AVS Licensed Pet Shop in Balestier
Japanese Chin Puppies for Sale in Singapore
5.0 from 41 Google reviews
The quietest dog we carry, and quite possibly the most cat-like dog in existence. Japanese Chin quotes in Singapore run $3,000 to $6,000 when a litter appears; ours are $3,288 to $4,488, with the $500+ starter kit, free home delivery and setup, and a free first training lesson already in the price.
From $3,288 all-in. HDB-approved. No add-ons quietly billed later.
- AVS licensed · AS24J00046
- 41 five-star reviews
- HDB-approved quiet breed
Japanese Chin
No Japanese Chin puppies in stock today
Contact us for the latest Japanese Chin availability
Japanese Chin litters at our Balestier shop are small and usually reserved within days — often before this page catches up. Tell us what you're after and we'll WhatsApp you current photos, prices and timing for the next Japanese Chin puppies, plus similar breeds available now.
Looking to Buy a Japanese Chin in Singapore?
The Japanese Chin is one of the rarest breeds we carry: litters are intermittent and usually spoken for early, so we update this list as puppies are reserved and confirm what is still available on WhatsApp. As an AVS licensed pet shop in Singapore, we'll send you photos, gender, age, colour, and a short walkthrough video for any Chin puppies available now, or tell you honestly when the next litter is expected.
Unlike most listings you'll compare us against, we tell you the number upfront: every Japanese Chin for sale in Singapore here is between $3,288 and $4,488, and what you see is the full price. Book a puppy viewing appointment at our Balestier shop to meet them in person, or after you reserve with a deposit we board your puppy for free, food and lodging covered, until your home is ready.
Ask for current Japanese Chin photos and prices, or meet our Chin puppies at our Balestier pet shop in person, with free home delivery in Singapore once you reserve.
What is a Japanese Chin?
The Japanese Chin is an ancient toy companion of roughly 2 to 4.5 kg, bred to grace Japanese imperial courts, where it was considered less a dog than a small work of art. It carries a silky single coat, a flat face, and the most famously cat-like temperament in dogs: quiet, graceful, self-grooming and independently devoted, with a lifespan of 12 to 14 years.
Curious Tails is an AVS licensed pet shop at 2 Balestier Road. We match by lifestyle first, and the Chin suits a specific home beautifully: quiet adults, working households with a cool room, and, genuinely, homes that already have a cat.
Verify our licence on the AVS public registryJapanese Chin at a glance
- Imperial Japan's living work of art
- Roughly 2 to 4.5 kg fully grown
- The most cat-like temperament in dogs
- The quietest breed we carry
- 12 to 14 year lifespan
Sizes vary by line; ask us about a specific puppy's expected adult weight.
Why Singapore families get their Chin from Curious Tails
- five-star Google reviews
- 41
- Chin pricing starts here, all-in
- $3,288
- starter kit included free
- $500+
- years in Balestier
- 2+
five-star Google reviews
Chin pricing starts here, all-in
starter kit included free
years in Balestier
Chin Temperament: The Cat-Like Label, Decoded
Every breed guide calls the Chin cat-like and then moves on; here's what the label actually means at home. Your Chin will climb: sofa backs, window perches, anywhere with a view and elevation. It will groom itself, washing its face with a paw so convincingly that first-time owners film it. It will spend most of the day in graceful, near-silent self-possession, and it will love you on its own initiative, arriving for affection rather than begging for it. The famous "Chin spin", a delighted pirouette when happy, is its one flamboyance.
The honest part, from two years of matching toys to households: this temperament suits some homes perfectly and puzzles others. Quiet adults and gentle routines get an exquisite companion; households wanting a fetch-mad, eager-to-please people-pleaser should look at the Papillon instead. And with boisterous toddlers we say no plainly: at 2 to 4.5 kg with prominent eyes, the Chin is built for admiration, not wrestling.
Can a Chin Be Left Alone During Work Hours?
