Welcome to the internet home of Silhouette Papillons.  We are located on the North Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. Here you will find our butterflies are very much a part of our home and the love of our life. Our interest in this vivacious little breed began with our first puppy Raven Crest Austin. Austin's drive and eagerness to learn got us hooked. Our butterflies are all around family companions, who not only show unrelenting character as a cherished family pet, but also in the spotlight. We train our dogs in many different venues to keep them continuously mentally and physically stimulated. Beauty and brains in one gorgeous package! We are also proud members of our local kennel club, and take an active part in our clubs yearly agility, obedience, rally, and all breed shows -  Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club.

Breeding is not the main goal for us, we breed on rare occasions when we would like to add a new member to our home for either the show or performance venue.  We have worked very hard for the lines we've chosen to continue and careful thought is put into any breeding we chose to make. When we do, our breeding program strives to produce beautiful dogs with a sound structure,  an intelligent mind, and joyful/ outgoing temperament. No one wants to live with a beautiful fool. Our butterflies are exposed to all life has to offer. We don't just have show dogs, our dogs perform in agility and obedience as well. They also are wonderful therapy dogs and loving companions. We love taking the dogs with us on any occasion and it's a great time to work on their social skills. You can read more on how our dogs are raised and our breeding policy on the puppy page. We have worked hard to obtain the lines we have chosen, which come from various parts of the world, Sweden, Japan, and Finland to name a few. 

Since 2003 we have been active members of our local volunteer fire department. On occasion we attend training drills with the pups, or bring them along to public safety events where we help teach children the importance of fire safety and help parents to be prepared in the event of an emergency. It’s a fabulous time to work on their social skills.  When not working or responding to calls we enjoy showing our butterflies in conformation or performance events. In 2006 we registered a few of our dogs for the first time with the United Kennel Club. We have found this to be truly rewarding and finished off the 2007 year with the number four Papillon in UKC. Their shows are family oriented, relaxing, and everyone is quite friendly. When we get inquiries for new show homes, I always recommend they start out in UKC to get their feet wet.  In 2008 we began training to add a few performance additions, and loving every minute of it! Our dogs have been trained in obedience, agility, weight pull, therapy work, and recently we've been looking into doing rally. We have discovered there is nothing these great little butterflies won't try. Please view our performance page to view our butterflies hard at work, and play. We're hoping to soon start finally competing in one or two of these venue's soon, just a matter of getting our own feet wet and jumping in!

Where our butterflies live

Our butterflies live underfoot and sleep in our bed most nights, yes all of them. When we are not home they are placed in their own 24"x18"x21" crate. This keeps them from being temped into trouble, which they manage quite well on their own. There has been more then one time when we've come home and the paps have re decorated the house to their standards. They have a large play yard extended off the back patio. The front deck and yard offer them an acre sized race track.  Our dogs are fed a natural raw diet, with a variety of quality protein sources, most of which are organic (chicken, turkey, buffalo, ground beef) and a "glop" (blanched veggies, oils, and a few vitamins) mixture. We like to keep a nice variety available and the dogs seem to enjoy it as well. Transitioning to this diet for our dogs gives us peace of mind that they are receiving only quality ingredients. This has worked very well for us and helps keep the dogs in their top performance. We have now found it to be just as easy to feed, and the dogs are more eager during meal time. For a long time we have been struggling with weight issues, dry skin, brittle coats, and tear staining. After a month of transitioning, they no longer had runny eyes and their coats just gleam with health. After four months we are noticing a nice weight gain in those who needed it, a balance to those who didn't, and the staining has pretty much disappeared. Our vet is amazed by the changes and especially the condition of their teeth, pearly white! Visit our links page for the two books we recommend purchasing if your considering going to a more natural diet for you pets.

Our living room is frequently seen scattered with contents of their toy boxes, a half chewed pen (Kyra is a crafty little creature), and a rib bone or two. The dogs never cease for something to do or amuse themselves with. Our home is well lived in and accommodates to the dogs. The dogs run the roost and are so gracious in letting us live here too. We all seem to enjoy living the quiet, country life.

In addition to the butterflies we also have four cats we've rescued. They live indoors and during the summer they like to go out and lay in the warm sun in a kennel run we’ve set up for them. We do not believe in letting our felines run free and since we live in a very rural area it would not only be cruel, but just make them easy access to the local wildlife as food. I have a deep love for  black cats and my home would never be complete with out at least one. Sometimes I think the Papillon's consider themselves cats as on occasion they will be seen snuggled up grooming each other. They have great fun playing tag and racing through the house. I have created a page just for the feline's here.

The guardian of the house is our beloved Chyna, my ten year old flashy fawn boxer and the love of my life. Don't let her age fool you, she is a very active, athletic girl and takes her job seriously. She is a very sweet girl just the same and has been the ever so tolerant mother figure to all our Papillon's. Chyna has a special place in our heart and has been trained in various obedience levels, but never competing. However, in her progressing age we have retired her to keeping the sofa warm and a few long walks. Her two favorite tricks are to "wave" and "whisper". Within the last few months during our move, her age is starting to catch up with her. Since switching her to a totally raw diet she seems to have found the "fountain of youth". Her coat gleams,  in perfect weight, and she no longer has intestinal issues with rancid bouts of gas that would make us all run for the hills! Something most boxers are well known for. Chyna is my heart dog and my life will never be the same with out her by my side. I have created a special page just for her. View Chyna's page here.

Here we are and our little girl Kyra during a local Public Safety event at the Port Ludlow Fire department.
We often bring along one of our therapy dogs or young pups to these events. The kids enjoy learning about fire safety and visiting with our little "firedogs"