Yes it's finally time to admit that summer is over and winter is coming. With it will come additional responsibilities to make sure your dog is properly taken care of. If your pet lives outside, their dog house needs to have proper bedding and should be the right size. When it comes to dog houses bigger is not better, just make sure your pup has enough room to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. A small house will trap heat better and be much warmer than a large one. The best bedding for your dog is straw or hay. They retain warmth, allow moisture to evaporate and are biodegradable. They are also inexpensive at only a few dollars a bale. You can find straw or hay anywhere- farm supply and feed stores, local farmers and stables are a few places you can buy them.

Place the dog house on either the east or south side of your house to take advantage of the sun. Keep it out of drafty places, a good way to keep drafts out of your dog house is putting a heavy flap over the opening. If you can, put it on a low platform to keep it off the frozen ground. Fresh water is very important and you need some way to keep their water from icing over. A bird bath de-icer or a heated water bowl work great, but beware of a chewing dog.

If you take your chin out for a daily walk in the winter your puppy may get cracked pads from the salt on the roads. Rubbing baby oil on and between the pads will keep them soft and eliminate dry and cracked pads. Also you should thoroughly wash and dry the pads after walks to get the salt off. Balls of ice between the toes can also be a serious problem and is very easily taken care off by keeping the hair on their feet trimmed and also the toe nails.

Most dogs adapt to the weather easily, except for most small breed dogs, they should be kept inside. If your pet lives outside, follow the few guidelines I mentioned above and you and your dog should have a very enjoyable winter.

You should groom your Japanese chin twice a week. A pure-bristle brush and a steel comb with fine-teeth are two good products to use. Japanese chins have sensitive ears so check the inside to make sure they are clean and ordorless. Consult your vet if you see any discharge or smell something. Check the eye area for discharge and stains and swab with distilled water to clean it. Chins also need their toenails trimmed and teeth brushed every other week. The dental plague will become a problem if you do not. Yes Japanese chins do need to be bathed. Once a month should be fine but remember to blow dry them until they are completely dry so they won't catch a cool. Start a grooming routine at an early age so you don't have to deal with an adult who hates grooming.

If you are lucky enough to share your life with a Japanese Chin, then you may have noticed some issues that are associated with the shape of their nose.  If you want to add one of these wonderful little dogs to your household, you may have questions regarding any health issues that show up as a result of having such a short, pushed in little nose.

These common health issues are due to a set of conditions known as Brachycephalic Syndrome, which causes the upper respiratory airflow to become restricted.  It is also the Syndrome that comes from shorter bones and flattened faces that characterizes many small dog breeds. 

Brachycephalic Syndrome does not differentiate between sexes and both male and female dogs are equally susceptible.   Breeds such as the Pug, English Bulldog and Japanese Chin are some of the most commonly afflicted.

The Brachycephalic Syndrome can cause increasing breathing issues for dogs as they age.  The trachea and the larynx typically become more fragile and eventually may collapse due to the stress of the syndrome.  As your beloved pet ages, you must be increasingly aware of the following common symptoms:

• Loud respiration (most importantly when breathing in)
• Trouble exercising
• Fainting

If you begin to notice these symptoms in your dog, it is highly advised that you seek the advice of your veterinarian.  Tests will be performed to correctly diagnose the syndrome as Brachycephalic Syndrome.  These tests will include a thorough physical exam, with special attention being paid to the chest and throat areas.

The treatment of this syndrome for Japanese Chins with mild symptoms is generally to keep the dog as quiet as possible, avoiding heavy exercise or excitement.   More severe cases can be treated with surgery, which is performed to increase productive airflow through the upper respiratory tract.

The most important thing that you can do for your chin regardless of age is to pay close attention to his breathing patterns, know what is normal for your particular dog under different circumstances.  If these patterns begin to change, it could be a sign of trouble and the dog will need to be seen by a vet.

Above all, love and have fun with your dog.

Japanese Chin Facts
You can find a lot of facts about chins on the internet, some of it is
hogwash, some of it isn't. Here are some facts that we have compiled
based on our chins and our experience with them.

Shedding- moderate to high.
Not recommended for small children.
House training- they can be difficult, some are, some aren't.
A breeder cannot give you an accurate size that they will be
as an adult. We can only give you an educated guess, Japanese
chins don't breed true to size.
With their short noses chins are more likely to have respiratory
problems.
Japanese chins can be unruly if you let them. Just because they
are a toy breed doesn't mean they don't need to be trained or
given correction when needed.
They don't need a lot of exercise but they enjoy a daily romp off
lead.

Spaying and Neutering Your Japanese Chin

Are you about to bring home your dream puppy, a beautiful little Japanese Chin boy or girl? Congratulations! There is little in life that can be compared to the unconditional love and devotion of a dog. But with that undying love comes lots of responsibilities, feeding, training and the question of spaying or neutering your little bundle of joy.

While the thought of putting your Japanese Chin puppy through surgery may not be very appealing, it is an issue that should be addressed and the sooner the better. There are many reasons to sterilize your dog, very few drawbacks and a lot of myths that surround this common procedure. Each of these will be addressed in turn.

Probably the most compelling reason to have your Japanese Chin 'fixed' is the love that you have for your pet. An intact dog has a higher chance of getting injured due to fighting, being hit by cars from running away to look for a mate, a greater rate of cancer of the reproductive organs, a female (especially smaller breeds) have more of a chance of needing surgery during birth. A sterilized Japanese Chin will generally live longer and be a much more loving companion, they are happy just to lounge around with you and do not feel the need to reproduce. As an added bonus, you will be doing your part to control the pet population.

As with any surgery, there is the threat of complications up to and including death. While this is very rare, it does happen and is a valid concern when deciding whether to spay or neuter your Japanese Chin. If you have any concerns regarding your dogs' health and how surgery would affect it, please consult your veterinarian.

There are many myths that surround getting a dog sterilized, these are unfounded and untrue, however, they continue to exist. The biggest misconception is that a spayed or neutered dog will get fat. This is completely false. The only thing that will make a dog fat is too much food and too little exercise (there are also medical reasons for weight gain). If your pooch is becoming fat, cut down on table scraps, take him out for a little walk every day and see your vet.

The other widely believed myth is that dogs 'want' to be parents or that FeFe would make such a good mom. First, dogs become parents out of instinct, not by a well-thought out decision-making process. If there is a female in heat, a male will do anything possible to get to her. Second, I am sure that your cute little Japanese Chin girl will make a good mother and will have beautiful puppies, most dogs do. However, this is again instinct, not a personal choice.

Please, before you pick up your new Japanese Chin puppy, consider the benefits in having him or her spayed or neutered. Talk to the breeder when you pick up the puppy, to other dog owners and talk to your vet. Make an informed decision that is right for you and your new puppy.