Jatzu | Dog Breed Facts and Information - Wag! Dog Walking (2024)

Jatzu Health

The Jatzu is a hybrid dog, a cross between two very smallcanines that have been favored as companions by the royal and noble families ofthe Asian continent for several centuries, the Japanese Chin and the Shih-Tzu.The Shih-Tzu is a very old breed and we can’t be certain of which breeds werethe ancestors of this little lively little companion, though most expertsbelieve that they are the result of crossing Tibetan Lhasa Apso breed dogs witha small Chinese breed such as the Pekingese. These friendly and outgoing littledogs were frequently seen at court as far back as the Tang dynasty, from 618 to907 AD, but it was during the Ming dynasty, which lasted from 1368 to 1644, thatthey gained popularity with the common people as well. The origins of the JapaneseChin breed have also been obscured by the passage of time. Even the meaningbehind the name Japanese Chin is debatable; with some experts believing thatthe Chin in Japanese Chin indicates that they were originally developed inChina, while others maintain that Chin means cat-like, in reference to itssmall size and its climbing ability. Both breeds were distributed worldwideduring the mid-1800s and early 1900s whenthey were given as gifts to visiting royal families, dignitaries, and certainexpeditionary forces. The Japanese Chin was recognized as the Japanese Spanielin 1888, with an official name change to the Japanese Chin in 1977, while theShih-Tzu wasn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club until 1969.

Jatzu Breed Appearance

This hybrid is a small, portable dog with a luxurious, silkycoat of hair which can be either long or medium in length. Jatzuscome in many different colors, although combinations of apricot, black, brown, cream, and golden seem to be fairly common. Thebody of the Jatzu dog is typically fairly square in proportion, although someof the hybrids will inherit the longer back of the Shih-Tzu dog, and theirabundantly feathered tails are carried high in a curve over the animal’s back. Thehead is typically broad, with either a flat skull like the Chin or a roundedskull like the Shih-Tzu, with a short, square muzzle. Those that favor theShih-Tzu in appearance will generally have a wider muzzle than those that moreclosely reflect their Japanese Chin heritage. They sport dark, round eyes thatare expressive and wide-set, as well as heavily furred ears that are placed lowon the skull and hang down to the sides.

Jatzu Breed Maintenance

Depending on the coat qualities that the Jatzu inherits,they may have fairly extensive grooming requirements or they may require only amodest daily time commitment. Both parent breeds should receive baths everythree to four weeks, as should the Jatzu. The Japanese Chin has a single-layer,medium-length coat with a silky texture and the Shih-Tzu has a double-layercoat comprised of a short, soft undercoat and a layer of long, straight, silkyhair that is prone to tangling. The Jatzu with a coat that resembles the shorter Japanese Chin coat istypically the least complicated to groom, but it still requires brushing andcombing several times to remove any tangles or mats. The longer, double-layercoat of the Shih-Tzu is even more prone to tangling than the coat of theJapanese Chin and either requires clipping the coat short or a time-consuming dailygrooming routine. Both the Japanese Chin and the Shih-Tzu breeds tend to shedless than other dogs and have been classified as hypoallergenic and Jatzu dogsshare this classification.

Jatzu Temperament

This dog is a combination of two dogs that were specificallybred to be polite and pleasing companions and they are generally very sweet-natureddogs that love to cuddle and play. This crossbreed is typically quiteintelligent and responsive, making them an extremely trainable canine in mostcases. Both parent breeds occasionally show an independent or stubborn streak,and short, cheerful training sessions will produce the best results. Dogs ofthe Shih-Tzu breed can be notoriously difficult to housetrain and they may passdifficulty down to the Jatzu as well. Although Jatzu dogs are usually peacefulwith most people and other animals, very young or overly enthusiastic childrenmay overwhelm them and they have a low tolerance for mischief. Any interactionswith children should be closely monitored, for the both the child’s safety andthe canine’s. Socialization is particularly important for toy-sized canineslike the Jatzu as they can become anxious and even timid if this is neglected. Dogs the size of the Jatzu hybrid should never be left alone outside as they may fallprey to misadventure or predatory wildlife if left unattended, even in therelative safety of a fenced in backyard.

Jatzu Activity Requirements

Although this little canine tends to be lively andenergetic, it is generally able to expend that energy with a relatively smalleffort on your part. While this crossbreed will certainly enjoy short walksaround the neighborhood, they do best if they are given short breaks aboutevery twenty minutes or so. It is particularly important to remember that ifyour hybrid has just a single layer of hair it may be more susceptible to coldtemperatures and if you live in a colder climate, sweaters and jackets designedfor your canine companion are likely to be a good investment, and their short,wide muzzle may make them more susceptible to overheating so exercise shouldn’tbe too strenuous in warmer weather. Puzzles and toys designed for dogs and games of hide-a-treat can help keep the Jatzu’s sharp and active mind occupied and theyusually make pleasant roommates even in smaller spaces.

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