Japanese Chin

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History/Origin
The exact origin of Japanese Chin remains unclear. Some believe their ancestors were actually of Chinese descent, with the Spaniel of Tibet being their direct ancestor. Others maintain that the appearance of Japanese Chin first took place around 732 in Japan when a breed was presented as a gift to Japanese rulers courtesy of the ancient leaders of Korea.

In any case, Portuguese sailors brought the Chins to Europe sometime in the year 1600's and presented them to Catherine, then consort of the Queen, wife to King Charles II (England). Then in 1853, a US Naval officer named Commodore Perry presented a pair of Japanese Chins to Queen Victoria after his trip to Japan. This marked the entry of the breed in the non-Oriental market.

Description
The face is the most distinctive feature of Japanese Chin. It is oriental in appearance, mainly composed of a large, wide pair of eyes, and an upturned muzzle. Its average height is from 8 - 10 inches with a weight of about 2.5 kilograms. The breed's hair is long, silky, and profuse and is colored either white and red or white and black, while its tail is also furry, curls up, and can extend all the way to the back.

The Japanese Chin can often be seen with its forehead sporting a white blaze or spot. The blaze has been named 'Buddha's Thumbprint', in honor of Ming of Han, China, a Buddhist emperor known to have kept Japanese Chins as pets.

Temperament
Japanese Chin shows many attributes that closely resemble those of a cat. It is alert, intelligent, but relatively quiet. This breed is also quite independent and loves cleaning itself, often using its paws in washing its faces, much like a cat.
Yet, Japanese Chin also exhibits several dog-like behavior, notably being loyal and loving to its masters. At the same time, it is also quite distrustful of strangers and can give out very deep barks to scare off possible intruders. This makes it a good companion, although care should be taken when bringing it to unfamiliar surroundings. This is primarily because the Chin settles for more familiar environment and can thus show discomfort when brought to strange places.