Cockalier vs Japanese Chin - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Japanese Chin, also known as the Japanese Spaniel, has always been known for thousands of years as a dog with strong companion characteristics.

Hailing from Asia, he is also known as the Japanese Spaniel. In Japan, the Chin dogs are royalty and lapdogs, and while the exact origin of the Japanese Chin isn't quite clear, it is an ancient toy breed.

The first Japanese Chin was brought to America in 1882. The toy breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1888, as a Japanese Spaniel. The AKC changed the breed name to the Japanese Chin in 1977.

Known also as the Cockalier Spaniel, the Cockalier is a sweet crossbreed – a mix between the Cocker Spaniel and the Cavalier King Charles spaniel.

Both of these spaniels do have some differences. The Cockalier is a designer breed that hails from the USA. Because he is a hybrid breed the Cockalier isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club, but as a hybrid, it is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club (ACHC).

As a small sized dog, the oriental looking Japanese Chin stands at about 20 to 27cm in height and weighs roughly 2 to 6kg. He has a large round head with big brown eyes and a short muzzle. The ears are long and feathery and the tail is long and held up over the back.

The long silky single coat is either white and red or white and black or it can be tri-colored too – white, black and reddish-tan.

Temperament:

The Japanese Chin is a small, evenly tempered dog and the toy-size dog, according to people who have owned him as a pet, say he has some cat-like features – the ability to leap and the ability to wash himself similar to what a cat does.

He is also a typical lap dog liking nothing more than to lie in your lap and be petted. He just loves being with his human family and his smallness allows him to fit well into city- or country life.

He is an intelligent dog. He is small but strong-willed and that is why both you and him will benefit from having him trained and socialized as he becomes more amicable and obedient.

Social, jaunty and content, he is everyone’s friend and will be a suitable playmate for children, being loving and devoted to his entire family. They make great therapy dogs as he has the knack of being sensitive to the feelings of people and adjusts his mannerisms to suit the people he is with.

The Cockalier is a medium-sized dog standing at between 30 and 38cm in height and weighing roughly between 5 and 12kg.

The coat of the Cockalier is silky and wavy. The coat is medium length and can be in colors such as golden, red, black or maybe white and brown.

The ears are fairly long and floppy, the eyes brown and expressive and the tail docked. If left, the tail is long and feathery.

Temperament:

The Cockalier is lively, gentle, intelligent and friendly with his human family, though he can be a little bit aloof with strangers.

He bonds very strongly with his family. They’re robust and are playful with children. They’re active dogs too and love nothing more than a hectic ball game. They don’t know when to stop and can become utterly exhausted if you don’t stop the game.

Have him trained and socialized and then he becomes even more amicable and he’s smart enough to learn basic commands without any trouble.

The Japanese Chin is just longing to be your special friend. When you treat him with the love and care he deserves, you'll discover that he is a sweet, gentle companion who will be loyal and loving to his human family.

He is a quiet pet and intelligent enough to be trained and socialized so that he is obedient and ready to please. Although he doesn't bark much, he makes quite a few other noises such as wheezing, snorting and snorting. He makes up for it by being entertaining and loving towards you so that you life is brighter just by having him in it.

The Cockalier is such a clever dog and he wants to please. He just loves his human owners, protecting them against strangers. He doesn’t take too kindly to strangers, preferring to devote all his love and loyalty to those he knows.

He just craves attention and wants to be in your vicinity all the time. He is also good with children and will get on well with other pets in the home.

Once you’ve had a Cockalier in your life, you’ll want to reconsider having one of them again as they make awesome pets and companions.

There are a few health issues with your Japanese Chin that are worth knowing about such as hypoglycemia, cataracts and heart murmurs. Allergies and dental issues also need to be checked.

Dog breeds with the flattened face always battle with dental-, eye and breathing problems. With good care however, your Japanese Chin can reach anything from 10 – 12 years of age.

Heart Murmurs:

Murmurs come about because of a disturbance in the blood flow and which can produce an audible noise. If your dog's murmur is associated with structural heart disease, your dog may display signs of congestive heart failure and he'll be weak for instance and be coughing.

When your dog gets to the vet, the course of treatment will be determined on the type of heart murmur. Luckily puppies with low grade murmurs often grow out of it but if you have an adult dog, routine diagnostic imaging may be recommended by your vet.

The Cockalier is a healthy dog breed and can reach between 12 and 15 years of age. Look out for common canine health issues such as hearing loss and ear infection and vision issues.

Ear Infections:

Cockaliers that have an ear infection will shake their head and scratch their ears. The inside of the ears may be red and there may be an unpleasant smell coming from the ears. Your pet will need to see the vet.

Mitral Valve Disease:

This is a common disease with King Charles Spaniels where the mitral valve wears out and leaks and is associated with a heart murmur.

The earliest sign of a leaking mitral valve is normally a heart murmur, but it doesn’t mean heart failure is imminent, but congestive heart failure will eventuallt occur. Your dog will tire when walking, be lethargic and also have a cough. It will definitely be time to see the vet.

Grooming:

The Japanese Chin has a single coat, and a brush once or twice a week will keep the coat silky and untangled.

Check his ears for dirt and wax and try to wipe inside the ears, being very, very careful not to go deep into the ear to avoid damage.

Clip his nails and brush his teeth as small dogs are more prone to dental disease. Periodontal disease is preventable with dental cleaning. Dental disease starts when plaque sticks to the surface of the teeth. It hardens, spreads under the gum line and cause tissue damage. It also damages the immune system.

Exercise:

The Japanese Chin is an energetic dog and loves a game and a walk. It isn't the kind of dog that you will take on your hikes or swimming as it tends to huff and puff after a while from too much exercise, and more specifically in hot weather.

Diet:

Dog experts say that a grain-free food is best for this kind of dog. Kibble which comes with lean protein and with plenty of vitamins and minerals such as taurine and carnitine is recommended. They are good for the joints, coat, heart and eyes. Japanese Chins can be prone to heart- and eye problems and kibble rich in omega 3 fatty acids will be good for the Chin for many excellent reasons.

If you're in any way uncertain about what to feed your Japanese Chin, speak to your vet as the type of food you feed your pet will determine how healthy he will be. Always ensure he has access to fresh, cool water.

Diet:

When you choose one of the commercially manufactured dog foods there are, you want to avoid those more inferior ones that have ingredients in them that can cause your dog to get sick.

Look for the high-quality ones and choose the foods that have natural, wholesome ingredients in them. The vet can always help you with your decision to select a food that will of benefit to your pet.

Try to give your pet some good homemade food too such as some raw meat occasionally as well as boiled chicken, vegetables and brown rice. Fresh, cool water should be constantly available.

Grooming:

The Cockalier is going to require some brushing because he sheds quite a bit. Some dog owners prefer to get the Cockalier professionally trimmed. During grooming, check your pet over for any unusual lumps.

Your Cockalier will also need to have his nails trimmed, and because of the long ears, you will need to look inside the ears to ensure there is no redness and signs of infection.

Also, the teeth should also be checked.

Some dog owners don’t have the time or they don’t want to probe inside their pet’s ears and then a doggy-grooming-parlor can be a good idea as they do all this for you.

Exercise:

The Cockalier is an energetic dog, requiring a lot of exercise and games. These dogs love water games and will love you spraying him with water from the garden hose. Failing that, he’ll jump right into the swimming pool with you. Ball games are just up his street, and he will remind you every day that it’s time for his walk.