Origin: China
Height: 11-13 inches at
the shoulder
Weight: Under 10 pounds
Exercise Needs: Moderate
Grooming Needs: Moderate
for Hairless, High for Powderpuff
Life Expectancy: 10-12
years
Good With Kids: No
Trainability: Difficult
Common Misspellings: Chinesecrested,
Chinesecresteds
Alternate Names: Powderpuff Chinese Crested,
Hairless Chinese Crested, Hairless Dog, Chinese
Hairless, Chinese Ship Dog, Chinese Royal
Hairless, Chinese Edible Dog
No one is certain how, exactly, the Chinese
Crested came to be, but it’s widely accepted
that they have evolved from the hairless dogs of
Africa, which were commonly traded amongst
merchants and sailors hundreds of years ago.
Making port in cities throughout the world, the
influence of the hairless dog spread until the
Chinese chose to selectively breed it down into
a smaller, toy version of the original breed.
Records indicate that the Chinese Crested dog
could be found in various ports throughout
Africa, Asia, and both Central and South
America, as far back as the 1500’s.
Interesting to note is that, while the
Chinese Hairless dog acquired a following as far
back as the early 1900’s (it was a favorite of
Gypsy Rose Lee, famous stage personality), he
was not registered with the American Kennel Club
(AKC) until 1991. In addition to being known as
the Chinese Crested, he has also been called the
Chinese Hairless, the Chinese Ship Dog, the
Chinese Royal Hairless and the Chinese Edible
Dog.
The Chinese Crested can be found in two
distinct varieties, though both share similar
qualities of basic type: Ideally standing
between 11-13 inches tall at the shoulder, they
are a delicate and frail dog, in appearance, and
are known for their gracefulness. The hairless
variety is known only to sport hair on the head,
a ‘mane,’ not unlike a horse’s, down the back of
his neck, feathering on the legs and a plumed
tail while the rest of his body is hairless. The
powder puff variety, however, is fully haired
from head to toe. It is also important to note
that the hairless variety is notorious for tooth
problems, ranging from crooked or missing teeth,
to horrible decay.
The Chinese Crested can come in any color or
combination of colors, including apricot, black,
blue, chocolate, cream, palomino, slate, white
brown, pink, red, sable, silver, black white and
tan, black and tan, black and white, white and
black, white and chocolate, pink and chocolate,
pink and slate, or spotted varieties. In
addition, the Chinese Crested is also allowed to
have white markings. Producing less dander and
shedding less than many other breeds of dog, the
Chinese Hairless is considered a hypoallergenic
dog.
An adorable
Hairless Chinese Crested Dog
“Personality-plus” is a phrase that
best-suits these adorable little dogs. While
often noted for their “unique” appearances (they
are notorious for winning the title of “World’s
Ugliest Dog”), the Chinese Crested is well-known
for his happy-go-lucky, gay attitude. Very
affectionate and happy to be a part of the
family, these are wonderfully cheerful little
dogs that delight in being the center of
attention and, surprisingly, don’t mind all the
little jokes made at his expense. Due to the
fragility of this breed and their tendency to be
shy of loud noises, however, it’s important to
note that they do not make the best pets for
children and can be notoriously stubborn.
While a toy breed, the Chinese Crested still
enjoys a couple of brisk walks each day in order
to stay in trim, fit condition. The remainder of
their exercise can be earned through a bit of
couch wrestling or a rousing game of fetch the
ball down the hall. Provided they are taken out
for a couple of walks per day, the Chinese
Crested dog is ideally suited for apartment
styled living and makes an excellent companion
for a childless home or for a senior.
Caring for a Chinese Crested takes
dedication. When one owns the hairless variety,
they must pay close attention, not only to
brushing the haired parts of their dog, but also
to the dog’s skin. They must be protected from
extreme temperatures, guarded from risk of
sunburn or frostbite, and they must be bathed
and moisturized often. Meanwhile, those who have
the powder puff variety of the Chinese Crested
will discover that the coat needs almost daily
combing in order to remain in good condition and
free of mats. While well-suited for a person
with a lot of time on their hands, the Chinese
Crested is certainly not for everyone.
The Chinese Crested is a notoriously stubborn
little dog and is considered, by many trainers,
to be one of the hardest to work with. To say
that they have a mind of their own is to put it
mildly and the Chinese Hairless is also known
for being very difficult to housebreak.
Crate-training is a must and, at the very least,
it’s highly suggested that the Chinese Crested
dog at least have some basic obedience training.
