How long does a Japanese Chin live?

The listed lifespan for a Japanese Chin is 10–12 years.

How tall is a Japanese Chin?

The listed height for a Japanese Chin is 8–11 in.

Is a Japanese Chin good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Japanese Chin is 3 out of 5.

When is a Japanese Chin full grown?

The growth size band for a Japanese Chin is 8–12 months.

Toy Group

Japanese Chin

Japanese Chin is a toy dog in the Toy Group. Adult weight is 7–11 lb, height is 8–11 in, and the listed lifespan is 10–12 years. AKC describes the temperament as Charming, Loving, Noble.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Japanese Chin dog — Photo: Alex Archambault · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan10–12 years

Weight7–11 lb

SizeToy GroupToy Group

Height

8–11 in

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 21 single-size toy breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 11 years is about 3.1 years shorter than the 14.1-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 9 lb is about the same as the 8.4 lb average for those toy breeds.

The listed origin is Japan. The coat is described as silky, medium. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.3 points below the group average of 3.3 for the Toy Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 5 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 103 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Cardiac Exam, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, and GM2 Gangliosidosis (Japanese Chin) - DNA Test. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked