Lancashire Heeler vs Japanese Chin - Breed Comparison

The Lancashire Heeler, known also as the Ormskirk Heeler or Ormskirk Terrier, hails from England and is looked upon as a vulnerable breed by the Kennel Club in the 21st century.

He was developed to be a cattle drover, but is essentially a companion dog today. Exact details of the origin of the Lancashire are unknown, but it is generally accepted that Welsh Corgis were used as well as a kind of black and tan terrier known as the Manchester Terrier.

In England, he has been known as a general working dog for more than a century.Gwen Mackintosh began breeding these dogs in the 1960s and the Lancashire Heeler Club was established in 1978. The dog was also placed on the Endangered Breeds in 2003.

The Japanese Chin, also known as the Japanese Spaniel, has always been known for thousands of years as a dog with strong companion characteristics.

Hailing from Asia, he is also known as the Japanese Spaniel. In Japan, the Chin dogs are royalty and lapdogs, and while the exact origin of the Japanese Chin isn't quite clear, it is an ancient toy breed.

The first Japanese Chin was brought to America in 1882. The toy breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1888, as a Japanese Spaniel. The AKC changed the breed name to the Japanese Chin in 1977.

As a small breed dog, the Lancashire Heeler stands at 25 – 31cm in height, both male and female, and the dog weighs in the region of 2 to 6kg.

Looking quite similar to a Corgi or a German Shepherd with short legs, the Heeler’s legs are meant to be fairly straight and not bandy-legged. He has a short, weather-proof coarse coat that can be black or liver-colored, with tan markings. The coat is regarded as low maintenance. The hair is slightly longer around his neck.

The ears are erect, the eyes brown and bright and the tail these days is left long with a slight curl.

Temperament:

Intelligent, stubborn, strong willed, playful and friendly, the Lancashire Heeler is capable of making you an excellent pet and companion.

This dog is smart and learns quickly. He is energetic and playful, strong and robust and more than willing to take part in all the activities that you’re taking part in.

With training and socialization he makes a splendid pet, but he doesn’t put up well to abuse and disrespect from younger children. He is willing to get along with other pets in the home too.

As a small sized dog, the oriental looking Japanese Chin stands at about 20 to 27cm in height and weighs roughly 2 to 6kg. He has a large round head with big brown eyes and a short muzzle. The ears are long and feathery and the tail is long and held up over the back.

The long silky single coat is either white and red or white and black or it can be tri-colored too – white, black and reddish-tan.

Temperament:

The Japanese Chin is a small, evenly tempered dog and the toy-size dog, according to people who have owned him as a pet, say he has some cat-like features – the ability to leap and the ability to wash himself similar to what a cat does.

He is also a typical lap dog liking nothing more than to lie in your lap and be petted. He just loves being with his human family and his smallness allows him to fit well into city- or country life.

He is an intelligent dog. He is small but strong-willed and that is why both you and him will benefit from having him trained and socialized as he becomes more amicable and obedient.

Social, jaunty and content, he is everyone’s friend and will be a suitable playmate for children, being loving and devoted to his entire family. They make great therapy dogs as he has the knack of being sensitive to the feelings of people and adjusts his mannerisms to suit the people he is with.

As with any dog breed, there are wide variations in temperament. A dog essentially turns out the way it was brought up, similar to a child. Angry, harsh, aggressive, uncaring dog owners produce a dog that is both timid and aggressive, unsure, frustrated and with behavioral problems.

Make your dog part of your family, provide him with good food, exercise and love and he will make an awesome pet.

The Lancashire Heeler is such an amicable, social dog at heart, and treated well, he will turn out like is inherent characteristics. He is an outgoing, friendly dog, more so when he has been trained and socialized. He will adapt to city- or country life, so long as he is exercised each day.

The Heeler has a good, balanced temperament, and counted in as a loved family member, you’ll make sure he stays that way.

The Japanese Chin is just longing to be your special friend. When you treat him with the love and care he deserves, you'll discover that he is a sweet, gentle companion who will be loyal and loving to his human family.

He is a quiet pet and intelligent enough to be trained and socialized so that he is obedient and ready to please. Although he doesn't bark much, he makes quite a few other noises such as wheezing, snorting and snorting. He makes up for it by being entertaining and loving towards you so that you life is brighter just by having him in it.

