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Japanese Terrier

The Japanese Terrier (日本テリア Nihon Teria) is a small terrier native to Japan. It is believed to be descended from the progeny of fox terrier types, pointers and indigenous Japanese dogs. This dog is also known as the Nippon Terrier. The breed is rare, even in Japan.

Description

Appearance

The Japanese Terrier is a balanced, square dog, most often black head with predominantly white body that has little black spots. It is 8 to 13 inches tall (to shoulders) and weighs 5 to 9 pounds, its ears are high set and fold forward, and the coat is short, slick and fine. Its tail can be docked.

Temperament

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) breed standard describes this breed as having "a lively and cheerful character" and as "swift and lively in temperament". They are intelligent dogs and are easy to train, however they tend to become frustrated during long training sessions. Japanese terriers are a friendly dog breed and love the company of other dogs and people, and are generally good with children.

Needs and Health

The Japanese terrier is a energetic dog that requires a lot of daily exercise such as dog walks and play time, but they cannot withstand extreme hot or cold weather. Due to this, they should be fed a high protein diet to maintain their health. Japanese terriers are generally in good health, and are only at risk for some minor health issues such as Patellar Luxation, ear infections, and eye infections, all of which are preventable and/or easily treatable. They require very little grooming and maintenance.

It is recommended to have a large fenced area for your Japanese terrier to roam and play, however they should not be left without another dog or human in the vicinity.

History

A female Japanese Terrier

It is generally believed that the ancestors of the Japanese Terrier were brought by Dutch merchant ships to Nagasaki, the only Japanese port open to the West in the 17th century. It is unclear whether these dogs were Dutch Boerenfox (a Dutch terrier strain, like the Fox Terrier of England or the German Pinscher of Germany) or whether these were dogs brought along by English sailors. Unlike other descendants of Fox Terriers, the JT seems to have been developed exclusively as a pet. The dogs became very popular as lap dogs in ports such as Nagasaki, Kobe and Yokohama.^{[citation needed]}

According to the Japan Kennel Club (JKC), planned breeding of Japanese Terriers did not begin until around 1920, when fanciers began selective breeding from the progenitor, the Kobe Terrier. The Japanese Terrier was recognized by the JKC in 1930. The Japanese Terrier is recognized by the Japan Kennel Club and the FCI. It is little known outside Japan, but does have its admirers in Europe.

Although this dog goes by the name of Japanese Terrier it is actually not included in the group of Japanese Spitz. The Japanese Spitz group includes six distinctive dogs such as the Hokkaido Inu, the Shiba Inu, the Akita Inu, the Kai Ken, Kishu Inu, and the Shikoku Inu.^{[citation needed]}