Also known as the Nippon Terrier, Nihon Teria, Nihon Terrier, Kobe Terrier, Mikado Terrier, Oyuki Terrier, and the Snow Terrier, the Japanese Terrier is an intelligent and energetic breed. But how do you know whether you are ready to purchase a pet and if this breed is right for you? This information is absolutely necessary in making the decision to purchase a pet.
History
The exact origin of the Japanese Terrier has not been well documented. Enthusiasts believe these dogs to have descended from such breeds as the Fox Terrier, Rat Terrier, and various Pointer breeds, though this has never been proven scientifically or otherwise.
Throughout its history, the Japanese Terrier has been most commonly used for hunting and killing small vermin such as rats, and as a companion, proving its superior abilities to entertain while providing friendship.
Today, while the Japanese Terrier has attained a regional popularity as a working and companion dog, the breed remains extremely rare outside of its native Japan.
Personality Traits
Best known for its spunky and lively nature, the Japanese Terrier is full of character. These dogs thrive on strong and dependable relationships with humans, and love to play the role of clown and lap dog alike. This breed is very intelligent and generally easy to train. As a pet, the Japanese Terrier is obedient, loyal, loving, and affectionate. These dogs adapt well to full-time indoor and apartment living, yet they still enjoy spending time outdoors, playing games such as fetch and frisbee, and taking long walks.
Train-ability
Due to its need for human relationships and eagerness to please and impress its owner, the Japanese Terrier generally responds well to basic training and commands. This bright breed has the ability to learn to perform most any task its trainer is willing to take the time to teach.
Establishing immediate trust and respect is key to successfully training the Japanese Terrier. These dogs respond best to a confident, patient, and caring handler with a stern yet gentle approach to repetitive exercises and tasks.
Benefits and Disadvantages of the Breed
There are many benefits to owning a Japanese Terrier, such as its no hassle, low maintenance coat. This active breed is always on the move, and often quite amusing and entertaining to watch while at play. These dogs are very intelligent, easy to train, and capable of learning to perform many impressive tricks and tasks. When properly socialized from a young age, the Japanese Terrier gets along well with small children and other pets, known for making friends quickly due to its social and outgoing nature. The Japanese Terrier is obedient, loyal, loving, and affectionate, making an excellent working dog, family pet, and companion alike.
Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages to owning a Japanese Terrier. While these dogs adapt well to indoor and apartment living, they do require large amounts of daily exercise and room to run and play. Anyone wishing to purchase this breed lacking the adequate amount of time and space to dedicate to the dog is strongly advised against doing so. A Japanese Terrier not receiving the proper amount of exercise and space will often act out by destroying property, chewing, digging, barking, whining, and ignoring basic training such as housebreaking.
The Japanese Terrier has a strong instinct to hunt and will occasionally indulge in a good chase. When on the run, these small dogs are surprisingly quick, and may pose a threat to other animals, neighborhood pets, and small woodland creatures. These dogs must be leashed or properly secured at all times when outdoors.
Like many companion breeds, the Japanese Terrier is known to suffer from separation anxiety. Individuals seeking to purchase this breed who travel frequently, have full-time work, or are away from the home on a daily basis are advised to begin researching another breed. During an attack of separation anxiety, the Japanese Terrier will act out of nervous destruction and may destroy property, chew, dig, bark, whine, and ignore housebreaking training.
As previously mentioned, the Japanese Terrier remains rather rare outside of its native Japan and can prove difficult to obtain. Individuals wishing to purchase this breed often encounter such challenges as inability to locate a breeder, extremely high prices, and being placed on long waiting lists.
Common Health Concerns
While the Japanese Terrier is typically known as a healthy and hearty breed, they do suffer from a few health problems, including: hip dysplasia, patellar luxation – dislocation of the knee, epilepsy, entropian – folding inward of the eye lid, ectropian – folding outward of the eye lid, sensitivity to temperatures, and various dental issues.
Now that you know all about the breed, do you think you are ready to own a Japanese Terrier? Remember, purchasing a pet is a big decision and should be discussed thoroughly are seriously with your entire family.
Sources:
http://www.heydogs.com/j/japanese-terrier.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/japanese_terrier
