Japanese Terrier
- Toy
- Foundation Stock Service
The Japanese Terrier is a small, smooth-coated companion from Japan: reserved with strangers, curious, and quietly independent. Lively yet content to settle on the couch, it suits city or country life alike.
- Height
- 10 to 13
- inches at the shoulder
- Weight
- 10 to 12
- pounds, adult
- Life expectancy
- 13 to 15
- years, median 14
- Senior from
- 10.5
- years, about
Senior starts in the last quarter of a breed's expected lifespan, following the 2019 AAHA canine life stage guidelines. Individual dogs vary.
About the breed
- Temperament
- Reserved, independent, curious
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Origin
- Japan
The Japanese Terrier is a small, slim toy breed from Japan, standing about 10 to 13 inches and weighing 10 to 12 pounds. Its short, smooth coat sits close to a lightly built frame, and it typically lives around 13 to 15 years.
In temperament it tends to be reserved with strangers, curious, and independent. It is lively but happy to settle in at home, and it is equally at ease in the city or the country.
The breed traces to about 1916 in the Nada ward near Kobe, where a dog named Kuro, whose name means black in Japanese, was born from an out-cross of imported English Toy Terriers and a Toy Bull Terrier. Careful selection among those offspring and the local Kobe Terriers produced today's very short-haired, slim little terrier, and by 1930 the work had shaped a standard recognized by a national kennel registry.
The Japanese Terrier stayed scarce, spreading to most major Japanese cities by 1940 as demand grew for a small, active dog rather than a large watchdog. It twice came close to extinction, first during World War II and again around 1948, when Western breeds became fashionable.
Temperament and needs
Scored 1 to 5 for the breed overall. Individual dogs vary.
- Affectionate with family3 out of 5
- Good with young children3 out of 5
- Good with other dogs3 out of 5
- Openness to strangers3 out of 5
- Playfulness3 out of 5
- Watchdog and protective nature5 out of 5
- Adaptability5 out of 5
- Trainability1 out of 5
- Energy level3 out of 5
- Mental stimulation needs3 out of 5
- Barking level1 out of 5
- Shedding3 out of 5
- Grooming frequency2 out of 5
- Drooling1 out of 5
Care
The routines that matter most for this breed. Open one at a time.
Nutrition
The Japanese Terrier does well on high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian's supervision and approval. Match the food to the dog's life stage, whether puppy, adult, or senior.
Some dogs are prone to gaining weight, so keep an eye on calorie intake and body weight. Treats are useful for training, but too many can lead to obesity, so give them in moderation and learn which human foods are safe for dogs and which are not.
Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog's weight or diet, and keep clean, fresh water available at all times.
Grooming
The Japanese Terrier's short, smooth coat needs little upkeep. A weekly pass with a soft brush or a hound glove keeps the coat healthy and glossy, and a bath is only needed now and then.
Check the ears regularly for dirt or excess wax, and clean them when needed with soft gauze and an ear-cleaning solution. Trim the nails often and keep them short, since overly long nails cause discomfort.
Brush the teeth daily when you can, using a toothpaste made for dogs.
Exercise
Japanese Terriers have moderate exercise needs. A couple of good walks, or daily sessions in a fenced yard, keep them sound in mind and body.
Japanese Terriers enjoy activity and can also settle at home. Dog sports such as obedience, rally, and agility give them a constructive outlet for that energy and a bit of mental work too.
Training
The Japanese Terrier is intelligent but independent, and some can turn stubborn at times, so training should start early. Begin with early socialization and puppy classes, using positive, reward-based methods alongside gentle but firm guidance.
A trainer who understands terriers and primitive breeds is a good fit. These are among the calmer terriers, though they still need regular mental and physical activity.
Keep them in a fenced yard or on a lead, since they will eagerly run off if given the chance.
Sources
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