Description of a 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. Whether there was a type of fox terrier developing in the Netherlands, or whether these were dogs brought along by English sailors is unclear. 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.

According to the Japanese Kennel Club, 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 Japanese Kennel Club and the FCI. It is little known outside of Japan, but does have its admirers in Europe.

The Japanese Terrier’s tiny stature and short coat make it a low-maintenance pet, but it does not do well in the cold.