How long does a Japanese Terrier live?

The listed lifespan for a Japanese Terrier is 13–15 years.

How tall is a Japanese Terrier?

The listed height for a Japanese Terrier is 10–13 in.

Is a Japanese Terrier good with children?

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

When is a Japanese Terrier full grown?

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

Foundation Stock Service

Japanese Terrier

Japanese Terrier is a toy dog in the Foundation Stock Service. Adult weight is 10–12 lb, height is 10–13 in, and the listed lifespan is 13–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Reserved, Independent, Curious.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Japanese Terrier dog — Photo: Bernielindsey44 at en.wikipedia · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan13–15 years

Weight10–12 lb

SizeToy

GroupFoundation Stock Service

Height

10–13 in

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

1 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 21 single-size toy breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 14 years is about the same as the 14.1-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 11 lb is about 2.6 lb heavier than the 8.4 lb average for those toy breeds.

The listed origin is Japan. The coat is described as 0, 0. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.6 points below the group average of 3.6 for the Foundation Stock Service. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 1 out of 5, so short sessions tend to work better than long drills. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5.

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).

Frequently asked