Tibetan Chin

The Tibetan Spaniel is a small, well-balanced breed that stands approximately 10 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 9 and 15 pounds. Despite the name, this breed is not a true spaniel but rather an ancient Asian breed that has been a cherished companion to Tibetan monks for over two thousand years in the monasteries of the Himalayan mountains. The body is slightly longer than it is tall, presenting a rectangular silhouette that contributes to the breed's distinctive and balanced appearance. The head is small in proportion to the body, featuring a moderately domed skull and a medium-length muzzle with a slight but definite stop that gives the face character without being exaggerated. The Tibetan Spaniel possesses a beautiful double coat consisting of a smooth, flat, silky outer coat of moderate length and a fine, dense undercoat that provides essential insulation against harsh weather conditions. The coat lies rather flat on the body but features abundant feathering on the ears, back of the forelegs, tail, and buttocks, creating an elegant silhouette. Males typically develop a more pronounced mane around the neck and shoulders, often referred to as a lion's mane or shawl, which is characteristically less evident in females. All colors and combinations are permitted in the breed standard, allowing for tremendous variety in appearance from rich gold to deep red to jet black to pure white and all patterns in between. Distinctive physical features include dark brown, oval-shaped eyes that are set fairly wide apart and convey an expression of alert intelligence and keen awareness. The ears are medium-sized, pendant, and set fairly high on the skull, covered with a good fringe of flowing hair. The tail is set high and carried in a gay curl over the back when the dog is moving or alert, with abundant feathering creating a plumed, fountain-like appearance. The feet are small and neat, often described as hare-like in shape. The overall impression is of an alert, active little dog with an intelligent and self-possessed demeanor.

The Japanese Chin is a small, elegant toy breed that stands between 8 and 11 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 4 and 11 pounds. The breed is shown in two weight classes: under 7 pounds and 7 pounds and over. Despite its delicate appearance, the Japanese Chin possesses a surprisingly sturdy frame with a square body proportion, meaning the length from the chest to the buttocks is approximately equal to the height at the shoulders. The overall silhouette is compact and well-balanced, with a proud, aristocratic bearing that reflects the breed's long history as a companion to Japanese nobility. The Japanese Chin's most distinctive feature is its broad, flat face with a brachycephalic skull structure. The forehead is prominent and rounded, and the muzzle is extremely short and wide with a deep stop between the eyes. The large, round eyes are set wide apart and dark in color, with a characteristic amount of white showing in the inner corners, creating the distinctive expression known as the Chin look or astonished expression. The ears are small, V-shaped, set wide apart, and hang slightly forward, well covered with long hair. The coat of the Japanese Chin is single-layered, long, silky, and straight, standing off from the body and forming an abundant ruff around the neck and a profuse, flowing plume on the tail. The texture is soft and resilient to the touch. The breed comes in white with either black or red markings, or tricolor with black and tan markings on white. The markings are typically distributed evenly and symmetrically about the head and body. The tail is set high and curves over the back, lying to either side with its long, flowing coat creating an elegant fountain-like appearance. Movement is stylish, light, and elegant, with the characteristic high-stepping gait that adds to the breed's aristocratic presence.