Did you know that more than 95% of the dog training techniques you’ll find in manuals, books, and blogs fail to work when it comes to a breed as unique as the Japanese Chin? Interesting, isn’t it? How these furry friends, also known as Japanese Spaniels, defy the ordinary and call for special attention.
Known for their mysterious origin, whether truly from Japan or from the vast expanses of China, these dogs are a bundle of joy, loyalty, and companionship packed in a compact, lightweight spaniel-like body. Their heritage as a luxury lap pet to nobilities of ancient east Asia goes hundreds of years back. Today, they still continue to rule our hearts with their charming personality and those expressive eyes.
Yet, when you think about training a Japanese Chin, you might be entering a realm of the unknown. Let’s get that journey started with understanding whether a Japanese Chin is easy to train or not. And trust me; you want to stick around until the end for some precious nuggets of wisdom.
I won’t keep you in suspense. The answer is, well, yes and no. Now, before you roll your eyes at that response, let me explain. Japanese Chins are generally intelligent, quick learners, which makes them relatively easy to train. But, they also possess an independent spirit instilled in them from their noble backgrounds, combined with a streak of stubbornness. Therefore, the ease or difficulty in training Japanese Chins depends largely on their personality, your approach, and the type of training.
Japanese Chins, being naturally tidy animals, are pretty easy to housebreak. They dislike messing up their living quarters and so, toilet training them is a breeze if begun at the right age. Toilet training aside, they also pick up simple commands and tricks quickly, especially if you start as a puppy. Their intelligence means they can understand new tasks and instructions in a relatively short period of time.
However, don’t mistake their intelligence for unquestioning obedience. While they grasp commands quickly, whether they want to obey is a different matter. These aristocrats of the doggy world have an uncanny ability to question your authority. To be successful, you’ll need a gentle yet consistent approach, filled with positive reinforcements.
When it comes to obedience training, the key is patience and persistence. The Japanese Chin is notoriously known for their “what’s in it for me?” attitude. Thus, training sessions need to be short, consistent, upbeat, and filled with rewards. Your Japanese Chin will quickly lose interest in repetitive or monotonous tasks so mixing up training methods is essential.
Something important to keep in mind is that, unlike other breeds, Japanese Chins are extremely sensitive. Harshness or loud voices can easily offend them or even break their spirit. They are much more likely to respond to kind words, praise, and treats than loud voices and punishments. From crate training to leash training, always use positive reinforcement and be patient.
Moving to agility training, the well-coordinated, cat-like agility that the Japanese Chin possesses is remarkable. You might just find it amusing how well they maneuver through furniture or balance themselves across narrow pathways. However, they are not the most athletic breed, so caution is advised when undertaking intense physical exercises. Also, due to their brachycephalic (short snout) nature, they can overheat quickly and may have some breathing problems.
Opting for socialization training is another beneficial move, as the Japanese Chin might have a tendency to be reserved or diffident around strangers. Early introduction to various environments, people, and animals will help in fostering their social behavior.
Conclusively, the key to successfully training a Japanese Chin lies in understanding their royal mindset — imagine training a prince or princess who sees themselves as your equal or, at times, your superior! Engaging in trust building exercises and ensuring a respect-based relationship is an integral part of the process. Remember, when you couple love, patience, and understanding with appropriate rewards, the Japanese Chin can be a perfectly well-mannered companion.
So, is a Japanese Chin easy to train? To summarize, in some aspects like housebreaking and grasping new commands, you’ll have a smooth sail, but on others such as obedience and agility training, you might face some challenges. The key is finding the balance between respecting their royal spirit and giving them consistent and gentle training. With the right training method and unconditional love, your Japanese Chin is sure to win not just treats and rewards, but also your heart!
Before I sign off, here’s a little secret: the Japanese Chin is known to “chin” – a unique talent of washing their face with their paws, just like cats! Indeed, you never stop learning with this unique furry companion.