Yes, and better than almost anything else in the toy group. The cat-like independence is genuine: a Chin treats a quiet weekday as personal time, naps on its chosen perch, and greets your return with composed delight rather than desperate relief. For working households that want a toy companion without separation drama, this breed is the quiet answer.
The one non-negotiable is temperature: a flat-faced dog must spend the day in a cool, ventilated room, fan or aircon through the afternoon, water everywhere. That's the deal with every short-muzzled breed here.
Good fit if
- Quiet adult household, calm routines
- Working household with a cool room
- You have, or love, cats
Chin Size, Coat and Lifespan
Honest numbers for the imperial miniature.
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Adult weight | Roughly 2 to 4.5 kg; fine-boned and feather-light |
| Height | Around 20 to 27 cm at the shoulder |
| Coat | Silky, straight single coat; black & white is classic, plus red & white and sable & white |
| Lifespan | 12 to 14 years with good care |
| Exercise | About 20 to 30 minutes of gentle walking a day, in the cool hours, plus indoor play |
| Shedding & allergies | Moderate single-coat shedding; middle of the pack for allergy-conscious homes |
A note on names: older references, including the HDB list, call this breed the Japanese Spaniel; same dog, same elegance. If you love the size but want maximum trainability instead of maximum composure, the Chihuahua and Papillon flank it on our shelf.
Japanese Chin Price in Singapore: What You'll Pay and What's Included
Most shops make you WhatsApp them just to learn the number, when they have the breed at all. Here's ours in writing: $3,288 to $4,488, all-in.
Typical Singapore market
- Chin quotes commonly $3,000 to $6,000 when available
- Rare locally; long gaps between litters
- Price usually not published; enquiry required
- Starter supplies, training and delivery charged separately
Curious Tails
- $3,288 to $4,488, printed right here
- $500+ starter kit with 30+ items included
- Free home delivery with the playpen set up before you arrive
- Free first lesson with an AVS-certified trainer, plus free boarding after deposit
Why is our price printed? We don't carry the marketing spend the bigger names do, and we'd rather win on value and word of mouth. Compare the full picture on our transparent puppy pricing page, and plan the ongoing costs with the first-year puppy budget guide.
The $500+ Starter Kit Every Chin Goes Home With
Every Japanese Chin leaves us with a starter kit worth $500 and up: more than 30 items across eight categories, a playpen, a carrier, grooming tools, small-breed puppy food, outdoor gear, toilet training supplies, oral health care, and toys. For this breed the harness is non-negotiable, no flat-faced throat should take leash pressure, and the wet wipes serve the daily check those large, expressive eyes deserve.
On delivery day, Nelson or Kim walks you through every item: how to use it, and how it fits into your Chin's daily care. Most of the questions new owners would otherwise ask later are answered before we leave your home.
See the full 30+ item kit breakdown, category by category.
Is a Japanese Chin Right for Your Lifestyle?
We ask about your routine before recommending any breed. Here's the honest short version for a Chin.
| Your situation | Our honest take |
|---|---|
| Quiet adults wanting an elegant, low-noise companion | Ideal. The Chin's natural court, minus the emperor |
| Working household with a cool room | Great fit. Cat-like independence handles alone time with composure |
| Noise-sensitive block or light sleepers | Ideal. The quietest breed on the HDB-approved list |
| Home with a cat | Genuinely good fit. Many Chins and cats become perch-sharing allies |
| Boisterous toddlers or midday-outdoor lifestyle | Reconsider. Fine bones, prominent eyes and a flat face all argue otherwise |
Not sure the Chin is your match?
We'd rather talk you out of the wrong breed than sell you the wrong dog. Message us your daily routine and we'll tell you straight.
Japanese Chin vs Pekingese: Two Imperial Toys
Both breeds graced Asian imperial courts, both wear flat faces, and both nap like it's a royal duty, so the cross-shopping is natural. The honest differences: the Chin is lighter (2 to 4.5 kg against the Peke's 3 to 6), dramatically easier to groom (silky single coat versus the Peke's mane), quieter still, and cat-agile where the Peke is stately. The Pekingese counters with more substance, more coat drama, and arguably more gravitas per kilogram.
