Japanese Chin

OVERVIEW OF THE JAPANESE CHIN
The ancient Chin breed is of Asian descent and has long been popular with people of wealth and status. The small dogs stand between 8 to 11 inches at shoulder height, weighing between four and nine pounds. They’re remarkable companion dogs, full of affection and charm. They’re highly intelligent and have a tendency to display some catlike behavior including climbing onto high places such as the back of couches or tables and grooming themselves.
They are happiest when with their people and adapt their personality to yours. If the home is busy and active, they’ll happily keep the liveliness going. If the home is quiet, they’ll just as happily snuggle. They’re great playmates for older children, but due to their tiny size are not the best option for homes with small kids who can accidentally cause injuries.
Although they’re friendly towards people and other pets, they can be reserved with strangers. They’re chatty and will most likely let you know if someone is approaching but are not excessive barkers. This makes them good apartment dogs. Although they enjoy outdoor play, their best place to live is indoors with you. They’re eager to please their pet parents but can sometimes require a bit of convincing that training is actually their idea.
If you’re considering welcoming a Japanese Chin to your family, here’s what you need to know to ensure that your new pet pal remains healthy and happy.
JAPANESE CHIN FOOD AND HEALTH
If you get a Chin puppy from a breeder, it is essential that you get health clearances from the breeder for the puppy and its parents. This will ensure you don’t struggle with serious genetic diseases in your dog. Chins should be screened for thyroid problems, von Willebrand’s disease, thrombophilia, hip and elbow dysplasia, and eye health.
Not all dogs suffer from all or any of these diseases, however, it is good to be aware of the importance of testing when buying from a breeder and to know what symptoms to look for. If you are adopting a rescue pup, giving them good care and a healthy diet is important to see them grow old healthfully and gracefully.
Japanese Chins have silky medium-length hair and flat faces. With their short noses, they’ll often snort, reverse sneeze, or sniffle. It generally is not a problem as they can breathe through this. In some cases, an attack can become severe. Gently stroking their throat may help ease the sneeze or sniffle.
The breed does not handle heat very well, so monitor them on hot days so they don’t overexert themselves and make sure there are cool areas for them to relax.
Japanese Chins require only a small amount of food due to their small size and moderate activity levels. Even just overfeeding your pet a little can lead to health and digestive problems. Keep a close eye on their diet and do not feed them table scraps.
Adults need between one-fourth to half a cup of quality dry food every day, divided into two meals. Dry food can be moistened with a grain-free sauce. Serve your pet pal’s meals at consistent times every day and take into account how many training snacks they eat during the day. Training treats can often be halved or quartered to stretch them further and prevent pilling on the calories. Adjust the amount of food they get according to their activity level and weight.
If you prefer cooking for your dog, introduce new foods in small quantities and always make sure the foods are dog safe. Many human foods are not healthy for dogs and can be toxic. Lean meat such as chicken and fish are generally good options with veggies such as sweet potatoes.
Puppies and adult dogs have different nutrient needs for healthy development. For this reason, it is essential that your puppy never gets adult dog food. The dog food packaging should clearly state the age and breed size the food is created for and how much to feed your pup according to their weight.
LEASHES AND COLLARS FOR YOUR JAPANESE CHIN
Japanese Chins don’t require excessive activity but they do need a couple of 20-minute walks or backyard play sessions daily. Socializing your pup from an early age is recommended. Together with consistent obedience training, this will ensure they learn good manners and get used to having other people and dogs around. They generally get along well with other people and pets.
They don’t like repetitive training so keep it fun and interesting. If you can make them think it’s their idea, you have a winning formula. Like most dogs, they will not respond well to harsh or aggressive training methods. Always make training a positive experience with encouragement and rewards for good behavior.
Always keep your Chin on a leash when outside a fenced yard. A harness is the best option for walking your dog as opposed to a collar. The pressure from a collar against your pup’s fragile neck when either of you tugs can cause severe and permanent damage, restrict blood flow, and lead to protruding eyes. A collar is best kept for ID (identity document) tags, and even so, they shouldn’t remain on permanently. Leaving a collar on day and night can cause the hair around the neck to mat or fall out and can increase the chances of rashes and infections.
A harness fits around your dog’s chest and torso, which eliminates tension on the throat and neck. Choose a harness material and design type that won’t cause too much tangling.
A back-clip harness is the best choice for these small dogs. With the D-ring to attach the leash situated on the back, it is more comfortable. A front clip harness has a leash attachment on the front of the chest. These are a good choice for larger breeds that require extra control.
Check the collar and harness regularly for a size adjustment as your puppy grows.
BEST CRATES, BEDS, AND DOG HOUSES FOR JAPANESE CHINS
Japanese Chins are companion dogs and thrive on spending time with their humans. If they are left alone for too long, they can suffer from separation anxiety. Chins need to be in a home where they get lots of attention and that means living inside with you.
