Japanese Terrier

Terrier Group

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

History

In the 17th Century, smooth-haired Fox Terriers were imported to Japan from the Netherlands. These dogs were bred with small pointers and native type dogs, and the Japanese Terrier eventually emerged, with type being set in the breed around 1930. The breed is kept mainly as a lap dog.

The Japanese Terrier was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2006.

General Appearance

The Japanese Terrier is a short coated, small sized, clean cut dog, with a smart appearance and a compact outline.

Characteristics

Lively and cheerful.

Head

SKULL

Flat and moderately narrow, with a moderate stop.

MUZZLE

The same length as the skull, with a straight nasal bridge and thin, tight lips. The cheeks are lean and free from fullness.

TEETH

The Japanese Terrier has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite.

Faults: Slightly overshot or undershot bite.
Disqualifications: Severely overshot or undershot bite.

NOSE

Black.

EYES

Moderately sized, oval in shape, and dark in color.

EARS

Set on high, fairly small and thin, V-shaped, and folding forward. Rose ears are also permitted.

Neck

Moderately long, strong and tapering, with a clean throat.

Forequarters

The shoulders slope gently.

FORELEGS

Straight, with moderate bone.

Body

The body is square in proportion. The chest is deep, but not too broad, with well sprung ribs. The withers are high and the back is short and firm. The loin is slightly arched and powerful. The belly is well tucked up.

Hindquarters

The thighs are long. There is moderate angulation at the stifle and the hock. The rear pasterns are vertical.

Feet

Tight, with elastic pads, and hard nails that are preferably dark in color.

Tail

Moderately thin, and generally docked at the third or fourth joint.

Coat

Short, smooth, dense and glossy.

Disqualification: Long hair.

Color

Tricolor; white with black spots; white with black or tan markings on the body.

Height

Height at the withers is 12-13 inches.

Gait

Light and agile.

Disqualifications

(A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered for placement in a conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.)
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Albinism.
Severely overshot or undershot bite.
Long hair.

The docking of tails and cropping of ears in America is legal and remains a personal choice. However, as an international registry, the United Kennel Club is aware that the practices of cropping and docking have been forbidden in some countries. In light of these developments, the United Kennel Club feels that no dog in any UKC event, including conformation, shall be penalized for a full tail or natural ears.