Both carry the same tropical heat rules and the same one-person-household charm. Pick by coat appetite and whether you want your aristocrat stately or acrobatic. With us the price, the starter kit, and the aftercare are identical either way.
Message us your routine and we'll tell you which imperial toy actually fits it.
Quick comparison
- Chin: lighter, quieter, cat-agile, easy coat
- Pekingese: more substance, more mane, more gravitas
- Same price, same starter kit, same aftercare either way
Keeping a Japanese Chin in an HDB flat
The Japanese Chin is named on the HDB-approved breed list (as the Japanese Spaniel in older listings), so you can keep one in an HDB flat. HDB allows one dog of an approved breed per flat, and the Chin's near-silence makes it one of the most neighbour-friendly dogs on the entire list. Every Chin we place has its dog licensing completed at purchase.
Is a Japanese Chin HDB-approved? Yes, by name on the list, and if corridor noise is your worry, no approved breed worries less. Mind the one-dog-per-flat rule, and if you already have a dog, message us first.
Read HDB's guidelines on keeping petsThe rules in brief
- The Japanese Chin is named on the HDB-approved breed list
- One dog of an approved breed per HDB flat (AVS limits of ownership)
- Condo and landed homes: up to three dogs, subject to your estate's own pet rules
Source: AVS limits of ownership
Grooming: Silk Without the Workload
The Chin's coat looks like a commitment and isn't, which is the pleasant surprise of the breed. It's a single coat with no undercoat: brush twice a week, watch the trousers and ear fringes for the occasional tangle, and it dries quickly after rainy-day walks. There's no mandatory salon schedule, though many owners book a tidy-up every couple of months. The dog itself does some of the work, that self-grooming habit is real.
The daily ten-second habit is the eyes: large, prominent, and the breed's most delicate feature, they deserve a gentle wipe and a quick check every day. Anything squinty or weepy gets a vet look the same week. The wipes are in your starter kit.
Chin Health: What We Check Before You Take One Home
Every Chin goes home vet-checked, vaccinated, dewormed, and microchipped. The Chin health points worth knowing: the flat face brings mild brachycephalic traits, so soft snoring is standard equipment but laboured breathing after gentle activity is a vet visit; the prominent eyes scratch more easily than most breeds' and get the daily check above; heart murmurs appear in some lines in later life, worth including in the annual vet listen from middle age; and patellar luxation, the standard small-breed kneecap issue.
Feeding is simple: your puppy comes with the food it is already eating, and any change should be gradual over a week. Keep the Chin lean; extra weight loads a short airway. See the puppy health checks explained guide.
Living Flat-Faced in Singapore: The Heat Rules
The Chin wears a milder version of the flat face than a Pug, and the rules don't soften with it, because Singapore doesn't. Dogs cool themselves by panting; a short-muzzled dog pants inefficiently, and our island sits at 30-plus degrees with tropical humidity most of the year.
The rules: walks before 9am or after 6pm, gentle ones, which suits this breed's appetite anyway; shade and water on every outing; a cool, ventilated room through the afternoon; and know the emergency signs: relentless heavy panting, a very dark red tongue, wobbliness. Cool water on the body, aircon, and the vet, in that order.
The heat rules
- Gentle walks, cool hours only
- Fan or aircon through the afternoon
- Keep it lean; weight loads the airway
Your Chin's First Week at Home
Day 0: we deliver, free, at a time that suits you, usually morning or evening. The playpen, bed, water, and toys are set up before your Chin surveys the room, and we walk you through all 30+ starter-kit items in person. Learn more about how our free home delivery and setup works.
Days 1 to 3: keep it calm, cool and unhurried. A fixed feeding routine, the toilet pads where we placed them, gentle handling, and no pressure; the Chin settles on its own schedule and rewards patience with early trust.
Days 4 to 7: the routine sticks, the first perch is claimed, and, if you're lucky, the first Chin spin debuts. Book your free first lesson with an AVS-certified trainer this week; see what the free AVS-certified training lesson covers.
