MYSTERY FROM JAPAN FIVE THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT THE JAPANESE CHIN
by Scott Toney, Midwood Japanese Chin
I bet you thought this was going to be another article about Japanese Chin breed history, grooming tech- niques, or judging procedures. Since other fanciers have already addressed those topics in the past, I thought it might be fun to share some of the “in- ner secrets” about our special breed, from my perspective. So, with tongue firmly in cheek, here are some things you should know before acquiring one of these little imps. I remember, 20 years ago while potty training my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Saffy, that I caught her in the act of peeing on the den area rug. In my best scolding voice, I admonished, “Saffy!” and hurried her outside to show her the right place to potty. Poor Saffy looked up at me with those soul- ful eyes and had a look of torment as JAPANESE CHIN HAVE NO SHAME
if she knew she had let me down and would never do it again. Don’t count on such luck with a Chin. I’ve caught my Chin peeing on the floor, gleefully trailing toilet tis- sue through the house, and pulling buttons from my tufted sofa. One of my dogs was so excited after tear- ing up the toilet tissue that he start- ed running around the house, then scrambled back into the bathroom at full speed and jumped right into the toilet! When catching my Chin acting up, I’d remember my effective train- ing voice previously used with Saffy, and I’d say, “Penny!” or “Dottie” or “Magnus” or… (well, you get the idea) in my most shaming tones. However, on those occasions, my corrections would be met with either a selective deaf ear, a blank stare, or most of- ten, a disgusted look as if to say, “Yes, what do you want? And how dare you
interrupt me!” I swear, if Chin had middle fingers, I think they would be flashing them at me regularly. CHIN & PHOTOGRAPHS— PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE A Japanese Chin could have made Helmut Newton look like a rank ama- teur. When photographed well, they are stunning; it’s just getting that elusive great photo that’s the chal- lenge. We’ve all seen photos of a Toy dog proudly posed; head up in the air, tail proudly carried, all four feet in perfect position, and eyes intently surveying the horizon. And, at times, you’ve even seen a Chin in this very pose. Just know that there was a dear price to pay to get that photo. You can be assured that for every good photo of my Chin that is published, I have taken 477 bad ones! A Chin will stack perfectly, then, for no appar- ent reason, decide to squint right as
“Just know, there was a dear price to pay to get that photo. YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT FOR EVERY GOOD PHOTO OF MY CHIN THAT IS PUBLISHED, I HAVE TAKEN 477 BAD ONES!”
40 • T op N otch T oys , A ugust 2021
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