Quick Take
- This dog grooms itself, climbs furniture, and shares other traits with a completely different species, which is not what most people expect from a dog breed. Explore the cat-like traits →
- Its origin story has never been fully resolved, with competing accounts that span centuries, continents, and royal courts. See the royal history →
- One common ingredient found in many popular dog foods could put this breed's heart at serious risk. Check the diet risks →
- This gentle lapdog has a hidden defensive side, and the trigger might surprise you. See the defensive trigger →
A Japanese Chin is an affectionate, intelligent dog with a playful nature. It belongs to the Toy group of dogs and was bred to be the perfect companion for its owner. Its soft coat and delicate steps make it more cat-like than dog-like.
The origin of this breed is unknown. Some believe it was brought from China as a royal gift in AD 732, but others say a Japanese empress was given the dog as much as two centuries earlier. Images of these dogs have been spotted on ancient pieces of pottery and artwork found in Chinese temples. They are thought to be close relatives of the Tibetan Spaniel. This is unsurprising given the similarity in appearance and coloring between the two breeds. Pekingese are also relatives of these dogs.
Another account of the Chin’s history places the breed’s arrival in Japan at around AD 1000. It is known that in 1613, the Japanese Chin was brought to England. Since the late 1800s, this dog has been generally a lap dog for upper-class ladies, but today, they are also companion dogs to anyone who fancies the breed.
3 Pros and Cons of Ownership
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| A constant companion Japanese Chins love to stick by their owner no matter what they are doing. | Not good with small children Because of their small size, these dogs are wary of being stepped on or getting hurt. Out of self-preservation, they may snap at toddlers and other small children who play nearby. |
| A low amount of exercise is needed A slow walk for about 20 minutes per day is all the exercise this lapdog needs. | Fast-growing nails Japanese Chins have nails that grow very quickly and need to be trimmed on a regular basis. |
| Adaptable to its environment This toy dog is able to live happily in an apartment, a large home, or anything in between. | Health Issues This dog can develop breathing issues due to its short facial structure. |
Size and Weight
A Japanese Chin is a Toy dog with a coat of medium-length hair. These dogs are 8 to 11 inches tall at the withers. Both males and females can weigh up to 11 lbs. Puppies weigh about 4 lbs at 8 weeks old. They are considered fully grown at 9 months.
Considered a toy dog, the Japanese Chin’s heritage goes back to the 1600s.
©Natalia Fedosova/Shutterstock.com
Common Health Issues
The Japanese Chin has some common health issues. One of them is heart disease. It usually affects older dogs in the form of a weakened heart valve. Another health issue is patellar luxation. This is a condition where the knee slips out of the proper position. Sometimes the dog can move its leg in a way that realigns its knee, while more severe cases require medical treatment. Portosystemic shunt is another health issue particular to small dogs like these. It’s a condition where the liver doesn’t receive proper blood flow and can’t remove toxins from the bloodstream.
This toy dog also has strabismus. Strabismus is a condition where the dog’s eyes are out of alignment and go in different directions. While not a health problem per se, strabismus can affect the dog’s depth perception.
Brown coloring is rare, but a Japanese Chin always has a sweet personality.
©KaliAntye/Shutterstock.com
Temperament and Behavior
These dogs have a sweet personality. This is one of the things that makes them an ideal choice for a family that wants a lap dog. Other notable traits of this dog include intelligence and loyalty. A Japanese Chin is the type of dog that follows its owner around as he or she goes about daily tasks.
Its curiosity is almost cat-like! In fact, cats and Japanese Chins share a lot of traits. These dogs are adept at climbing onto chairs and other furniture. Another thing that makes them cat-like is that they groom themselves by licking their paws and rubbing their faces.
This breed is a good dog for families with older children. Sometimes the dog can display jumpy behavior around toddlers and young children because toddlers and young children have a tendency to fall and do unexpected things. Generally, older children are able to be more careful around this dog and understand the need to treat it with gentleness.
These little dogs are suspicious of strangers and will usually alert the household when someone appears at the door.
Care
Taking proper care of this pet can help it enjoy a long, healthy life with the family. The right diet and proper exercise both contribute to the vigorous health of this Toy dog.
The Best Dog Food
Feeding a puppy or an adult Japanese Chin a balanced diet can prevent some of the common health issues connected with this breed. For example, these dogs can experience heart disease. With this in mind, owners should check out legume-free dog foods and the link between dog foods containing legumes and heart failure in dogs.
