Chinese Crested

Happy, never vicious

The Chinese Crested Dog comes in two varieties - the Hairless and the Powder Puff. The ?Hairless? have a crest of hair on their head extending part way down their neck, ?socks? covering their toes, and a plume on their tail. The rest of their body is, as their name implies, hairless. The ?Powder Puff? variety is covered entirely with a veil of long soft hair. While it is difficult to pinpoint their origin, it is said that they were owned by families of the Han Dynasty of China. The Chinese Cresteds were developed at this time as guardians of the treasure houses and, in a larger, heavier form, as hunting dogs. They were seen at shows in America from 1885 to 1926 but then were rarely ever seen for some fifty years.

The crested enjoys a romp outside, but she hates the cold. She is small enough that she can get sufficient exercise with vigorous inside games. Hairless varieties will need a sweater for cold-weather outings. This is not a breed for outdoor living. Chinese crested dogs are gifted jumpers and some climb. Coat care for the powder-puff variety entails brushing every day or two. The muzzle is usually shaved every two weeks in puffs. The hairless needs regular skin care, such as the application of moisturizer or sunblock, and bathing to combat blackheads.

The Chinese Crested does very well in apartment life and would do just fine without a fenced yard. Regular play sessions would be sufficient for this breed. When outdoors, this breed must always be protected from harsh sun, or cold weather.

Attention, protection from sunburn and from cold weather, skin care and socialization.

The Chinese Crested is very clean and has virtually no odor at all. The Hairless variety should always be protected from the cold and the sun. Using a sunscreen will protect this breed's sensitive skin from sunburn. The Powderpuff needs daily brushing and trimming to keep the coat clean and free of matting. This breed sheds little to no hair.

It is an intelligent dog, it easily understands what is required, therefore it is not hard to train.

The skin of the dogs without fur should be carefully groomed to remain slender and hydrated, to avoid its drying. Different lotions and creams are used in this direction. Also, the dog should not be exposed too much at sun because it has a sensitive skin and it can burn itself. Protection creams may be used. The fur from the Powder Puff variety should be regularly brushed and frequently washed. The hair on the face is usually cut in a specific way, characteristic to the breed.

This happy little dog likes to climb. Some like to dig. A healthy and hearty dog. The Chinese Crested is very clean, with no doggy odor and he is not prone to fleas or ticks. Hairless skin feels warmer to the touch than furred skin, but the body temperatu