A.K.C. AND F.C.I. STANDARD
A.K.C. Japanese Chin Breed Standard
Toy Group
General Appearance
The Japanese Chin is a small, well balanced, lively, aristocratic toy dog with a distinctive Oriental expression. It is light and stylish in action. The plumed tail is carried over the back, curving to either side. The coat is profuse, silky, soft and straight. The dog's outline presents a square appearance.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size - Ideal size is 8 inches to 11 inches at the highest point of the withers. Proportion - Length between the sternum and the buttock is equal to the height at the withers. Substance - Solidly built, compact, yet refined. Carrying good weight in proportion to height and body build.
Head
Expression - bright, inquisitive, alert, and intelligent. The distinctive Oriental expression is characterized by the large broad head, large wide-set eyes, short broad muzzle, ear feathering, and the evenly patterned facial markings. Eyes - set wide apart, large, round, dark in color, and lustrous. A small amount of white showing in the inner corners of the eyes is a breed characteristic that gives the dog a look of astonishment. Ears - hanging, small, V-shaped, wide apart, set slightly below the crown of the skull. When alert, the ears are carried forward and downward. The ears are well feathered and fit into the rounded contour of the head. Skull - large, broad, slightly rounded between the ears but not domed. Forehead is prominent, rounding toward the nose. Wide across the level of the eyes. In profile, the forehead and muzzle touch on the same vertical plane of a right angle whose horizontal plane is the top of the skull. Stop - deep. Muzzle - short and broad with well-cushioned cheeks and rounded upper lips that cover the teeth. Nose - very short with wide, open nostrils. Set on a level with the middle of the eyes and upturned. Nose leather is black in the black and white and the black and white with tan points, and is self-colored or black in the red and white. Bite - The jaw is wide and slightly undershot. A dog with one or two missing or slightly misaligned teeth should not be severely penalized. The Japanese Chin is very sensitive to oral examination. If the dog displays any hesitancy, judges are asked to defer to the handler for presentation of the bite.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck - moderate in length and thickness. Well set on the shoulders enabling the dog to carry its head up proudly. Topline - level. Body - square, moderately wide in the chest with rounded ribs. Depth of rib extends to the elbow. Tail - set on high, carried arched up over the back and flowing to either side of the body.
Forequarters
Legs - straight, and fine boned, with the elbows set close to the body. Removal of dewclaws is optional. Feet - hare-shaped with feathering on the ends of the toes in the mature dog. Point straight ahead or very slightly outward.
Hindquarters
Legs - straight as viewed from the rear and fine boned. Moderate bend of stifle. Removal of dewclaws is optional. Feet - hare-shaped with feathering on the ends of the toes in the mature dog. Point straight ahead.
Coat
Abundant, straight, single, and silky. Has a resilient texture and a tendency to stand out from the body, especially on neck, shoulders, and chest areas where the hair forms a thick mane or ruff. The tail is profusely coated and forms a plume. The rump area is heavily coated and forms culottes or pants. The head and muzzle are covered with short hair except for the heavily feathered ears. The forelegs have short hair blending into profuse feathering on the backs of the legs. The rear legs have the previously described culottes, and in mature dogs, light feathering from hock joint to the foot.
Color
Either black and white, red and white, or black and white with tan points. The term tan points shall include tan or red spots over each eye, inside the ears, on both cheeks, and at the anal vent area if displaying any black. The term red shall include all shades of red, orange, and lemon, and sable, which includes any aforementioned shade intermingled or overlaid with black. Among the allowed colors there shall be no preference when judging. A clearly defined white muzzle and blaze are preferable to a solidly marked head. Symmetry of facial markings is preferable. The size, shape, placement or number of body patches is not of great importance. The white is clear of excessive ticking.
Gait
Stylish and lively in movement. Moves straight with front and rear legs following in the same plane.
Temperament
A sensitive and intelligent dog whose only purpose is to serve man as a companion. Responsive and affectionate with those it knows and loves but reserved with strangers or in new situations.
Approved December 8, 1992
Effective January 27, 1993
FCI-Standard
N° 206 / 20.04.1998 / GB
JAPANESE CHIN
(Chin)
ORIGIN : Japan.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 1987.
UTILIZATION : Companion dog.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs.
Section 8 Japan Chin and Pekingese.
Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : According to ancient documents it is assumed that the ancestors of the Chin were presented as a gift from the rulers of Korea (during the Silla Dynasty age 377-935) to the Japanese court in 732. For a successive 100 years, there appears to have been a large number of Chins coming into Japan. Historical records also indicate that envoys sent to China (during the Tung Dynasty age 618-910) and North Korea (during the Po H’ai Dynasty age 698-926) brought back dogs of this breed directly. During the reign of the Shogunate Tsunayoshi Tokugawa (1680-1709) the breed was raised as an indoor toy dog in the Castle of Edo.
In 1613 a Britisher, Captain Searles, brought a Chin to England and in 1853 Commodore Perry from the U.S. brought several to the U.S. of which two were presented to Queen Victoria of England.
Since 1868, the Chin has been favored as a lapdog by ladies of the upper classes, and currently is being widely spread as a companion dog.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Small sized dog with broad face, covered with profuse coat, with elegant and graceful figure.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : The ratio of height at withers to length of the body is equal. The body of bitches slightly longer.
BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Clever, mild and lovely.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Broad and rounded.
Stop : Deep and indented.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Nasal bridge very short and wide, the nose on a straight line with the eyes; the nose colour black or deep flesh colour, according to dog’s markings.
Jaws/Teeth : Teeth white and strong; level bite desirable, but scissor bite or undershot mouth permitted.
Eyes : Large, round, set wide apart and lustrous black in colour.
Ears : Long, triangular, hanging, covered with long hair; set wide apart.
NECK : Rather short, and held high.
BODY :
Back : Short and straight.
Loin : Broad and slightly round.
Chest : Moderately broad and deep, with ribs moderately sprung.
Belly : Well drawn up.
TAIL : Covered with beautiful, profuse and long hair, being carried up over back.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS : Forearms straight, fine boned; backside of forearms below the elbows feathered.
HINDQUARTERS : Hindlegs moderately angulated, rear of the rump covered with feather.
FEET : Small and hare-shaped, covered with tufts desirable.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : Elegant, light and proud.
COAT
HAIR : Silky, straight and long. Whole body except face covered with profuse hair. The ears, neck, thighs and tail have profuse feather.
COLOUR : White with markings of black or red. Markings symmetrically distributed from around eyes over ears as on whole body desirable. Especially white and wide blaze from muzzle to crown desirable.
SIZE : Height at withers : Dogs approximately 25 cm.
Bitches slightly smaller than dogs.
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
• Nose : Any colour other than black for white dogs with black markings.
• Overshot mouth, wry underjaw.
• Solid white coat with no markings; single marking on face.
• Shyness.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