Starting them in puppy kindergarten classes is
highly recommended.
Additionally, this breed should also be
supervised when in a back yard setting. They are
reputed to be capable of scaling fences with
ease and, if they can’t get over the top, are
just as apt to dig a hole under the fence,
making them incredible escape artists. In order
to keep your dog safe, he should always be taken
outside on a leash, rather than allowed to
freely run.
Like any breed of dog, the Chinese Crested
Dog is subject to a variety of health concerns.
Your best bet is, when deciding to choose a new
Chinese Crested Dog puppy, check around with
several breeders and ask about the various
health issues that can affect these beautiful
little dogs. A reputable breeder should be
well-versed in the health concerns and should be
able to give you more details, as well as
showing you the sire and dam of your potential
puppy. Some of the health problems that can
affect Chinese Crested Dogs include:
- Allergies to wool and lanolin
- Acne
- Patellar luxation
- Legges-Perthe
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
- Dental problems and bad breath
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The Chinese Crested is somewhat of a princess
when it comes to dogs, and can tend to be rather
high maintenance when compared to other breeds.
Behavioral problems such as shyness and canine
separation anxiety are common, as well as the
dog’s notorious stubborn streak making them one
of the most difficult to housebreak and train.
Again, it is also important to note that this
breed is not well suited for people who have
children or larger dogs, as this breed is very
fragile and easily injured.
Fans of the Chinese Crested will tell you
that all of the work is well-worth it, however
and, for the right person, the Chinese Crested
is a wonderful little companion with a winning
personality.
There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Chinese Crested Dog breed. We've compiled a list of
Chinese Crested Dog information sites to assist you in quickly
locating quality information about the Chinese Crested Dog breed,
while avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor
attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general.
If you know of a Chinese Crested Dog information site that offers
unique, quality information and photos of the Chinese Crested Dog
breed, please contact us with the URL and a brief description so
that our editors can consider it for inclusion in our list below.
Chinese Crested Dogs are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking
at Chinese Crested Dog pictures, you can usually gain more insight
into what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can
help you decide if you really want to become a Chinese Crested Dog
owner. The following sites below offer pictures of Chinese Crested
Dogs, Chinese Crested Dog puppy photos, funny Chinese Crested Dog
photos and more. Enjoy!
Now that you have decided that the Chinese Crested Dog is the right
breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a
responsible Chinese Crested Dog breeder from which to buy a healthy,
well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good
breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first
Chinese Crested Dog puppy you find at the cheapest price available!
To buy a puppy from a responsible Chinese Crested Dog breeder, you
may need to pay more and wait longer. The additional money and
waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a
newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely
also purchase a great deal of additional expense and heartache,
since you may end up falling in love with a puppy with health and
behavioral problems that will likely need special care, plenty of
veterinary visits, regular medication - or even euthanasia.
Do your homework and find a responsible, caring Chinese Crested Dog
breeder who home-raises their puppies with love, screens their
breeding dogs for health problems, offers a health guarantee and
post sale support. Choose a breeder who genuinely loves the Chinese
Crested Dog breed and is in it for the love of the breed, rather
than profit, and you can be well assured of getting a healthy,
happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that will
provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter and
companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we very highly
recommend. These sites endeavor to screen advertisers to ensure that
the breeders listed are responsible and sell only healthy,
home-raised Chinese Crested Dog puppies to carefully screened
buyers. Beware: there are many, many sites now online that advertise
dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy mills and backyard
breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of these resources in
favor of sites that are more selective in the breeders whom they
allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Chinese Crested Dog clubs and rescues web sites can help you
learn even more about the Chinese Crested Dog breed, help you locate
a responsible Chinese Crested Dog breeder, or help you find a
Chinese Crested Dog or puppy from a rescue, in need of a second
chance for a loving, forever home. We've compiled the following list
of Chinese Crested Dog clubs and Chinese Crested Dog rescues web
sites for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your Chinese Crested Dog puppy can be a
daunting task! There are so many names to choose from that it can
take a lot of thought and research to find just the right name for
your Chinese Crested Dog. Usually, it's best to get to know your
puppy for a few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will
help you decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a
sense of humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to
one side? A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new
Chinese Crested Dog puppy over the first days or weeks, you should
at least have a clue about what type of name you want to give. There
are a ton of dog names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some
are wonderful information resources, while others, unfortunately,
are just "garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in
on visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Chinese Crested Dog puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
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