Alt Names: Bichon Havanais Country of Origin: Cuba

History: There is some debate as to the origins of this breed. Some say that the ancestors of these dogs first appeared in Japan around the year 732, as gifts from the rulers of Korea. Others attribute the ancestors of the Chin to breeds of Chinese origin.

Portuguese sailors introduced the breed to Europe in the 1600s by presenting some to Braganza's Princess Catherine.

An American naval officer, Commodore Perry, helped make this dog famous in England in 1853 when he presented a breeding pair to Queen Victoria after returning from Japan. This was the first canine gift givin to the royal family. He is also credited with this breed's appearance in America when he later gave a pair to the President of the United States.

Appearance: Japanese Chins stand about 20 to 27 cm (8 to 11 in) in height at the withers and weigh 2 to 5 kg (4 to 11 lb). They have straight, silky, profuse long hair that is most often black and white or red and white, or less often black and white with tan points. They have feathered tails that curl up over their backs. Their faces have an "oriental" appearance, with a short, upturned muzzle and large, wide-set eyes that have white visible in the inner corners, creating an astonished expression.

These dogs commonly have a white spot or blaze in the middle of their foreheads known as Buddha's Thumbprint. This designation can be attributed to the Buddhist Emperor Ming of Han China, who owned many of these dogs.

Temperament: This breed is considered one of the most cat-like of the dog breeds in attitude: it is alert, intelligent, and often independent, and it uses its paws to wash its face; the name Chin means cat-like. A companion dog, it is loving and loyal to its owner, but is distrustful of new people. Chins prefer familiar surroundings, and are very uncomfortable in unfamiliar areas and with new situations. They are a quiet breed, with a much deeper bark than the high-pitched yap commonly associated with many of the toy breeds, and are naturally clean, making them excellent apartment dogs.