The Japanese Spaniel is probably originally from Korea - the breed later being developed in Japan and introduced to Europe in 1700. It became a favorite of Japanese Court, and was often offered as a royal gift. Its greatest moment of popularity came in 1853 when a pair was given as a gift to Queen Victoria from Commodore Perry when he returned from his historic mission to open Japan to world trade. The Japanese Spaniel was renamed "Japanese Chin" by the AKC in 1977. Regardless of the name, the breed has always been, first and foremost, a companion dog. Some of the Japanese Spaniel's talents include: watchdogging and performing tricks.
The Japanese Spaniel is also called the Japanese Chin. It is a dainty little spaniel with a short, broad face, and a soft, feathered coat. A thick ruff covers the neck and chest. The forehead is quite round, with a well-defined stop. The nose is wide and the nostrils open. It has an extremely short nasal canal. Black & white Japanese Spaniels must have black noses. In other dogs, the nose color should match the color of the coat markings. The expressive, protruding eyes are dark and almond- shaped. The teeth form a level or undershot bite. The upside-down, v-shaped ears are well covered with hair. The body is about the same length as it is high. The front legs are straight and fine-boned. The coat comes in white with colored patches; most often black, but sometimes red, yellow, orange, sable or brindle. The feathered tail curls up over the back. Smaller dogs are preferred. The Japanese Spaniel has an elegant high-stepping gait.