Japanese Spaniel

Japanese Chin

The Japanese Spaniel is the ideal dog for all owners who love small dogs. He is kind, affectionate and very gentle with everyone. All family situations suit him and he will be very happy as a city or country dog. No one can resist him. The Japanese Spaniel is the perfect performer of the "dance of the tides". This typical characteristic of the breed consists of a series of rapid rotations of the dog on himself. TV commercials and other advertisements regularly use him to entertain the crowds. He performs this little trick when he is happy or when playing. This special attraction adds to the typical and unique charm of the Japanese Spaniel.

Height 20 to 27 cm
Weight 1 to 7 kg
Life expectancy 12 to 14 years
Hair Loss Medium
Excercise Need Low
Home country Japan

Quick Overview of the Japanese Spaniel

Temperament

  • Docile and faithful
  • Affectionate and gentle
  • A little fearful
  • Never aggressive

Appearance

  • Graceful and elegant
  • Rather wide face for his size
  • Very abundant hair
  • Long triangular and drooping ears

Health

  • Rarely ill
  • Check his eyes and ears
  • Beware of extreme heat

Temperament of the Japanese Spaniel

Docile and loyal, the Japanese Spaniel is very attached to his master. He is rather the affectionate and gentle type with all members of his family, whether big or small.

He loves children and all their games, no matter their age. He is very sociable and easily cohabits with his peers.

Given his intelligence, his education does not pose any problem. He is never aggressive even if he is rather suspicious of strangers.

He is a little fearful but quickly understands if the threat is real or not.

This sweet little dog is exclusively an indoor and companion dog. He can't withstand cold temperatures and heat can be very uncomfortable for him. He is not very athletic and sedentary owners are perfect for him.

He can live anywhere, in the city or country, as long as he can enjoy his comfort inside the home. He likes to go for walks and outings, but gets out of breath quickly and his need for exercise is practically nil.

No matter his lifestyle, any owner is apt to own a Japanese Spaniel. He adapts to all possible situations, and his size allows him to live in a small space without issue.

His education is very easy because he is intelligent and receptive. He likes to socialize as much with humans as with other animals.

épagneul japonais personnalité

Breed Appearance

Japanese spaniel

Graceful and elegant, this small, stocky and very robust dog has a rather broad face for his size.

His facial appearance is not unlike his canine counterpart, the Pug.

His noble appearance leaves a slightly snobbish impression, although this is not the case, as he is the sweetest and most endearing of small dogs.

Height

Between 20 and 27 cm (7.87 to 10.63 inches) for the male
Between 20 and 27 cm (7.87 to 10.63 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 1 and 7 kg (2.20 to 15.43 pounds) for the male
Between 1 and 7 kg (2.20 to 15.43 pounds) for the female

Color

His dress is white with red or black spots.

Hair

The hair of his coat is very abundant all over the body except on the head which seems barer compared to the rest.

Morphology

The head of the Japanese Spaniel has a rather rounded but broad skull, and his stop is deep.

His large eyes are very bright and black. His long triangular and drooping ears are covered with long hair.

His nose is black or flesh-color but dark. His beautiful well furnished tail falls on his back.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 9, section 8 and is #206

Characteristics of the Japanese Spaniel

Does this dog suit your lifestyle?

Every dog breed has its own characteristics. However, the actual character of a dog can vary from one to another within the same breed.

Find out if the Japanese Spaniel is your ideal dog breed with our quiz.

That will take you less than 3 minutes!

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Life in an apartment
Good first dog
Tolerates solitude
Tolerates cold weather
Tolerates hot weather
Affectionate
Friendly with children
Friendly with strangers
Friendly with other animals
Hair loss
Drooling level
Easy to care for
Robust health
Easy to train
Intelligent
Tendency to bark
Tendency to nibble
Protective
Instinct to hunt
Adventurous spirit
Energy level
Level of intensity
Need for exercise
Playful

Price and monthly budget

Price you can expect to pay for a Japanese Spaniel puppy: between and
These prices are indicative and may vary from breeder to breeder

Japanese Spaniel puppies near me

Health of the Japanese Spaniel

This little dog is nonetheless very robust. Despite his apparent fragility, he is rarely sick.

It is important to check his eyes and ears because they are more fragile and prone to infections. But for the rest, this small canine specimen generally enjoys excellent health.

Giving birth can sometimes cause problems and due to his flattened face, heat can cause shortness of breath more quickly. Walks during heat waves should therefore be avoided.

GROOMING

Grooming is not necessary, but his coat must be brushed every day. It is also preferable to bathe him monthly and to inspect his eyes and ears regularly.

No other special maintenance is necessary. He is a small dog that is easy to care for and requires little time.

History of this breed

Despite his name, the Japanese Spaniel apparently originated in China and then moved to Korea.

He did not arrive in Japan until 732 after Korean rulers gave him as a gift to the Japanese Emperor Konin. He became the darling of the Palace.

Imported to Europe in the 9th century, he became the favourite of Mistinguett and Marie-Antoinette of Austria.

Later, Queen Victoria received small dogs as a gift from Perry, the American Admiral, who brought them back with him after a stay in Asia. Queen Victoria adopted and greatly appreciated them.

Even though he was brought to England around 1613, the first official standard was not issued until 1853. The rest of Europe and the United States discovered him a little later. Towards the end of the 19th century, he was received by the American Kennel Club.

For a long time, this small, exclusively companion dog was the delight of the ladies of high society. He was one of the most popular lapdogs of the time. His Japanese name suits him perfectly because Chin meaning "royal" in Japanese.

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