Chin-wa

The Chin-wa is a combination of a Chihuahua and a Japanese Chin. The Chihuahua originated in Mexico and is the smallest breed of dog. The Toltecs who date back to the 9th Century had dogs called the Techichi and are believed to be the ancestors of the Chihuahua. The little dogs have been used as hot water bottles and were sold for food. It is believed the Chihuahua resulted from a cross of the Techichi with the small hairless dog brought from Asia to Alaska over what is now the Bering Strait. The American Kennel Club registered the breed in 1904. Despite its name, the earliest origins of the Japanese Chin are to be found in China, not Japan. Thought to have originated in the Chinese imperial court they were highly prized and often given as gifts. Some historians believe that the Pekingese, which also has his origins in China, was developed from the Japanese Chin, which are also known as Japanese Spaniels. The history of how the Chin made its way to Japan is not clear but the background on the breed shows that nobility in Japan prized the breed. Each noble house bred to their preferred standards. Because of this, there was a large variation in the eyes, coat, body size and temperament. When the Japanese Chin came to the Americas hundreds of years after its life in the households of the rich, the breed was in for a standardization. The common size was less than 10 pounds, with a broad head, large eyes and feathered ears. The facial markings of the Japanese Chin today are also very distinguished. They were officially entered into the American Kennel Club in 1888.