Japanese Chin

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4-7 lbs
8-11"
Japan
Japanese Spaniel

The Japanese Chin is a small dog of the toy family. He is flat-faced with long, beautiful hair. It is thought that the Chin originated in the Chinese royal court over 1,500 years ago; some argue that the dog was bred in Korea and it migrated from there. He is an energetic, funny dog. In Japan, the Chin is revered as being a higher being when compared with other dogs. They like to climb to high places; the Japanese Chin is often described as a “cat in a dog suit” because they tend to be rather acrobatic, climb often, and clean themselves.
purpose Purpose
lap dog
history Date of Origin
ancient times
ancestry Ancestry
pug, pekingese

Japanese Chin Health

Sketch of Japanese Chin
Average Size
Male Japanese Chin size stats
Height: 8-11 inches Weight: 4-7 lbs
Female Japanese Chin size stats
Height: 8-11 inches Weight: 4-7 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Usually A Very Healthy Breed
Minor Concerns
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cataracts
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
  • Heart Murmur
Occasional Tests
  • Eye
  • Knee
  • Heart
  • Skeletal
  • X-Rays
  • Eye Examination

Japanese Chin Breed History

The Japanese Chin was originally called the Japanese Spaniel. While the exact origin of the breed is unknown, some believe the breed is related to the Pekingese and was brought to Japan by Buddhist teachers sometime around 520 A.D. Others think that around 1000 A.D., the Chinese emperor presented the dogs to the Emperor of Japan as a gift. From the time it was brought to Japan, it became a highly popular dog. Japanese nobility were quite fond of the dog. Most believe that the Chin was brought to Europe by Portuguese sailors who had traded in Japan. We know for certain that Princess Catherine of Braganza was given a Japanese Chin by Portuguese sailors. Commodore Matthew Perry officially brought the Chin to Europe in 1854. Perry gave a pair to Queen Victoria and would later give another pair to the president of the United States. In the late 1800s, the Chin was recognized by American Kennel Club under the name Japanese Spaniel. In 1977, the AKC officially changed the name to Japanese Chin. The dog is still held in high regard in Japan.

Japanese Chin Breed Appearance

The Japanese Chin actually comes in a variety of shapes and sizes due to different breeds being introduced to the gene pool over the years. Some members of the breed are distinctly bigger than their counterparts. The Chin has a broad head with large, wide-set eyes and a flat, brachycephalic face. Its muzzle is short. Its ears are small and V-shaped with long hair covering them. These dogs have an underbite. The tail is curled over the Chin’s back with hair feathered down the tail. The coat is white with colored patches; the most common colors are black, red, lemon, orange, sable, black and white with tan points, or brindle. Some Japanese Chins are over seven pounds. 
Appearance of Japanese Chin
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Japanese Chin eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Japanese Chin nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black Japanese Chin coat
Black
red Japanese Chin coat
Red
cream Japanese Chin coat
Cream
fawn Japanese Chin coat
Fawn
white Japanese Chin coat
White
pied Japanese Chin coat
Pied
sable Japanese Chin coat
Sable
brindle Japanese Chin coat
Brindle
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Japanese Chin straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Japanese Chin Breed Maintenance

The Japanese Chins are active dogs, but they need relatively little exercise. It is recommended that Chins go for a daily walk, and a harness rather than a collar should be used (brachycephalic dogs may be prone to a collapsed windpipe; a collar exacerbates this condition). The Japanese Chin has beautiful, long hair that is silky to the touch. The head, face, and forelegs have short hair, while the rest is long with feathering on the ears and legs. Japanese Chin will often clean themselves; they do not require regular bathing. They actually benefit from dry shampoos in between monthly baths. Chins do shed, but weekly brushing will help alleviate this. When drying your Chin after a bath, brush the coat upward and outward with a pin brush in order to avoid tangling. Brushing your Chin’s teeth two or three times a week will help prevent periodontal disease and bad breath. 
Brushes for Japanese Chin
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Japanese Chin requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Japanese Chin Temperament

