Japanese Chin puppies

About the Japanese Chin

The Japanese Chin was a companion in the Japanese court, developed from small flat faced dogs that arrived from the Asian mainland and were then bred for centuries as an indoor dog for the nobility. It weighs 3.2 to 5 kg and stands 20 to 28 cm, with a broad short muzzle, wide set dark eyes and a silky coat that falls into a mane and feathering. Owners tend to describe it as catlike: it climbs onto the backs of chairs, washes its own face and picks its own lap.

The coat looks demanding and is not. Weekly brushing and a bath every month or so keeps it right, though the fast growing nails need regular attention. It suits flats and quiet households, and it rates at the top of the scale for living with other pets. It is reserved with new people, so socialise early. Never let one off lead, because a Chin that has decided to investigate something will simply stop listening. The common mistake is forgetting the shortened muzzle and letting a Chin overheat on a warm day.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Japanese Chin puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A toy breed puppy at eight weeks is small enough to be genuinely fragile. It can be hurt by a jump off a sofa and by being stepped on, and toy breeds are prone to low blood sugar, so it needs frequent small meals rather than two big ones. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Patellar luxation, detected on orthopaedic examination
• GM2 gangliosidosis, a fatal neurological disease detectable by DNA test on both parents
• Cataracts, found at an ophthalmologist eye examination
• Early onset heart murmurs, picked up by auscultation at routine vet checks
• Epilepsy, diagnosed by a vet once other causes of seizures are ruled out
• Heat and breathing stress from the shortened muzzle, assessed by a vet on exercise tolerance

From Japanese Chin breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/japanese-chin/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Japanese Chin puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Toy for a Japanese Chin.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 3.2 to 5 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other toy breeds

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