Japillon

The Japillon is a designer hybrid between the Japanese Chin and the Papillon.  The hybrid is a popular choice for companion dogs, but even though it is recognized by several competitive registries, the Japillon does not have set standards and can vary dog to dog.  As such, owners can prepare themselves for the variations by reviewing the histories and character traits of both parents to understand the hybrid better. The Japanese Chin, despite its reference to Japan, developed in China.  The Japanese Chin was prized among the Imperial nobility and was often gifted to foreign dignitaries, including the Japanese court.  The Japanese court was equally enamored with the Japanese Chin that the dogs were given the name chin, which means separate being rather than call the breed inu, which is Japanese for dog.  The Japanese Chin remained in relative obscurity to the West until the 19th Century when the dogs were imported to Europe following new trade routes.  Today, the Japanese Chin is a well-loved companion that the American Kennel Club recognized in 1888. The Papillon is of the toy-sized breed of the Spaniel family and developed in Europe as a favored companion dog for aristocratic ladies.  The dog was initially from Italy or Spain, and its ears were dropped.  However, the breed was particularly popular in France, and selective breeding to raise the ears was preferred.  This resulted in a dog whose ears resembled a butterfly, giving rise to the name Papillon, which is French for butterfly.  Today, both varieties exist but the dropped ear dog is rare.  The Papillon was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1915 and enjoys high popularity in the United States.