“IT WAS BRITAIN’S QUEEN ALEXANDRA WHO DREW WORLDWIDE ATTENTION TO THE JAPANESE CHIN, OR JAPANESE SPANIEL AS THE BREED HAD BEEN KNOWN IN AMERICA UNTIL 1977.”
ROYAL FAVORITE It was Britain’s Queen Alexandra who drew worldwide at- tention to the Japanese Chin, or Japanese Spaniel as the breed had been known in America until 1977. Alexandra, a Danish Princess prior to her marriage to the future King Edward VII of Great Britain, received her first Chin as a gift shortly after marrying into the British Royal fam- ily in 1863. Other Chins soon followed, coming from both China and Japan as well as the Continent. She had many, and they were always at her side. One of her biographers, Richard Hough, described her devotion to the breed in his book, Edward & Alexandra: Their Private and Public Lives (St. Martin’s Press, 1992): “She never entered a room or sat down without dogs around her, and often on her lap. When she played the piano, they would be at her feet; and there would often be one lying across her, too. There might be half a dozen of them beside her at a time, and although they looked so similar, she never got their name wrong.” Alexandra popularized the breed, and it became a favorite with members of her “Marlborough House” set. This led to increased attention for the Chin, not only in England where it became a much sought-after lapdog, but also in Europe where it was the darling of the many extended Royal cous- ins. It was also highly favored in America among the well- to-do. The Japanese Spaniel was one of the early breeds accepted into the registry of the American Kennel Club. In 1888, a dog simply called “Jap,” with pedigree and breed- er unknown, was the first Japanese Spaniel registered by AKC. The breed quickly gained stature in the hearts and minds of people all over America, and presently stands mid-way on the list of AKC registered breeds. This is a unique breed: loving but independent; eager but stubborn; snooty but demure. The Japanese Chin is a natu- rally clean dog. They are easy to bathe and are sometimes referred to as the “wash-and-wear” breed. Their coat sel- dom mats and they require no special grooming or scissor- ing. They will wash each other’s faces and clean their feet
at night. They do not like to live in dirty surroundings and are easy to housetrain. They prefer to be on top of things— much as a cat does. They like simple living. A plush pile of pillows on the bed is their idea of a perfect spot for sleep- ing. They are extremely playful, mischievous, and good- natured. They are perfect companions for anyone, from the well-behaved young child to the infirmed elderly. They are good travelers, whether by car, boat, plane, or bike basket. If the breed has a drawback, it is that they are too smart. You cannot own a Japanese Chin, for the Japanese Chin owns you! You cannot train a Chin, for the Chin trains you! In the words of many old breeders, once you have lived with a Chin you will never want to be without one. And, trust me, one is not enough!
22 • T op N otch T oys , O ctober 2022
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