Japanese Chin: Breeder selection and lines
When choosing a Japanese Chin, verify the named records and the issuing scheme before relying on a breeder's description. Treat the record as background information, not proof of how this individual dog will respond. Ask for named tests, dates, scheme or laboratory, parent identity, and the written result; compare the record with the intended home routine. Verify the document with the issuing scheme or laboratory before treating it as evidence for a decision.
What to verify before choosing
Japanese Chin's recommended parent-club health tests is recorded as ['Patella Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam', 'Ophthalmologist Evaluation', 'GM2 Gangliosidosis (Japanese Chin) - DNA Test']. Here, that matters because it identifies a record to verify, not a diagnosis of the dog in front of you.
Read the record, not the promise
- Ask for named tests, dates, scheme or laboratory, parent identity, and the written result; compare the record with the intended home routine.
- Keep the recommended parent-club health tests in view (['Patella Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam', 'Ophthalmologist Evaluation', 'GM2 Gangliosidosis (Japanese Chin) - DNA Test']) and make the next step reversible, observable, and easy to stop.
- Verify the document with the issuing scheme or laboratory before treating it as evidence for a decision.
Walk away or pause if
Do not proceed on verbal assurances when required records are missing, unverifiable, or inconsistent.
References
Height: 8-11 inches
AKC page PageMap DataObject > height
Weight: 7-11 pounds
AKC page PageMap DataObject > weight
Life expectancy: 10-12 years
AKC page PageMap DataObject > life_expectancy
Grooming: The long, silky coat of the Japanese Chin gives him the appearance of a high-maintenance breed, but he is surprisingly easy to maintain in top condition. He will require weekly brushing and a bath once a month or so, depending on his surroundings. The breed's nails grow very fast and should be trimmed regularly to keep them short and neat. Their ears should…
AKC page Grooming > official section copy
Exercise: The Japanese Chin is a fairly active little dog. He will enjoy going for slow walks with his humans, or exploring his fenced backyard. The breed is an excellent choice for apartment living. Because of their stubborn nature, it is never a good idea to allow them to outdoors off lead. If they see something they want to explore, they are likely to refuse to…
AKC page Exercise > official section copy
Training: Training a Chin can be simple for the trainer who can make them believe they are doing only the things they want to do. Bred strictly as companions for royalty, the Chin's only job throughout the breed's history has been to charm, amuse, and comfort their humans. They are often referred to as 'catlike,' and this trait can certainly be visible during…
AKC page Training > official section copy
Official breed description: The Japanese Chin is a charming toy companion of silky, profuse coat and an unmistakably aristocratic bearing. Often described as a distinctly 'feline' breed, this bright and amusing lapdog is fastidious, graceful, and generally quiet.
AKC page About the Breed > official breed description
Recommended parent-club health tests: ['Patella Evaluation', 'Cardiac Exam', 'Ophthalmologist Evaluation', 'GM2 Gangliosidosis (Japanese Chin) - DNA Test']
AKC page Health > Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club
Official breed standard: http://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/JapaneseChin.pdf
AKC page The Breed Standard > View Full Breed Standard
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