Japanese Chin - Breed and Care

The Japanese Chin is a climber, and you can expect to find him climbing all over your furniture. This is a small dog, and does not appreciate being handled roughly, hence although he gets on well with children he is best around older and gentler children. Some Japanese Chin can be aloof or nervous around strangers, whereas others will be quite polite - early socialization is important in order to minimize on timidity. The Japanese Chin does get along well with other pets, and therefore is a good choice for those with family pets. For those unable to provide much exercise for their pet, the Japanese Chin is well suited, as he simply needs a secure, fenced area to play in. These versatile dogs are well suited to apartment living as well as living in houses.

Japanese Chin Appearance

The Japanese Chin is a small, cute, and compact dog, with a very sweet face. His coat is long, soft, straight, and thick, and is usually black and white. The coat can also come in various shades of red and white. He has long, silky ears that frame his face perfectly, and a short muzzle. The tail of the Japanese Chin forms a beautiful, feathered plume. These dogs reach around 8-11 inches in height, and weigh in at around 7 pounds.

Japanese Chin Grooming

Despite his profuse and silky coat, the Japanese Chin is a relatively low maintenance dog, and his coat simply needs to be brushed around twice weekly to keep it in good condition, although this may need to be stepped up during the times that he is shedding more heavily. He is a constant shedder, and sheds more heavily on a seasonal basis, so he is not the ideal choice for those with allergies. You should trim the hair around his bottom regularly for hygiene reasons, and also check that his ears are dry and clean to reduce the risk of infections.

Japanese Chin Health Problems and Life Expectancy

The life expectancy of the Japanese Chin is around 12-14 years, and there are a number of health problems associated with this breed. This includes sensitivity to chemicals and drugs, susceptibility to heatstroke and respiratory problems due to his short muzzle, luxating patella, seizures, cataracts, and PRA. The parents of the Japanese Chin puppy should have OFA and CERF certificates.

Japanese Chin History

As the name indicates, the Japanese Chin originates from Japan, and was once the companion dog of royalty and aristocracy in its native country.

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