When done correctly, crate training can be effective for house training. Crates for small dogs can be fabric, metal, or plastic. Regardless of the type you choose, transform it into a comfortable and cozy haven for your pup with a mattress or blanket, and toy. It can also serve as their own resting den. Even when used for training, never use the crate as a means of punishment.
The crate needs enough airflow and must be big enough so your dog can turn around, stand and stretch out comfortably. If you want to use the crate through adulthood, consider getting an adult size and sectioning it off inside while your pup is still small.
Regardless of whether you get a crate for your pup or not, a good dog bed is essential. Bed types for small dogs are versatile and come in many shapes and sizes. The interior of the bed, excluding frames or bolsters, should be big enough for your Chin to fit comfortably. Trying to find something with a removable and machine washable cover will make cleaning a breeze.
If your pet pal suffers from joint ailments, choose an orthopedic or memory foam bed to support their joints.
BEST TOYS FOR JAPANESE CHINS
Japanese Chins need exercise to stay healthy and entertainment or play to keep them out of mischief. They don’t need excessive amounts of exercise, however, like certain other breeds, and are quite happy to spend most of the day trotting around the house and being with you once their exercise needs are fulfilled.
Like most dogs, they enjoy playing fetch. Balls, Kongs, and durable soft toys are all ideal for your Chin. In addition, mentally stimulating toys such as puzzle toys and treat finders will keep them busy at home. Puzzle toys have treats placed inside a ball or covered slots. Your pup has to figure out how to get to them. Once they’ve mastered the puzzle and found their treats, some versions allow you to increase the difficulty level.
When your dog is still a puppy, make sure you have chew toys around. This will prevent your puppy from going for furniture and shoes to relieve itchy and aching gums while teething. As they get older, teething toys can be replaced with other types of chew toys such as teeth cleaning toys. A chew brush, for example, helps prevent tartar buildup. Although this helps with dental health, it is not a replacement for brushing their teeth.
Since Chins are very affectionate and don’t like being alone, some plush toys can be a great idea to keep in the crate or their bed.
GROOMING INSIGHTS FOR JAPANESE CHIN OWNERS
The Japanese Chin has a thick, silky mane with a plumed tail and feathered ears. Their head and forelegs have shorter hair. Chins come in a variety of colors including red and white as well as black and white with or without tan accents. They are a clean breed and although their medium-length silky mane may look like high maintenance, they are fairly simple to groom.
Use a pin or slicker brush and a metal comb to give your pup a good brushing two to three times a week. They do shed, but brushing them a few times a week will prevent too much hair from getting on furniture and clothing. Mix water and a dog-friendly conditioner in a spray bottle to lightly mist their coat when combing to make detangling much easier. Check for mats or knots on the chest, belly, legs, tail, and behind the ears. Additionally, you want to trim the hair between the footpads.
While brushing your Chin, check their ears for redness or infections. To keep their ears clean and infection-free, wipe them out with a gentle pH-balanced ear cleaner dabbed onto a cotton ball. Only clean the outer ear; never insert anything into the ear canal. Also check their skin, eyes, and paws so you can catch any sores or infections early on. Their nails need to be trimmed to prevent hooking and tearing or scratching. They do have blood vessels in their nails so you may want to get a professional to do this for you to prevent pain and bleeding which may make future grooming difficult.
Regardless of whether you keep their hair long or short, bathe your Chin at least once a month with a gentle dog-friendly shampoo. If they often play outside in the dirt, you might want to increase the frequency.
Brush your Chins teeth daily if possible, alternatively every other day to remove bacteria, prevent tartar build-up and avoid gum disease.
Get your puppy used to being groomed and having their paws, mouth, and ears checked and handled. Make it a pleasant experience with lots of encouragement and praise. This will make it easier as they get older and will make vet checkups a lot more pleasant for everyone.
BEST JAPANESE CHIN ACCESSORIES
To keep your Chin safe and comfortable during travel, whether it is to the park, vet, or for a weekend trip, we recommend getting a dog car seat. Look for a model with a non-slip base that secures well with an adjustable seat belt around the headrest and back of the seat. This prevents the seat from shifting if the car stops suddenly. Some models have zips that allow you to form a basket or box so your pup can curl up comfortably for the ride.
If your Japanese Chin has a metal or plastic crate, a fabric crate cover is a great way to turn a boring box into a comforting haven. Many crate covers have a door flap that you can roll up or leave down. This allows your pup to enter or exit as desired while still keeping it cozy inside in the evening. Crate covers that are machine washable will be easier to maintain.
To learn more about breeds like the Japanese Chin, check out our breed hub page.