Japanese Chin vs Pekingese

A Japanese Chin
Photo: Joliot
A Pekingese
Photo: Lilly M

Side by side

Japanese Chin
Pekingese
Adult weight
1.8–3.2 kg (4–7 lb)1
Males 3–5 kg (6.6–11 lb); females 3–5.4 kg (6.6–12 lb)2
Height
Males 20.3–27.9 cm; females 20.3–27.9 cm3
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 12.5 years4
Median 13.3 years4
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes5
Group
Companion & toy6
Companion & toy2
Coat
Long coat6
Long coat2
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Daily brushing
Exercise
A modest amount
Health
No sourced figure
Mouth melanoma (much more likely)7
Class
Lap dog
Lap dog

Which suits you

Size
The Pekingese is larger on average: about 4.1 kg (9 lb) as an adult, against 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) for the Japanese Chin.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Japanese Chin sheds through the year, the Pekingese moults most as the seasons change.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Japanese Chin: a lap or leaning dog; Pekingese: affectionate on its own terms) and on independence (Japanese Chin: cooperative, with its own ideas; Pekingese: decides for itself).
Alike
Both are rated the same on prey drive: usually fine with small pets.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Japanese Chin
Companion & toy · Toy

In temperament the Chin is affectionate, dignified and alert, attached to its own people and usually reserved with strangers.

Pekingese
Companion & toy · Toy

The Pekingese is affectionate and loyal with its own people but dignified and aloof with strangers. It is independent and can be stubborn, yet shows real courage for its size.

The Japanese Chin page →The Pekingese page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Japanese Chin
Pekingese
Activity
Happy with modest walks
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Easy-going, simple routines
Handler demand
Differs
Suits a first-time owner
Needs steady training
With people
Japanese Chin
Pekingese
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Decides for itself
Around the home
Japanese Chin
Pekingese
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Differs
Quiet
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Usually fine with small pets
Usually fine with small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Pekingese grows to the heavier adult, about 4.2 kg against the Japanese Chin's 2.5 kg.
Japanese Chin
Pekingese
02462m4m6m9m12m18m
02462m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Japanese Chin with
Pekingese vs Tibetan SpanielPekingese vs Shih TzuJapanese Chin vs Tibetan SpanielChihuahua vs Japanese ChinMaltese vs PekingeseAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·