Japanese Chin

The Chin is a good-natured and affectionate companion who will expect to be treated right but will repay you with love and attention.

She likes to play although, given her size and self-opinion, games should not be too boisterous.

She is a calm and docile little dog.

The Chin is moderately intelligent and, if she won’t read you the daily news, will at least sit patiently and appear to acknowledge you as you read the papers to her.

Although, like many royals, she may have a little hunter in her from her deep prehistory, this is not likely to raise its head today.

She can be a bit shy around newcomers.

She is quite an independent type and will not take well to excessive bossing-about.

This is not a dog who appreciates alone-time. She is a companion dog, which is to say she demands your companionship and is liable to sulk if deprived of your society.

If you’ve ever tried to train a cat, you can imagine what this little princess’s education is going to look like. While she’s bright enough to pick things up, her independent streak can make it tough to convey lessons to her. Patience and time are needed, and above all the pedagogue should be careful not to give in to suggestions that the dog, rather than the human, holds authority within the pack.

She does not bark often, and then mainly when she is uncomfortable in unfamiliar company or if she senses an intruder in the home. A poorly-trained Chin accustomed to being spoilt may also bark if she feels she is not getting the attention she deserves.

The princess is a dreamer, and left alone in a poorly-fenced garden is prone to wandering in pursuit of butterflies, birds, and the frogs she desperately hopes will prove to be royalty-in-disguise (or at the very least, delicious).

While this delicate creature does not have the physical power to create undue chaos, if left alone she may certainly signal her dissatisfaction through petulant acts of sabotage.

In general, the Chin is no glutton.

The Chin does not appreciate uninvited company, and will bark to raise the alarm should an intruder appear ; however, the pack’s response had better be quick, as she is by no means equipped to tackle the fiend.

The Japanese Chin makes an ideal flat dog since she requires relatively little exercise and is easy to store. She is often considered to be a lap dog, and thus needs little more space than your portable computer.

She requires regular walks, but nothing too much, and will appreciate a garden if available, but the latter is hardly mandatory. Her anti-social side and tendency to wander make the freedom of a leash-less walk in the park less than ideal.

She fits in your handbag and likes to be kept close, so travel is generally not a problem.

She should tolerate the company of cats as long as she is raised alongside them. However, beware that cats may not tolerate her company – especially if she becomes centre of attention – and can easily damage the creature due to the ready accessibility of her bulging aristocratic eyeballs.

Again, if socialised well, she should not have a problem with other dogs ; however, caution should be heeded, especially around hunter-type dogs, who may see her as cat-like enough to be ‘fair game.’

Her delicate structure makes the Chin a little vulnerable around small or boisterous children. She may snap (break) or snap (nip) if handled with insufficient respect.

The Chin is a good choice for an older person. She’s lightweight, requires only moderate exercise, and is happy to provide company and affection.

With her small footprint, incapacity to create much damage, and her affectionate behaviour, she can make a good first dog ; however, dog ownership virgins should be wary not to give in to her demanding side or to spoil her with attention and treats before she is properly trained.