Chihuahua vs Japanese Chin

Compare the Chihuahua to the Japanese Chin. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Chihuahuas and Japanese Chins.

Quick Summary

Below are a few quick comparisons between the two breeds.

Owner Experience - Both the Chihuahua and Japanese Chin are excellent choices for new or inexperienced owners.
Children - Both breeds are child friendly, but the Chihuahua is the most friendly between the breeds.
Grooming - Both breeds have low maintenance coats, but the Chihuahua is easier to groom.
Barking - Both the Chihuahua and Japanese Chin are above average barkers.

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Chihuahua vs Japanese Chin

Breed Name	Chihuahua	Japanese Chin
General Details
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred
Is Hypoallergenic	No	No
Lifespan	15-20 yrs.	10-12 yrs.
Height	6-9 in.	8-11 in.
Weight	3-6 lb	4-9 lb
Intelligence	High	Average
History
Origin Country	Mexico	China
Origin Year	1850 AD	700 AD
Temperament
Overall Friendliness	Very Good	Good
Family Friendly	Very Good	Good
Kid Friendly	Very Good	Good
Pet Friendly	Below Average	Good
Stranger Friendly	Below Average	Very Good
Personality
	Affectionate Enjoys Attention Jealous Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Likes To Snuggle Willing To Please	Affectionate Enjoys Attention Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Likes To Snuggle Willing To Please
Living Environment
Apartment	Yes	Yes
Indoor	Yes	Yes
Small Yard	No	No
Medium Yard	No	No
Large Yard	No	No
Temperature Tolerance ¹	50°F to 80°F	55°F to 80°F
Barks/Howls	Often	Often
Exercise Needs
Energy Level	High	Medium
Exercise Required	Medium	Low-Medium
Top Running Speed	18 mph	12 mph
Strength	Low	Low
Grooming Needs
Coat Maintenance	Low	Low
Shedding	Medium	Low-Medium
Dander	Low	Low
Drool Amount	None	None

¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.

Instincts & Behavior Comparison
Breed Name	Chihuahua	Japanese Chin
Breed Mentality
Dominant/Alpha	No	No
Family/Pack	Yes	Yes
Independent	No	No
Breed Focus
Distracted Easily	No	No
Average	Yes	Yes
Focused & Patient	No	No
Breed Instincts
Aggression	Below Average	Very Low
Burrow/Digging	Below Average	Very Low
Chasing	Below Average	Very Low
Follow Commands	Below Average	Very Low
Fighting	Below Average	Very Low
Guarding	Below Average	Very Low
Herding	Very Low	Very Low
Hunting	Average	Very Low
Protection	Below Average	Very Low
Remove Vermin	High	Below Average
Sledding	Very Low	Very Low
Watch	High	Average

Health Comparison
Breed Name	Chihuahua	Japanese Chin
Lifespan
Lifespan	15-20 yrs.	10-12 yrs.
Common Health Issues
Cataracts	No	Yes
Collapsed Trachea	Yes	No
Entropion	No	Yes
Epilepsy	No	Yes
Eye Problems	No	Yes
Heart Disease	No	Yes
Heart Murmurs	Yes	Yes
Hydrocephalus	Yes	No
Hypoglycemia	Yes	No
Hypothyroidism	No	Yes
Open Fontanel	Yes	No
Patellar Luxation	Yes	Yes
Pulmonic Stenosis	Yes	No
Shivering	Yes	No

Appearance Comparison
Breed Name	Chihuahua	Japanese Chin
Coat
Fur	Yes	Yes
Coat Type
Double Coat	Yes	Yes
Single Coat	Yes	No
Coat Texture
Silky	Yes	Yes
Straight	Yes	Yes
Coat Length(s)
Short	Yes	No
Long	Yes	Yes
Medium	No	Yes
Coat Color(s)
Black	Yes	No
Black & Red	Yes	No
Black & Silver	Yes	No
Black & Tan	Yes	No
Black & White	Yes	Yes
Black Sabled Fawn	Yes	No
Black Sabled Silver	Yes	No
Blue	Yes	No
Blue & White	Yes	No
Blue Brindled Fawn	Yes	No
Blue Fawn	Yes	No
Chocolate	Yes	No
Chocolate & Tan	Yes	No
Chocolate & White	Yes	No
Chocolate Blue	Yes	No
Chocolate Brindled Fawn	Yes	No
Chocolate Sabled Fawn	Yes	No
Cream	Yes	No
Cream & White	Yes	No
Fawn	Yes	No
Fawn & White	Yes	No
Fawn Brindled Black	Yes	No
Gold	Yes	No
Gold & White	Yes	No
Red	Yes	No
Red & White	Yes	Yes
Silver	Yes	No
Silver & White	Yes	No
White	Yes	No
Black, White, & Tan	No	Yes
Lemon & White	No	Yes
Sable & White	No	Yes
White & Black	No	Yes