Breed Priorities – Japanese Chin

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266 – August, 2024

By Nikki Riggsbee

The Japanese Chin is thought to have originated in China, rather than Japan, dating from the fourth century or before. It is likely to have common ancestors with the Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Pug, and Tibetan Spaniels, based on information gleaned from monasteries. The breed traveled to Japan as gifts to Japanese nobility.

Japan withdrew from contact with the Western countries in the 1600s and maintained their isolation until 1854 when the first Japanese Toy Spaniels or Japanese Pugs, as they were known at the time, were exported. Shortly after, British Queen Alexandra was gifted with a Chin, became enamored of the breed, and acquired many more. She is credited popularizing the breed.

The Japanese Chin was recognized by the AKC in 1888 as the Japanese Spaniel. Its name was officially changed to Japanese Chin in 1977. In Japan, all dogs are called inu, which means dog. The only exception is the Chin.

We found forty-eight Japanese Chin experts with emails to invite to take a survey on their breed for this article. Thirty-eight responded and agreed to do so. By the deadline, nineteen completed surveys were received. Those participating have been involved in the breed for over 25 1/2 years on average. Those who are also judges have been approved for the breed for over fifteen years on average.

Japanese Chin Virtues

The survey asked the experts to prioritize a list of characteristics taken from the AKC Japanese Chin breed standard. Below is the list in sequence by the average of the experts’ ranks, with 1 being the most important.

1. Skull large, broad, slightly rounded between ears, forehead prominent rounding toward nose

Click here to read the complete article
266 – August, 2024

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