A little corner of Provence, tucked at the foot of the mountain.
Papillon & Lavande raises small litters of Papillons among the lavender rows of a Provençal-style farmhouse — the very one our founder planted in memory of her grandmother. Two litters a year, never more, and puppies who grow up in the scent of lavender before heading home to their family.
A lavender garden planted in memory.
Aurélie Cabanel spent her childhood summers at her grandmother's, in a Luberon village, among the lavender rows and the song of cicadas. When she settled in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, she planted a few sprigs in remembrance — then a whole field, on the sunny slope behind the house.
It was watching her first Papillon run between the rows, its large fringed ears fluttering like real butterflies over the flowers, that the idea of a small boutique kennel was born. Two litters a year, not one more: just enough to know each puppy's temperament before we even name it.
Aurélie Cabanel
Papillon & Lavande, Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Three commitments, for every puppy.
They apply to every litter we raise, with no exception and no upcharge.
A file before every breeding
Patellas, eyes, heart and a genetic panel — both parents' results are handed to you in full, never summarized from memory.
Raised among the lavender
Daily handling from the third week on, gradual exposure to household noise, children, visitors and the open air of the garden.
Support that never really ends
We stay reachable long after your puppy goes home. A question at 3 months or at 10 years, the door of the farmhouse stays open.
The Papillon: bright, quick, all ears.
The Papillon — French for "butterfly" — takes its name from its large, upright, fringed ears, shaped like a butterfly's wings. Beneath its delicate looks hides one of the brightest and most trainable companion breeds around, agile and eager to learn.
Despite its small size (roughly 1.5 to 4.5 kg), it's an energetic dog that needs exercise and mental stimulation as much as cuddles — a fine apartment companion, provided it gets real outings.
From your first email to going home.
You write to us
Tell us about your household, your experience with a bright, energetic dog, your lifestyle. We reply within one to two days.
An interview, then a visit to the farmhouse
By appointment, you meet Marius and Fanny, our breeding dogs, and see the litter in its own setting — the sunroom and the lavender garden.
Reservation
A $400 deposit secures your place, applied to the total price. Puppy-to-family matching is based on observed temperament, never on colour chosen from a photo.
Going home
Your puppy leaves vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped and examined by our veterinarian, with its health record and registration certificate.
Our next litter — Garrigue's — is expected in fall 2026.
Our litters usually find homes well before the puppies are born. If a Papillon is on your mind, now's the time to write to us and get on the list — even if your plans aren't set yet.