Your Heeler can live to be 14, 15 or 16 years of age and live even longer than this with the right care. He is such a healthy breed, but one of the common dog illnesses to look out for are eye diseases.

Lens Luxation:

This is where the ligaments of the eye are weakened so that the lens actually loosened and then displaced, causing pain for the dog. This displacement can obstruct fluid drainage from the eye too and your vet may need to perform surgery.

Intervertebral Disc Disease:

The shock-absorbing intervertebral discs can have spinal compression and contribute to significant pain for your pet. Early signs will see your Lancashire Heeler being reluctant to jump on his chair like he may once have done. Preventing obesity is important for reducing pressure on the dog’s spine.

There are a few health issues with your Japanese Chin that are worth knowing about such as hypoglycemia, cataracts and heart murmurs. Allergies and dental issues also need to be checked.

Dog breeds with the flattened face always battle with dental-, eye and breathing problems. With good care however, your Japanese Chin can reach anything from 10 – 12 years of age.

Heart Murmurs:

Murmurs come about because of a disturbance in the blood flow and which can produce an audible noise. If your dog's murmur is associated with structural heart disease, your dog may display signs of congestive heart failure and he'll be weak for instance and be coughing.

When your dog gets to the vet, the course of treatment will be determined on the type of heart murmur. Luckily puppies with low grade murmurs often grow out of it but if you have an adult dog, routine diagnostic imaging may be recommended by your vet.

Grooming:

Known as a low maintenance dog, the Lancashire Heeler’s short coat will require little grooming, just a good brush twice a week.

If your Heeler doesn’t wear his nails down naturally, they will need to be clipped as part of the grooming process. Ears should also be checked regularly. Excess wax and dirt can build up which can lead to an ear infection. This can drive your dog mad with frustration. Teeth also need to be brushed regularly.

Remember, if you feel guilty for not getting to grooming your pet, there are professional groomers at your local vet or who work independently and they will do all of this for you.

Exercise:

Your Lancashire Heeler is such a social, active little dog who is always willing to be counted in to all your fun and games. If you’re lucky to have a fair sized garden, involve him in some ball games, or use a rope for him to tug on while you pull the other side. Whenever you go for a walk, he will be thrilled to join you as he loves picking up all those new scents outside his garden.

Diet:

Nutritious food is important for longevity and health in a dog. Every dog has different dietary needs throughout their lives – when they’re puppies, when the female is pregnant, after they’ve been spayed or neutered, as a working dog, when they’re sick, when they’re old and so on.

There are some good dog brand foods to use, but you want to choose the best ones to ensure your dog gets all the vitamins and minerals needed as opposed to those that are packed with colorants, preservatives and fillers.

Home-made food is important too and some cooked chicken, cooked rice and raw or cooked vegetables can be added to his dry kibble from time to time. Don’t complicate your dog’s diet – just feed him plain, wholesome food like this with a little bit of raw meat added in occasionally. Simple, nutritious food will ensure he is energetic, bright eyed and happy. Make sure he always has fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

The Japanese Chin has a single coat, and a brush once or twice a week will keep the coat silky and untangled.

Check his ears for dirt and wax and try to wipe inside the ears, being very, very careful not to go deep into the ear to avoid damage.

Clip his nails and brush his teeth as small dogs are more prone to dental disease. Periodontal disease is preventable with dental cleaning. Dental disease starts when plaque sticks to the surface of the teeth. It hardens, spreads under the gum line and cause tissue damage. It also damages the immune system.

Exercise:

The Japanese Chin is an energetic dog and loves a game and a walk. It isn't the kind of dog that you will take on your hikes or swimming as it tends to huff and puff after a while from too much exercise, and more specifically in hot weather.

Diet:

Dog experts say that a grain-free food is best for this kind of dog. Kibble which comes with lean protein and with plenty of vitamins and minerals such as taurine and carnitine is recommended. They are good for the joints, coat, heart and eyes. Japanese Chins can be prone to heart- and eye problems and kibble rich in omega 3 fatty acids will be good for the Chin for many excellent reasons.

If you're in any way uncertain about what to feed your Japanese Chin, speak to your vet as the type of food you feed your pet will determine how healthy he will be. Always ensure he has access to fresh, cool water.