Puppy food: The main ingredient should be protein. Protein helps a Japanese Chin to build muscles and gives it energy for playtime. Omega fatty acids and DHA help in a puppy’s brain development and contribute to healthy vision. This is important for a dog that has strabismus. Vitamin E and selenium in food support a puppy’s immune system. Vitamin E contributes to a healthy liver and other organs. Calcium helps in the development of strong bones and teeth.
Adult dog food: Protein and carbohydrates are important ingredients in food for an adult Japanese Chin. They give energy to a dog and support healthy muscles. Fiber helps with an adult dog’s digestion. Vitamins C and E support vision health. Fatty acids support a healthy coat and skin.
A Japanese Chin is easy to groom and train and needs only short walks.
©Alex Archambault / Creative Commons – Original
Maintenance and Grooming
How much do Japanese Chin shed? These dogs shed an average amount of hair. But with a simple grooming routine, an owner doesn’t have to deal with a lot of loose hair around the house.
A Japanese Chin has a single layer of hair that is both long and silky. Brushing this dog once or twice per week can help to prevent tangles and remove loose, dead hair. A pin brush is an ideal grooming tool for brushing your Japanese Chin. Be sure the pins of the brush have plastic or rubber coverings on the ends. This protects a dog’s sensitive skin.
These dogs sometimes have bald spots or itchy areas of skin due to allergies. These skin conditions may appear in the springtime if the dog is allergic to pollen or similar particles floating in the air.
Training
Japanese Chins are relatively easy to train. Keep in mind that these are dogs with a sensitive nature. So, using a harsh voice during training is not going to be effective. It is also unkind to the dog.
This lapdog responds best to a calm voice, treats, and words of praise. Though these dogs can have an independent streak, they are very intelligent and can pick up obedience lessons fairly quickly.
This toy dog is playful and curious as well as intelligent and loyal.
©Alandennis / Creative Commons – Original
Exercise
Though this companion dog is small, it does require regular exercise. Taking it on a walk for 20 minutes per day is a good exercise routine. Owners should keep the pace slow because of this dog’s short stride.
These dogs are playful and sometimes enjoy a game of fetch with a ball they can grab and release easily. A small, fenced-in yard is appropriate for this dog as long as there are no holes or other places where it could injure itself.
Taking this dog to a dog park is not a good idea because it could be injured by larger dogs exercising there.
This dog is an ideal choice for someone who lives in an apartment, as long as the person can give it a short walk each day.
Puppies
When it comes to a Japanese Chin puppy, one thing to keep in mind is its diet. Overfeeding a toy puppy can cause obesity. So, owners should find a diet that gives the puppy energy to play and explore without overfeeding.
It is important to feed your puppy a balanced diet to ensure healthy growth.
©Vivienstock/Shutterstock.com
Children
These dogs do best in a family with older children. Unfortunately, smaller children can make this companion dog nervous and wary. Remember this dog is always concerned about being injured due to its tiny size. Small children running around or trying to grab the dog are likely to cause the dog to growl or even bite.
Similar Dogs
Other breeds similar to these dogs include the Pekingese, the Shih Tzu, and the Pug.
- Pekingese: These are loyal, affectionate dogs. They need a small amount of daily exercise but require a more complicated grooming routine than Japanese Chins.
- Shih Tzu: A loyal lapdog with an affectionate, docile personality. Its colors are similar to a Japanese Chin’s coat colors. A Shih Tzu needs more grooming attention than a Japanese Chin does.
- Pug: A toy dog that is adaptable to either home or apartment living. They are friendly, curious dogs, but they shed more than a Japanese Chin.
Famous
These dogs have been companion dogs to royalty for centuries.
- Queen Victoria enjoyed the company of Japanese Chins
- Welsh Princess Alexandra owned a few of these Toy dogs.
Japanese Chin Pictures
View all of our Japanese Chin pictures in the gallery.
Sources
- David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife / Accessed November 11, 2008
- Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books The World Encyclopedia Of Animals / Accessed November 11, 2008
- David Burnie, Kingfisher The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia / Accessed November 11, 2008
- David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals / Accessed November 11, 2008
- Dorling Kindersley Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals / Accessed November 11, 2008
- American Kennel Club / Accessed November 17, 2020
- Vetstreet / Accessed November 17, 2020
- Wag! / Accessed November 17, 2020