It is important to realize that the Chin is a toy-sized dog; he should never be left alone with small children. Older children who are familiar with how to safely handle a small dog are better suited to the Chin. This cute canine is described as having a sense of humor, an “impish” temperament, and a talent for pursuing his own interests. A Chin is usually very entertaining for his family, with a great memory and well remembers anyone who upsets him in any way. He loves people and loves being surrounded by his family; Chins can experience separation anxiety. They are not the easiest dog to train, but with persistence, they are often fully housebroken by four months. Be firm with a Chin; harsh punishment often turns off the mild-mannered temperament.
Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
4 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
30 minutes
activity minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Japanese Chin

Similarly Sized Breeds to Japanese Chin

Japanese Chin Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1 cups
cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$0.80 - $1.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$20.00 - $30.00
food bag monthly cost

Japanese Chin Height & Weight

6 Months
Sketch of Japanese Chin at six months
Male Japanese Chin size stats at six months
Height: 7.0 inches Weight: 3.0 lbs
Female Japanese Chin size stats at six months
Height: 7.0 inches Weight: 3.0 lbs
12 Months
Sketch of Japanese Chin at 12 months
Male Japanese Chin size stats at 12 months
Height: 8.0 inches Weight: 4.0 lbs
Female Japanese Chin size stats at 12 months
Height: 8.0 inches Weight: 4.0 lbs
18 Months
Sketch of Japanese Chin at 18 months
Male Japanese Chin size stats at 18 months
Height: 9.5 inches Weight: 5.5 lbs
Female Japanese Chin size stats at 18 months
Height: 9.5 inches Weight: 5.5 lbs

Top Japanese Chin Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable Japanese Chin breeders of 2024.
Top Japanese Chin breeder Yon Dell Japanese Chins
Yon Dell Japanese Chins
Coopersburg, Pennsylvania
Top Japanese Chin breeder Randalets Japanese Chin
Randalets Japanese Chin
Cranberry, Pennsylvania
Top Japanese Chin breeder Chin of Touche Japanese Chin
Chin of Touche Japanese Chin
Dallas, Texas
Top Japanese Chin breeder Poolside Japanese Chin
Poolside Japanese Chin
Scottsdale, Arizona
Top Japanese Chin breeder Royal Silk Japanese Chin
Royal Silk Japanese Chin
Porterville, California
Top Japanese Chin breeder Two Oaks Japanese Chin
Two Oaks Japanese Chin
Plant City, Florida
Top Japanese Chin breeder Megumi Japanese Chins
Megumi Japanese Chins
Hickory Withe, Tennessee
Top Japanese Chin breeder Tsunami Japanese Chin
Tsunami Japanese Chin
Elkland, Missouri
Top Japanese Chin breeder Dizzy Dog Japanese Chins
Dizzy Dog Japanese Chins
Eatontown, New Jersey
Top Japanese Chin breeder Sinshar Chins
Sinshar Chins
Waynesfield, Ohio

Japanese Chin Owner Experiences

4 Years
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Sniffing
pets
Mochi, the Japanese Chin I've had the pleasure of walking a few times, is a very affectionate and friendly dog! He gets very excited when I come in and loves to lick and be pet. If I sit down on the floor he'll immediately come over and get in my lap. He's got a bit of a hyper personality in that sense, but he's a pretty slow walker outside and likes to stop a lot and sniff things. He breathes pretty heavily when he gets excited and sometimes sounds almost like he's oinking, which is very cute! Everything about these dogs is so cute and they make the silliest faces when they get excited. They have pretty long fur which can drag the ground a lot and might require frequent grooming depending on where you walk them. Mochi got a few leaves and twigs in his fur each of the times I walked him but they were easy to get out. The long fur also makes putting on their harness and collar a little difficult but it is absolutely worth it as they are some of the cutest and most affectionate small dogs I've interacted with!
6 years, 10 months ago
1 Year
People
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Explore the city
Walk
He got so cold! His parents had not yet gotten him a sweater and since he is so small and has such fine fur he very quickly got chilly to the point of shivering! I picked him up several times to warm him up and he was visibly thankful for the relief. He is very good on the leash and was more than happy to stroll the neighborhood, but again, because of his size, he got tired pretty quickly and pulled toward home. Our walk took place later in the evening and the sound of the train, big vehicles, people yelling across the street, or any other loud noise jarred the little guy. We kept to quieter streets once I noticed his discomfort and he seemed to be quite pleased about this. He's a very good walking companion and just simply an adorable little fella.
6 years, 10 months ago
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