What Curious Tails Owners Say
41 Google reviews, 5.0 average, and counting.
Read more about Nelson and Kim and how the shop runs, or see all reviews on Google.
Free Training, Free Boarding and Real Aftercare
The price includes a free first lesson with an AVS-Accredited Certified Dog Trainer, free boarding after your deposit until you're ready, and free ongoing customer service for care questions after the sale.
And the safety net we're asked about most: if your Chin falls sick within the first 5 days of going home, bring them back to the shop and we'll nurse them ourselves.
Included, no add-on
- Free first lesson, AVS-Accredited Certified Dog Trainer
- Free boarding after deposit, until you're ready
- 5-day sick-return guarantee
Buying safely: verify any pet shop's AVS licence first
Before any deposit on a Japanese Chin, search the seller on the AVS public registry of licensed pet shops. A seller who is not on it is not licensed, whatever the listing claims.
Curious Tails holds AVS pet shop licence AS24J00046. Check us first; an honest shop won't mind, and a genuine seller never will. A breed this rare attracts grey-market imports, and puppies sold outside licensed channels are often smuggled without vaccination; buyers have been fined $7,000 for unknowingly purchasing one.
Search the AVS public registryBefore you pay anyone
- Search the seller on the AVS public registry
- Ask for the licence number; check it matches
Full walkthrough: step-by-step licence verification guide · SPCA on animal smuggling
Japanese Chin FAQs
How much does a Japanese Chin cost in Singapore?
Japanese Chin quotes in Singapore commonly run $3,000 to $6,000 when a litter appears at all, because the breed is genuinely rare here. At Curious Tails, Japanese Chin puppies are $3,288 to $4,488, and that price already includes the $500+ starter kit, free home delivery and setup, and a free first training lesson with an AVS-certified trainer.
Is a Japanese Chin HDB-approved?
Yes. The Japanese Chin is named on the HDB-approved breed list (historically as the Japanese Spaniel), so you can keep one in an HDB flat, and its near-silence makes it one of the most neighbour-friendly choices on the entire list. We complete the dog licensing for you at purchase.
Do Japanese Chins bark?
Barely, and it is the breed's flat-living superpower. The Chin is the quietest breed we carry: it may murmur at genuine events, but the corridor commentary that needs training out of most toy breeds simply is not in this one. For noise-sensitive blocks and light-sleeping households, that is worth more than any other trait on this page.
Can a Japanese Chin be left alone while we are at work?
Yes, better than almost any toy breed, thanks to the famous cat-like independence: a Chin treats a quiet weekday as personal time, not abandonment. The one condition is temperature, because this is a flat-faced breed: the room it spends the day in must stay cool and ventilated, with water always available.
Why is the Japanese Chin called cat-like?
Because the label is literal. Chins climb to sofa backs and window perches, wash their faces with their paws, keep themselves remarkably clean, move with a cat's grace, and love their people on their own initiative rather than by neediness. Many Chins even live happily with actual cats, who seem to recognise the kinship.
How does a flat-faced Chin cope with Singapore heat?
With the same rules as every short-muzzled breed: walks in the early morning or evening only, never midday; shade and water on every outing; and a cool, ventilated room through the afternoon. The Chin's modest exercise needs make the rules easy to live by, but they are rules, not suggestions.
What happens after I reserve a Japanese Chin?
You place a deposit, and we board your puppy for free, food and lodging covered, until you're ready. Delivery is scheduled around your availability, and we set up the playpen and walk you through all 30+ starter-kit items before we leave.
Still comparing? See see who is ready to go home, or our breed catalogue.
Visit or message us
Meet Our Japanese Chins at Balestier
2 Balestier Road #01-701 S320002 Singapore
Weekdays 12pm–6pm, Weekends 10am–6pm
Can't make the trip? WhatsApp us for current Japanese Chin photos and prices, with free home delivery across Singapore.
Still weighing your options?
Take the two-minute breed selector, matched to your actual routine and home.