Tibetan Chin

Both the Tibetan Spaniel and the Japanese Chin have been around for quite some time. Because of this, they have rich origin stories that can assist in helping to understand why the Tibetan Chin may have been created, and what other dog breeds may have been involved in his heritage. To begin, the Japanese Chin originated in Asia almost 1,500 years ago! At one time, he was actually referred to as the "Imperial Chin" due to his popularity in the imperial courts of China. This breed was highly treasured and were commonly used as gifts between nobles and other dignitaries of the land. It was in this way that the Japanese Chin became noticed by the Western countries around the 19th century when the dog was given as a gift to President Franklin Pierce after Japan's isolation from the rest of the world came to an abrupt halt. From there, the Japanese Chin slowly grew in popularity and was even the pet of Queen Alexandra of England at one time. The American Kennel Club accepted the Japanese Chin in 1888, which is right up there with some of the oldest breeds accepted, and he has been used ever since as a showman and companion animal. The Tibetan Spaniel was created with the primary purpose of acting as companions and watch dogs for Tibetan monks. Eventually, their unique lion-like appearance and bright personality caught the attention of other dog enthusiasts and the Tibetan Spaniel was frequently given as gifts to rulers and other dignitaries. In the late 19th, early 20th century, some British missionaries happened to get their hands on a few Tibetan Spaniels and brought them back to the West. Surprisingly, the popular dog actually didn't get much attention in the United States at first. But as time went on, a litter born in the 1960's finally caught the attention of a small group of people in New Haven, Connecticut. As more and more of the breed were imported over from Tibet, people fell further in love with them. Finally, the Tibetan Spaniel was accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1984, and while they aren't one of the top most favorite breeds, they are much loved by their supporters and used as faithful companions and show dogs.