Japanese Chin vs Tibetan Spaniel

A Japanese Chin
Photo: Joliot
A Tibetan Spaniel
Photo: Daedra

Side by side

Japanese Chin
Tibetan Spaniel
Adult weight
1.8–3.2 kg (4–7 lb)1
4–7 kg (8.8–15 lb)2
Height
Males 20.3–27.9 cm; females 20.3–27.9 cm3
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 12.5 years4
Median 15.2 years4
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes5
Group
Companion & toy6
Companion & toy7
Coat
Long coat6
Coat of medium length7
Shedding
Sheds through the year
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Daily brushing
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
A modest amount
Health
No sourced figure
Mouth melanoma (more likely)8
Class
Lap dog
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Tibetan Spaniel is much larger: about 5.5 kg (12 lb) as an adult, against 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) for the Japanese Chin.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Tibetan Spaniel lives longer: a median of 15.2 years, against 12.5 for the Japanese Chin.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Japanese Chin sheds through the year, the Tibetan Spaniel moults most as the seasons change.
Grooming
The Japanese Chin needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Tibetan Spaniel needs brushing a few times a week.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Japanese Chin: a lap or leaning dog; Tibetan Spaniel: affectionate on its own terms) and on independence (Japanese Chin: cooperative, with its own ideas; Tibetan Spaniel: decides for itself).
Alike
Both are rated the same on handler demand: suits a first-time owner.
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.

Tibetan Spaniel
Companion & toy · Small

In temperament it is alert, quick-witted and devoted to its household, but reserved with strangers and independent in outlook.

The Japanese Chin page →The Tibetan Spaniel page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Japanese Chin
Tibetan Spaniel
Activity
Happy with modest walks
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Suits a first-time owner
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Japanese Chin
Tibetan Spaniel
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
Tibetan Spaniel
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 behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Tibetan Spaniel grows to the heavier adult, about 5.5 kg against the Japanese Chin's 2.5 kg.
Japanese Chin
Tibetan Spaniel
024682m4m6m9m12m18m
024682m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Japanese Chin with
Pekingese vs Tibetan SpanielJapanese Chin vs PekingeseTibetan Spaniel vs Tibetan TerrierChihuahua vs Japanese ChinAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·