Description

The Japanese Chin is a small, even dainty, little spaniel. It has a short, broad face, and a soft, feathered coat. In the healthy Chin a thick ruff covers the neck and chest.

The forehead of the Japanese Chin is round, with a well-defined stop. The nose of the Chin is wide and the nostrils open. Owners should know that those animals that are black and white in coat color should have a black nose. For those animals that are other colors, the nose should match the color of the coat markings.

One of the most endearing characteristics is the expressive, protruding eyes. The eyes should be dark and almond-shaped. The eyes of the animal should be clear and alert. The combination of all the head traits is what gives the breed its Oriental expression. A small amount of white in the inner corners of the eyes is a breed characteristic that gives the dog a look of astonishment.

In the Japanese Chin the teeth form either a level or an undershot bite. For the healthy Chin, the ears are upside-down, V-shaped and are covered with hair. When alert, the ears are carried forward and downward. The ears are well feathered and fit into the rounded contour of the head.

Generally, the body of the Chin is about the same length as it is high. The front legs are straight and fine-boned.

The coat comes in white with colored patches, which are most often black. Sometimes these patches will be red, lemon, orange, sable or brindle. The tail of this remarkable breed is feathered or plumed and it will curl up over the back of the animal.

The Japanese Chin has an elegant high-stepping gait that is unmistakable. The movements of this breed will be light and stylish to the point of being a show off.

Coat Description

The coat of the healthy Japanese Chin is plentiful and straight. The hairs are single formed and they are silky to the touch. When properly brushed the coat has a tendency to stand out from the body, especially on the neck, shoulders, and chest, where the hair forms a thick mane or ruff.

The Japanese Chin can be of several color variants. These include black and white, red and white, or black and white with tan points.

The term "tan points" means tan or red spots over each eye, inside the ears, or on both cheeks. The color variations of this breed make it one of the most unique and colorful of the toy breeds. For show purposes there are special requirements that the dog must meet. You can learn more about these special show requirements by visiting any of the websites that are currently devoted to this breed.

History

The Japanese Chin has a long history that is often clouded in mystery. For example, there is some debate as to the origins of this breed. Some researchers suggest that the ancestors of these dogs first appeared in Japan around the year 732 AD, and were given as gifts from the rulers of Korea to the Japanese royal family. On the other hand, other researchers attribute the ancestors of the Chin to breeds that were of Chinese origin.

It has been suggested that Portuguese sailors introduced the breed to Europe in the 1600's. The story is that they gave the breed to Catherine of Braganza, Queen Consort to King Charles II of England.

It was two hundred years later when an American naval officer, Commodore Perry, helped to make this dog famous in England. In 1853, after he returned from Japan, he presented a breeding pair to Queen Victoria. He had another honor bestowed to him as well as this was considered the first canine gift given to the royal family.

Commodore Perry is also credited with bringing the breed to America when he gave another pair to the President of the United States.

Grooming

The Chin is an easy breed to care for and it only takes a few minutes each day to keep the coat looking wonderful. The owner should comb out tangles that occur in the coat. The coat is a single layer, silky and straight and is not prone to matting. This breed is an average shedder.

There is a preferred way to brush this breed and any professional dog salon can show you the correct technique. The idea is that the hair should be brushed with a lifting motion so that it stands up in a soft plume.

You should clean the eyes every day and check the ears regularly for any signs of possible infection. Special care should be taken when cleaning your pet's ears. For general cleaning, you can use baby oil and a cotton ball. Take special care to not go too far into the ear as you could damage the ear drum. It is best to gently wipe around the outer ear and remove any debris that you may find.

In the event that you should notice your dog is scratching its ears more often than usual or shaking its head vigorously, you should take the dog to the vet as this may be an indication of ear infection.

Owners should use dry shampoo occasionally and bathe the animal only when necessary. In addition to shampoo, a cream rinse will provide extra luster and softness. The extra conditioning will also prevent tangles, making your Chin easy to comb. Chin may also be blow dried on a cool setting.

While the Chin is shedding it is a good idea to brush them more frequently.

The teeth need to be kept clean as well but it should be noted that the Chin does not always like having its teeth examined or touched. If the owner is not able to perform this grooming task, a pet salon should be used. Proper dental care is extremely important as it helps your pet to keep its teeth for as long as possible.

You should also trim your pet's nails once a week or so to prevent overgrowth. This is very easy to do. You will need a pair of animal nail clippers that can be found in most pet stores. Only trim the top portion of the nail and do not over cut into the nail.

The hair between the pads of the feet should be trimmed when it becomes long. Baths should be given only when needed.

New dog owners can take a class on how to properly perform these tasks at most pet grooming salons. The tools and brushes needed for grooming the Japanese Chin are readily available and affordable at most pet stores.

Exercise

The Japanese Chin is a low level breed for exercise. This means that the dog does not require a lot of exercise. It enjoys a walk, but care must be taken when walking the dog as other animals may attempt to attack it.

The Chin can enjoy playtime within the home or apartment and that can suffice for its exercise. This can be very helpful for older owners who may not be able to participate in strenuous activities.

The Chin is well suited to learning tricks and this, too, can suffice as exercise.

Training

As mentioned above, the Japanese Chin is very intelligent and willing to please its owner. These attributes make training the Chin easier than other toy breeds. Even so, the Chin can be stubborn and willful at times.

The best time to begin training is early on in life. Even at an early age they are capable of learning the basics of obedience and they can begin housebreaking as well. They are a clean breed so house breaking them is usually not a problem.

If at all possible early socialization is best. This is especially important if there are small children in the home with the dog. While the Japanese Chin will get along with other animals that live in the house, it is best to also begin socialization training for that as early as possible as well. The Chin is not an aggressive breed and will usually get along fine with other animals once it has had a chance to be around them in a safe environment.

This breed is quickly becoming known for its excellent learning ability in the agility events. Even those owners who do not plan to place the animal in a show event will find that the Chin is very capable of doing simple exercises such as jumping over lines or going under lines. Agility training is best begun when the dog is at least two years old. Beginning to train it any earlier than that and it may not be as receptive to the training.

Life :: 10 - 12 years, up to 15 years.

Litter Size :: 1 to 3 pups.

Group :: Toy

Color :: Black and white, red and white, or black and white with tan points.

Hair :: Medium

Size :: Toy/Small

Shedding :: Moderate Shed

Male Height :: 7 inches - 11 inches

Male Weight :: 4 pounds - 15 pounds

Female Height :: 7 inches - 11 inches

Female Weight :: 4 pounds - 15 pounds

Living :: The Japanese Chin is very good for apartment living. Its quiet and well behaved manners make this one of the best choices for apartment dwellers. Owners should be aware that even though the breed is gentle and charming it is perhaps best suited to homes in which there are no small children. If there are small children in the home they should be instructed to be gentle with the dog. This breed is not a barker but they will bark when alerted to strangers. For this reason they can make good watchdogs. This is one breed that will do well without a back yard to play. They can live happily indoors and they can find enough activity to stay fit.