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A slender, fine-boned toy breed, the Chinese Crested is believed to have descended from African hairless dogs. For centuries, the breed accompanied Chinese sailors on the high seas, and sailors frequently traded puppies with local merchants at port cities around the world. Elegant and graceful, the Chinese Crested is a lively dog that makes a playful, loving companion. The breed comes in two coat varieties — hairless and powderpuff — both which shed little to no hair.
DID YOU KNOW? Chinese Crested dogs have made appearances in several popular films and television shows. They include: “Krull” from “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” “Fluffy,” who was Cruella DeVille's dog in “102 Dalmatians,” and “Halston” from the sitcom “Ugly Betty.”
ALSO KNOWN AS: Powder Puff, The Hairless
| Lifespan: | 13 – 15 years |
| Weight: | 2.3 – 5.4kg |
| Height: | 23 – 33cm |
| Colours: | Any colour or combination of colours is accepted |
| Size: | Small |
| UK Kennel Club Groups: | Toy |
| Family-friendly: | 4/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 2/5 |
| Easy to train: | 4/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 1/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 4/5 |
| Energy level: | 2/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 2/5 |
| Shedding: | 2/5 |
Described as ‘happy-go-lucky’ and playful, the Chinese Crested thrives on human company, and fulfils the companion dog role excellently – never happier than when on a loved one’s lap.
Bright and intelligent, the Chinese Crested can be trained to a high standard or simply kept entertained and mentally stimulated learning tricks and basic obedience.
Country of Origin: China
The origins of the Chinese Crested dog are unclear, and much debated. It is thought that their ancestors came from Africa, and moved east to Asia, travelling with sailors as useful ships dogs, and eventually spreading to the Americas.
It is quite likely that these unusual and attractive little dogs appealed to wealthy, influential royals and nobility wherever they went, and would have been gifted and traded as many dog breeds have been.
One of the earliest portrayals of the Chinese Crested dog is in Robert Plot’s ‘Natural History of Staffordshire – 1686, with a description and illustration that is almost identical to the modern Chinese Crested.
The Chinese Crested can be predisposed to skin complaints and sun burn. Like other small breeds they can suffer from kneecaps that may temporarily slip out of place (luxating patellas), and as with many breeds hereditary eye disorders can occur and so eye testing is recommended.
The breed club monitor the health of the breed carefully and should be contacted for the most up-to-date information and details of any DNA or additional testing they recommend. Breed Clubs can be found on the Kennel Club website.
Thirty minutes exercise a day should be the minimum, although a fit, young Crested is capable of more. Be aware this is a dog who will feel the cold and won’t appreciate wet or windy weather much so you have to time your walks well – and invest in a dog coat for the winter. Several short walks round a variety of routes, plus some mental stimulation in the form of training and games will keep them happy and fulfilled.
This is a small dog who doesn’t take up much space, as long as you can provide a warm home and secure garden, with access to a variety of walks, this is a dog who can be happy anywhere their people are.
Toy dogs have a fast metabolism, meaning they burn energy at a high rate, although their small stomachs mean that they must eat little and often. Small-breed foods are specifically designed with appropriate levels of key nutrients and smaller kibble sizes to suit smaller mouths. This also encourages chewing and improves digestion.
The Powderpuff's long coat will need grooming once or twice a week. The Hairless variety needs its tail, socks and crest to be groomed; the skin will need to be moisturised if it becomes dry and will need protection from the sun to prevent burning. Be aware that the hairless gene is associated with poor dentition and it is not uncommon for teeth to be missing in the non-coated variety.
The Chinese Crested may be small, but they are not lacking in intelligence! They are easy to train using positive reinforcement and the Crestie is capable of learning anything a dog of that size can learn! A Chinese Crested will be kept happy with a variety of activities suited to their size, including games, puzzles and trick training, but there is no reason a Chinese Crested couldn’t compete in agility, obedience or many of the other dog sports.
The Chinese Crested is a small and quite delicate dog and whilst they can make an excellent family pet, they can be a little too delicate for boisterous family life. With this in mind, the Crested is probably better with slightly older children, and a family who are at home most of the time. As a companion breed, the Crestie does not do well alone for very long, and must be trained to cope with short periods of human absence.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
