Breeds / Toy
Japanese Terrier puppies
Lively and affectionate at home, sensitive to handling and unusually quiet for a terrier. A rare, fine boned Japanese companion breed.
The facts
- Size class Toy
- Country of origin Japan
- Adult weight 4.5 to 5.4 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 10 to 12 lb
- Adult height 25 to 33 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Short
- Shedding Moderate
- Typical lifespan 13 to 15 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
About the Japanese Terrier
The Japanese Terrier traces back to smooth coated terriers landed by European traders at Nagasaki and crossed with small local dogs, then refined in Japan into a light, fine boned companion. They weigh 4.5 to 5.4 kg and stand 25 to 33 cm, with a very short coat, a black head and a mostly white body. They are rare even in Japan. The character is lively and affectionate at home, sensitive to the tone of a voice, and unusually quiet for a terrier.
A couple of good walks a day, or sessions in a secure garden, cover the exercise. Grooming is a weekly going over with a soft brush or hound glove and little else, but the thin coat means this dog feels the cold and will want a jumper in winter. Training works best in short, upbeat sessions, since harsh handling shuts them down; the breed does well at obedience, rally and agility. They rate middling with children, so supervise and socialise. Do not take their quietness for a lack of energy.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Japanese Terrier 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. They can be hurt by a jump off a sofa and by being stepped on, and toy breeds are prone to low blood sugar, so they need frequent small meals rather than two big ones. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their 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
- Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, diagnosed by x-ray of the hip in a young dog
- Dental and periodontal disease, found at veterinary dental checks and kept down by regular tooth brushing
Your Japanese Terrier 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 Terrier.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 4.5 to 5.4 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 22 inch (22 x 14 x 16 in, 56 x 36 x 41 cm) for an adult of up to 5.4 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other toy breeds
More on the Japanese Terrier
Previous: Japanese Spitz · Next: Jug
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Japanese Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/japanese-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.