Mary Allen
You will now learn everything about coat care, nutrition, life expectancy, and breed-specific diseases of the Japanese Chin.
Grooming
The Japanese Chin breed is white with black or red markings. He has a long, silky, smooth coat that needs regular grooming. He sheds quite a bit. It is best to brush him every day with a dog brush so that no matted areas can develop. You also reduce the amount of hair in the apartment by brushing it every day. But it is also sufficient if he is brushed two to three times a week.
In autumn and spring, the time for the coat to change begins. During this time, grooming can be a little more complex. Otherwise, care is uncomplicated and the four-legged friend only has to be bathed once a month.
Important: In addition to grooming, you should also care for and clean the eye area.
Nutrition
Even when it comes to nutrition, the little four-legged friend is very uncomplicated and does not make any special demands as long as his food is balanced. You should make sure that his diet is adapted to his size, age, and physical activity.
Caution: Japanese Chins tend to be overweight and should therefore not be overfed.
You can give your little companion wet food, dry food, or BARF. BARF is biologically appropriate for raw feeding and contains raw foods such as meat, offal, bones, and fish. Fruit and vegetables as well as fats and oils supplement the diet. Feed puppies three to four times a day and adult Chins twice a day.
Life expectancy
The life expectancy of a Japanese Chin is 10-15 years. The four-legged friend has a fairly high life expectancy. However, he is still sensitive and predisposed to hereditary diseases.
Breed diseases
Despite the best efforts of breeders, there are diseases that the Japanese Chin are commonly prone to. You will learn more about these below.
| Eye diseases | |
| Trichiasis | The Japanese Chin is prone to eye diseases. A common disease is trichiasis. This is a lid disease that leads to injuries and irritation of the conjunctiva and cornea. This is due to the misalignment of the eyelashes. |
| Distichiasis | Another disease that irritates the eyes is distichiasis. This is also called double lashing. Eyelash-like hairs grow from the sebum glands on the edges of the dog’s eyelids, which also affect the eyes. They damage and irritate the cornea. |
| Cataract / Cataract | Clouding of the lens of the eye can also occur. This eye disease can lead to blindness in dogs. |
The earlier the eye diseases are detected, the better the chances of recovery. Therefore, consult a veterinarian immediately if you notice the following symptoms, for example:
- Spasmodic and excessive blinking;
- Watery eye discharge;
- Redness of the conjunctiva;
- Clouding of the lens.
| Other illnesses | |
| respiratory problems and heat intolerance | Due to the shortened front facial skull, the Japanese Chin suffers from shortness of breath and impaired body temperature regulation. Therefore, many of these dogs constantly breathe through their mouths and pant even when they are at rest. Furthermore, you have to avoid heat strokes by not exposing your companion to high temperatures. |
Activities with the Japanese Chin
For the little chin, it’s enough if you do it twice per carry. He is active and loves both long and short walks, especially in the park.
Attention: Unfortunately, he does not tolerate heat because the regulation of his body temperature does not work properly. Therefore you have to protect it from the heat, especially in summer!
He is not a fan of strenuous sports activities. However, he is very enthusiastic about tricks and clicker training. He also likes to romp around the apartment at home with a ball.
The Asian dog is very suitable for small apartments, but also for a house (with a garden). Because of its size, each home caters to the needs of the Japanese Chin.
Due to its size and its calm, reserved nature, the pet can be taken anywhere. Be it in a dog sports bag or on (air) travel.
Worth knowing: If the Japanese Chin is very happy, then he is in a circle. This behavior is also called chin spinning.