Tibetan Chin

7-15 lbs
8-11"
United States
Tibetan Spaniel
Japanese Chin
The Tibetan Chin is a small, hybrid breed that combines the Tibetan Spaniel and the Japanese Chin DNA. With a wide face, short muzzle, and large eyes, this little "lion dog" is a breed that has a ton of personality in a rather minuscule body. His long fur is soft and comes in a number of different colors, and his tail curls over his back in a stylish fashion. When it comes to personality, the Tibetan Chin is an active and friendly dog who truly enjoys spending time with his people above all else. But, when it comes to strangers, he taps into his Japanese Chin heritage and can become quite reserved; at least at first. Once the Tibetan Chin warms up to new comers, he does very well and gets along swimmingly with everyone (especially children). Just keep in mind that due to his small size, it is best to make sure that the children who interact with him know to be gentle with their play time. Although the Tibetan Chin is a typical lap dog who loves to be in the center of everything, he is rather quite and rarely ever barks. This is a very nice feature for those living in small quarters or very close to neighbors. Overall, thanks to his easy-going nature and loving attitude, the Tibetan Chin is a great choice for all level of dog owners, at any age.
purpose Purpose
Companion
history Date of Origin
2000's
ancestry Ancestry
Tibetan Spaniel and Japanese Chin

Tibetan Chin Health

Average Size
Male Tibetan Chin size stats
Height: 8-11 inches Weight: 7-15 lbs
Female Tibetan Chin size stats
Height: 8-11 inches Weight: 7-15 lbs
Major Concerns
  • None Known
Minor Concerns
  • Entropion
  • Cataracts
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Mitral Valve Dysplasia
  • Retinal Dysplasia
  • Corneal Dystrophy
Occasional Tests
  • Dna For Pra
  • Eye Examinations
  • Full Physical Examination

Tibetan Chin Breed History

Both the Tibetan Spaniel and the Japanese Chin have been around for quite some time. Because of this, they have rich origin stories that can assist in helping to understand why the Tibetan Chin may have been created, and what other dog breeds may have been involved in his heritage. To begin, the Japanese Chin originated in Asia almost 1,500 years ago! At one time, he was actually referred to as the "Imperial Chin" due to his popularity in the imperial courts of China. This breed was highly treasured and were commonly used as gifts between nobles and other dignitaries of the land. It was in this way that the Japanese Chin became noticed by the Western countries around the 19th century when the dog was given as a gift to President Franklin Pierce after Japan's isolation from the rest of the world came to an abrupt halt. From there, the Japanese Chin slowly grew in popularity and was even the pet of Queen Alexandra of England at one time. The American Kennel Club accepted the Japanese Chin in 1888, which is right up there with some of the oldest breeds accepted, and he has been used ever since as a showman and companion animal. The Tibetan Spaniel was created with the primary purpose of acting as companions and watch dogs for Tibetan monks. Eventually, their unique lion-like appearance and bright personality caught the attention of other dog enthusiasts and the Tibetan Spaniel was frequently given as gifts to rulers and other dignitaries. In the late 19th, early 20th century, some British missionaries happened to get their hands on a few Tibetan Spaniels and brought them back to the West. Surprisingly, the popular dog actually didn't get much attention in the United States at first. But as time went on, a litter born in the 1960's finally caught the attention of a small group of people in New Haven, Connecticut. As more and more of the breed were imported over from Tibet, people fell further in love with them. Finally, the Tibetan Spaniel was accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1984, and while they aren't one of the top most favorite breeds, they are much loved by their supporters and used as faithful companions and show dogs.

