Description: The Japanese Chin is a little spaniel, that has only been bred to be a companion. Other names they are known by are the Japanese spaniel, and Chin. This breed has a long broad head with wide set, large, eyes and a short but very broad muzzle.

The nose is also wide and black in colour other colour coats should match the colour of the nose. The ears are V-shaped, small and wide apart, these are covered in long hair. Their bite is slightly undershot. This breed stands 7 to 11 inches in height and weighs 4 pounds.

There are two classes for showing, under seven pounds in weight, and the over seven pounds in weight. The front legs are straight and fine boned. The tail is set high and is carried arched over the back of the dog and may fall to either side, this is well feathered. Colours that are seen are white with coloured patches, patches are often black, but also you can have sable, lemon, orange and black-and-white with tan points.

History: The Japanese Chin is believed to have started in China, although some groups maintain the Japanese Chin came from Japan in the year 732 as a gift from the ruler of Korea. This dog originally belonged to the Japanese nobility, and each house would breed the dog to their own standards.

There are some schools of thought that this breed came to Europe from the Portuguese sailors in the 17th century. However, there is more accurate information that the Japanese Chin was a gift by the Emperor of Japan to an American naval officer Matthew Perry. When he visited Japan in 1853.

It is thought that he gave a pair of dogs as a gift to Queen Victoria, when he returned from his mission. The Japanese Chin was first given its present a name by the AKC in 1977.