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Japanese Chin
The Japanese Chin, also known as the Japanese Spaniel), is the dog of Japanese royalty. A lap dog and companion dog, this toy breed has a distinctive heritage.
Japanese Chin stand about 20 to 27 cm (8 to 11 in) in height at the withers and weight can vary from a low of 4 lbs to a high of 20 lbs, with an average of 7 to 11 pounds being the most common.
Chin have straight, silky, profuse long hair that is most often black and white, or white and black. They also come in red and white (which includes lemon yellow and white), sable and white and, tri-color being black and white with tan points. They have heavily feathered tails that curl up over their backs with the long hair cascading down one side, often reaching the floor.
This breed is considered one of the most cat-like of the dog breeds in attitude: it is alert, intelligent, and independent, and it uses its paws to wash and wipe its face. Other cat-like traits include their preference for resting on high surfaces such as the backs of sofas and chairs, their ability to walk across a coffee table without disturbing an item, and some of the surprising places their owners often find them in.
A companion dog, it is loving and loyal to its owner and typically happy to see other people, though a few are distrustful of strangers. Chin prefer familiar surroundings, but do quite well in new situations and are often used as therapy dogs because of this trait and their love of people. Very early socialization of Chin puppies leads to a more emotionally well-balanced Chin that is more accepting of different situations and people.
The Chin will bark for the purpose of alerting the household to the arrival of a visitor or something out of the ordinary, but are otherwise very quiet.
Chin were bred for the purpose of loving and entertaining their people. A calm little dog, they are known for performing. The "Chin Spin," is typical. They turn in rapid circles; dancing on their hind legs while pawing their front feet, clasped together, in the air; and, some even "sing".
This breed's flattened face contributes to a few Chin suffering from breathing and heart problems, but Chin are rather low maintenance. The Chin's coat requires nothing more than brushing or combing once every day or two to maintain its appearance, with special attention being given to the area under the ears and legs and to the skirt; they have no coat odor and do not require frequent bathing.
Some of the content on this page was originally published on Wikipedia
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