Chinook Japanese Chin Care

The Chinook-Japanese Chin is a hybrid of two differently-sized breeds: the medium- to large-sized, versatile Chinook and the toy-sized, dainty Japanese Chin. C-JC mixes are normally happy, fairly active, and can live in a variety of spaces (including apartments). Overall Chinook-Japanese Chin care won't take too much work, but will need to include some daily exercise.

Here you'll find plenty of details on caring for a Chinook-Japanese Chin, including info about puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. Get answers to your questions about raising these lovable hybrids in the following sections!

These hybrids aren't too high-energy, so Chinook-Japanese Chin exercise requirements are pretty moderate. Even so, C-JC dogs will need a variety of daily activities that both condition them physically (walking, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports). Larger C-JC mixes make good jogging companions as well.

Adult C-JC mixes will need about 45 minutes of dedicated exercise per day, with the total amount depending on the dog's size, age, and overall activity level. You can start exercising your C-JC puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Chinook-Japanese Chin exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're nine months old
• A leash is required when exercising in public
• Yards must be securely fenced to keep the dog from running off
• Prone to separation anxiety; exercises must be done together with people

It's a good idea to exercise your C-JC every day. Though they're not super-active, without at least some consistent activity these hybrids can become frustrated, disobedient, and destructive. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging: Two 15-minute walks (or 10-minute jogs) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: C-JC mixes usually love chasing a ball, stick, or Frisbee
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, C-JCs enjoy the company of other dogs
• Canine Sports: These hybrids can excel at obedience or agility trials
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity

When indoors, giving your C-JC access to balls or toys will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also good to have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks or jogs after breakfast and dinner and playtime in the afternoon.

In terms of overall maintenance, these hybrids will need moderate care. Chinook-Japanese Chin shedding is seasonal: fair for most of the year, but heavier during the twice-yearly shedding seasons. Drooling isn't an issue.

C-JC dogs can have medium-length, thick coats like the Chinook, or long, silky ones like the Chin--or somewhere in between. Regardless, the coats are double-layered, and will shed moderately most of the time--but when they blow their undercoats in the spring and fall, the shedding will be more profuse. Owners can brush their C-JC dogs 2-3 times per week with a pin brush to keep the shedding low, and to keep the coats from matting and tangling; hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors, and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be necessary from time to time. (Brushing and cleanup will obviously be required more often during shedding season.)

And these hybrids rarely drool at all. If your Chinook-Japanese Chin is drooling excessively, that might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

The Chinook-Japanese Chin diet will need to include animal proteins, healthy carbs, vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids--nutrients every dog needs to maintain its health in the long term. This means the best Japanese Chin-Chinook food is premium dry kibble, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients.

Adult C-JC mixes, depending on their size, age, and activity levels, will need about 2½ cups of dry food per day, divided into two meals. C-JC puppies will need less: again depending on age, about 1¾ cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months of age.

Blue Buffalo, Royal Canin, and Taste of the Wild are recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium dry food.

For more info on feeding a Chinook-Japanese Chin from puppyhood through maturity, see this chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by mixing in adult formula with the puppy formula, in slowly increasing amounts with each meal, for one week.

Try if possible to stick to the above-listed portions. If constantly overfed (and under-exercised), these hybrids can become overweight--and a fat Chinook-Japanese Chin will have numerous health problems and a potentially shortened lifespan. You can help control your C-JC's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time.

If you're worried your Chinook-Japanese Chin is overweight, try this quick and simple test: run a hand along the dog's side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time--which means less food and more exercise!

The Chinook-Japanese Chin mix is pretty much an inside dog. While these hybrids will need some outdoor exercise each day, they'll definitely be happier living inside with their human family members. And for the Chin-Chinook, apartments are fine--just make sure you take the dog out to stretch its legs on a daily basis!

Another consideration for owners of the Japanese Chin-Chinook: weather. These hybrids' temperature tolerance will depend on their coat type, but for the most part they'll be comfortable in all but extremely hot or cold temps.