2/5) shedding against the Brittany's moderate (3/5). Grooming effort itself is tied at low (2/5) for both, since neither has a heavy undercoat.
Both score high (4/5) here, so either works for a novice. The Papillon may suit an apartment-first-timer better, while the Brittany suits someone with more outdoor space and time for exercise.
Yes, clearly -- very high (5/5) apartment suitability against the Brittany's moderate (3/5). Just know the Papillon barks more (high, 4/5, versus the Brittany's low 2/5), which matters in close quarters.
Budget $90-$180 for a Brittany and $80-$150 for a Papillon. First-year costs run $1,300-$2,500 and $1,100-$2,300 respectively.
Barely -- progressive retinal atrophy is the only condition on both lists. Otherwise the Brittany carries a longer sheet of ten conditions including bloat and epilepsy, while the Papillon's five includes patellar luxation and collapsing trachea.
The Papillon, typically 14-16 years against the Brittany's 12-15. Smaller breeds tend to outlive larger ones, and this pair follows that pattern.
It depends entirely on space and activity level: the Brittany suits an active household with room to run, the Papillon suits a smaller home where apartment suitability (5/5) matters more than field time.
$90-$180 for a Brittany versus $80-$150 for a Papillon -- a modest but real difference.
The Brittany, at high (4/5) versus the Papillon's moderate (3/5).
The Papillon, at 14-16 years versus 12-15 for the Brittany.
Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.
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