The Japanese Chin originated in Japan and was bred to be a companion dog. This little dog was given as gifts to royalty and was thought to have become quite popular in the mid 1800’s when two were given as a present to Queen Victoria. Originally the Japanese Chin was called the Japanese Spaniel and was inducted into the AKC in 1977.

This little dog has an under bite making their jaw look protruded like that of a bulldog. They have a large forehead and a turned upward nose making their nostrils look wide. Their legs are short and slender giving them a charming little gait. The Japanese Chin has a thick, lustrous coat and their tail is loosely curled over.

This breed is an animated and charismatic dog that is full of life! They are well behaved and cheerful but may act aloof around people they’ve never met. Once they are introduced a few times they will become much more friendly and outgoing. This breed usually bonds to one person more so then any others making them a one person dog.

Breed Group

Toy

Size

Males: 7-11 inches

Females: 7-11 inches

Weight

The Japanese Chin will come in 2 weight varieties, the over 7 lb variety and the under 7 lb variety

Males: 4-15 lbs

Females: 4-15 lbs

Color(s)

The Japanese Chin has patches throughout their body which come in brindle, lemon, sable, black and red. The remainder of their body is white.

Coat

This breed has a thick, fluffy coat that will keep them and their owners lap warm. Their fur is long and silky with the tail hair fringed and tossed over the dogs body. They have shorter fur on their face, ears, and legs but longer thicker hair on their necks which is used for warmth.

Life Expectancy

About 10 years.

Personality

The Japanese Chin is a happy, responsive dog that was bred for nothing other than human companionship. Their job is to keep their owners company and entertain them as best they can. They will make great pets for a family with no children, or much older children as they do not like to be man handled or roughhoused with. These dogs are delicate and should be respected for their size and breed purpose. The Japanese Chin gets along well with other dogs and smaller family pets! They are well mannered, bright and do not have a spoiled doggy attitude.

They are obedient with their masters and will not bark often like some of the smaller breeds. As small as this breed may be, they will make great watch dogs because they have the instinct to protect their beloveds. The Japanese Chin wants to be part of the family at all times and if this dog is left alone often, they will become depressed.

Care

This breed has a long coat which will need to be groomed almost daily. Their fur is quick to tangle so brushing is very necessary. Bathing is up to how often the owner would like this done but should not exceed more then once per month. This breed is prone to breathing difficulties which is due to their smaller face and pushed in nose. They are also prone to eye problems, hypoglycemia, heart murmurs, luxating patella’s, and the Distemper disease which should be discussed with the vet as soon as the dog is brought home.

Training

The Japanese Chin is a more trainable breed than some Toy breeds because they are more responsive and obedient. With consistency and a positive methods, this breed can become very good at basic obedience training and even tricks. They will need to have several small training sessions in order to retain all of the obedience information but with practice will be very successful.

Activity

The Japanese Chin will need daily walks in order to keep them happy and in shape. Trips to an off-leash dog park would be great so they can socialize with other dogs while they use up their energy! They will do well in an apartment as they are small dogs that don’t take up too much space. A backyard is not needed as long as they get their regular exercise.