Tibetan Chin Breed Appearance

This is a small hybrid that reaches up to around 15 pounds and 11 inches full grown. The Tibetan Chin has floppy, triangular ears, a small muzzle, incredibly large eyes, and a wide head. His fur is long and soft, with an almost Pomeranian-like fluffiness and comes in a wide range of different colors. The tail is always curled up over the back and isn't especially long, with slight feathering along it from the base to the tip. With a hint of the classic "lions mane" from the Japanese Chin and the warm, affectionate eyes of the Tibetan Spaniel, there is no doubt that the Tibetan Chin is a beautiful and unique breed.
Eye Color Possibilities
brown Tibetan Chin eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Tibetan Chin nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black Tibetan Chin coat
Black
cream Tibetan Chin coat
Cream
red Tibetan Chin coat
Red
sable Tibetan Chin coat
Sable
silver Tibetan Chin coat
Silver
white Tibetan Chin coat
White
brown Tibetan Chin coat
Brown
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Tibetan Chin straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Tibetan Chin Breed Maintenance

Although the long, soft fur of the Tibetan Chin may seem like it's high maintenance, it actually isn't. The fur remains fairly clean and only requires a few brushing sessions a week to remain tangle free and silky. Tools such as a metal comb and pin brush are excellent for grooming the Tibetan Chin. This breed does shed seasonally, so a good vacuum will definitely be a must, but with brushing and occasional bathing, the hair can be kept to a manageable level. Besides brushing and bathing, be sure to clean the ears frequently in order to remove any foreign objects that may be trapped inside and always thoroughly dry the ears after bathing. This will help to decrease the possibility of ear infections and irritation. Lastly, remember to trim the Tibetan Chin's nails every few weeks to keep the paws healthy and scratching to a minimum.
Brushes for Tibetan Chin
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Comb
Comb
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Tibetan Chin requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Tibetan Chin Temperament

The Tibetan Chin is a very quite, self-confident breed. He tends to be quite charismatic and loving when it comes to people that he loves but when it comes to strangers, the Tibetan Chin can be a bit reserved at first. This breed adores children and gets along relatively well with other dogs, although they do better with supervision. Whenever the Tibetan Chin interacts with children of any age, it is important that the children know to play gently as the small size of this breed can lead to accidents if rough play occurs. Overall, the Tibetan Chin is a very sweet and affectionate companion that gets along well with everyone and doesn't require a lot of maintenance to be happy. He will do well in any size home and his longer fur does quite an excellent job at keeping him warm, but he tends to prefer more mild temperatures.

Tibetan Chin Activity Requirements

While the Tibetan Spaniel is a fairly active breed, the Japanese Chin is definitely not and usually prefers to keep their activities limited to jumping up in your lap and perhaps playing around in the yard for an hour a day. Because of this combination, the Tibetan Chin is a well-balanced breed who enjoys playing and taking a moderately long walk every once in a while, but when it comes time to just relax and kick back, he is more than happy to do so! This makes him the perfect breed for older individuals or laid back people who want a companion that won't require a lot of physical exercise to remain entertained.
Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
8 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Tibetan Chin Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1 cups
cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$0.80 - $1.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$25.00 - $30.00
food bag monthly cost

Tibetan Chin Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Tibetan Chin size stats at six months
Height: 7.0 inches Weight: 8.5 lbs
Female Tibetan Chin size stats at six months
Height: 7.0 inches Weight: 8.5 lbs
12 Months
Male Tibetan Chin size stats at 12 months
Height: 9.0 inches Weight: 11.5 lbs
Female Tibetan Chin size stats at 12 months
Height: 9.0 inches Weight: 11.5 lbs
18 Months
Male Tibetan Chin size stats at 18 months
Height: 10.5 inches Weight: 14.0 lbs
Female Tibetan Chin size stats at 18 months
Height: 10.5 inches Weight: 14.0 lbs

Tibetan Chin Owner Experiences

Cassiopia (Cassie)
7 Years
6 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She is the sweetest girl. We have a boxer, a chiweenie, and two cats. She’s a good sister.
6 years ago
Sassy
1 Year
3 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She is the cutest and most lovable dog I have ever met. She is like a human baby she understands everything she is easily trained
3 years, 6 months ago
Kai
5 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He is the best! Loving and friendly, a therapy dog for sure
3 years, 4 months ago
Book me a walkiee?
Pweeeze!
Sketch of smiling australian shepherd