Japanese Terrier

The Japanese Terrier is a small terrier from Japan and one of the smallest Japanese breeds. It is thought to descend from fox terrier types crossed with pointers and native Japanese dogs. It was bred to catch rats and mice and to keep its owners company.

History

The breed goes back to the 17th century, when Smooth Fox Terriers that had come to Nagasaki on Dutch merchant ships were mated with small pointers or small native dogs. By about 1900, at the end of the Meiji era, dogs of this kind were seen in the streets of Kobe and were called Kobe Terriers. They looked like something between a modern Smooth Fox Terrier and a Japanese Terrier. They were kept as lapdogs in port towns such as Kobe and Yokohama.

Planned breeding began around 1920, and the Japan Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1930. On October 13, 2020 it was accepted into the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service, a registry for breeds that have arrived in the United States but are not yet recognised by the club.

Appearance

The typical Japanese Terrier has a black head and a mostly white body with small black spots. It stands 8 to 13 inches (20 to 33 cm) at the shoulder and weighs 5 to 10 pounds (2.2 to 4.5 kg). The ears are set high and fold forward, and the coat is short, slick and fine. The tail may be docked.

Temperament

The FCI standard describes the breed as lively and cheerful in character and swift in its movements. It is an energetic, intelligent dog that suits an active owner who can give it plenty of exercise and things to think about.

Care and health

The breed is generally healthy. It can be prone to deafness and allergies.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.