Japanese Chin

The Japanese Chin is the lapdog of the Japanese imperial court, and its owners will tell you it is not quite a dog.

History

It probably arrived in Japan from China or Korea more than a thousand years ago and was kept exclusively by the nobility, where it was regarded as a separate class of creature from ordinary dogs — a distinction the Japanese language preserves in its name. It reached the West after Perry's expedition opened Japan in 1853, when a pair was presented to Queen Victoria.

Temperament

The breed is known for being quiet, graceful and cat-like — it climbs, it washes its face with a paw, and it chooses its people carefully — affectionate with its household and indifferent to strangers.

Care and training

Exercise needs are small. The silky coat needs regular brushing but mats less than its length suggests. It is sensitive and dislikes rough handling.

Health

The flattened face brings brachycephalic breathing trouble and heat intolerance; patellar luxation, heart murmurs and eye injuries are also known. These are known patterns for the breed and a matter for a breeder and a vet; the measured facts are in the panel.