Japanese Chin - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
Japanese Chin must have its origin in Japan right? Well, that is not true. The exact ancestry and origin of this breed is unknown, but most people believe, that the Japanese Chin originated in China and that it is a very close relative to the Pekingese. So the breed originated in China, but later, it was developed in Japan into the breed we know today.​

2) Japan
There are also two main theories about how these dogs got into Japan. The first theory suggest, that they came to Japan as gifts from Chinese emperor. The second theory seems to be more popular and it is even quoted in the official FCI breed standard and it says, that the ancestors of Japanese Chin first got into Korea and they were presented to Japanese court by the rulers of Korea in 8th century. So as you can see, this is very old and ancient dog breed.

3) Noble dogs
The Japanese Chin was always popular companion dog and there are even evidences that they were living in castles. During the reign of mr. Tokugawa in the end of 17th century, Japanese Chins were raised as indoor toy dogs in the castle of Edo. Later the breed got into England and it quickly become favored lapdog of ladies of the upper class.

4) Size
The Japanese Chin is a very small dog. Actually, back in the days, they were bred to be as small as possible, so they could have been carried in the sleeves of womens kimonos. Today, the Japanese Chin is normally between 20-27 cm tall, which is 8-11 inches and weight should be between 3-4 kg, which is 7-9 pounds. But especially the weight can vary quite a lot.

5) Appearance
I would say that the Japanese Chin has the typical Oriental appearance, especially the head is very distinctive. They have large broad head, flat face and very large eyes that are set apart. The V shaped ears are small and hangs down. Another typical feature of this breed is the plumed tail that they carry over the back. The Japanese Chin is very similar to Pekingese, but the Japanese Chin has squarer body, thinner coat and straighter legs.

6) Companion
The Japanese Chin is very entertaining companion for any family. This breed loves to be surrounded by its family and it does not like to be left home alone for long periods of time. Those are pretty independent dogs and they are not the easiest to train, but with patience and consitency, they can learn a lot of tricks. These dogs are also described as alert, independent, loving, clever and affectionate.

7) Cat like dog
Not only that these dogs are alert, intelligent and independent, they also have other similarities with cats! They have a habit of climbing, and you may be surprised when you find your pooch atop the most unusual high places in the home. They are also known for its paws to wash and wipe its face. And top of that, these dogs are very clean and they keep themselves clean! Just like cats do.

8) Chin Spin
The Japanese Chin is known for one adorable habbit. Especially when they are excited, they tend to spin around in cirles, sometimes just on two legs. This habbit is sometimes called as the Chin Spin.

9) Maintenance
The Japanese Chin has a beautiful silky and long hair with feathering on the ears and legs. You should brush the Japanese Chins coat at least two times a week to minimize the shedding and keep the coat in good condition. As i already mentioned earlier in the video, this is pretty clean dog and they can keepthemselves very clean, so they do not require a lot of bathing. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check the dogs ears, eyes, teeth and nails and clip them or clean them if needed.

10) Health
The Japanese Chin is a brachycephalic breed, which means their flat face can cause some breathing troubles. They also tend to suffer from some eye problems. Other health issues associated with this breed are heart murmur and patellar luxation, but other than that, this is usually a healthy breed with average lifepan around 13 or 14 years.