Chinese Crested – Small Dog Breeds

Hairless or powderpuff, this toy breed is suitable for apartments with a stubborn but lively personality

Chinese Crested Spotlight

Adapts to living in an apartment or condo
Friendly and happy dog
Affectionate and loving towards his or her family
Needs to have his or her skin moisturized and protected
Stubborn at times
Easy to train
Highly intelligent and eager to please
Comes with or without fur

History

The Chinese Crested breed is not truly from China like some people may believe due to the name. In fact, this breed actually comes from Mexico or Africa although the exact origin is unknown. The breed was actually much larger than it is now until the Chinese reduced its size. It is believed that the Chinese Crested breed sailed over the high seas with Chinese sailors back in the 1500s.

By the time the 19th century rolled around, this breed was founded in many different pictures and paintings. Prior to being given the name Chinese Crested, this breed was called the Chinese ship dog, Chinese edible dog, and Chinese hairless dog.

The reason this dog was bred was because it was great at ratting and this came handy when on boats. The Chinese thought that this dog had magical healing powers and would attempt to use them as heating pads. The Chinese Crested was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991.

Personality & Temperament

The Chinese Crested is a happy ball of energy that likes to be a companion and will provide you with all of the kisses and snuggles that you can handle. You will find this little guy curled up in your lap.

This breed is considered to be highly intelligent and many dog owners misunderstand how intelligent they actually are. You must be sensitive to their needs, otherwise, they may not train well for you and they may not attach as easily to you.

The Chinese Crested does bark a lot and you will find that he or she will alert you when there is a stranger outside. This does not mean that the breed is aggressive and he or she is quite friendly with strangers. You will also find that this breed loves children and gets along well with others in the house.

The temperament of your Chinese Crested will depend on you and also on early socialization. If you do not properly socialize your puppy, you may find that your Chinese Crested is shy, timid, and afraid of other people.

Appearance & Grooming

The Chinese Crested is not a large dog by any means and only stands about 11 to 13 inches in height and weighs up to a max of 12 pounds. There are many different colors and variations of this breed to include lavender, mahogany, copper, and blue. You may also find variations that include a solid color or spotted pattern.

The Chinese Crested is completely hairless except for hair on the tail, head, and feet. If there is any hair on the body, it needs to be shaved to help protect your pup’s body. It is important to make sure that you properly care for your Chinese Crested skin as it can burn and dry out. You will need to bathe your pup frequently with a moisturizing shampoo and use a lotion on your pup’s skin to keep it supple and in healthy condition.

In addition to regular baths and moisturizing, you will need to clean your Chinese Crested dog’s ears once per week and trim his or her nails as needed to prevent them from being too long. Nails that are overgrown can become painful for your pup, especially if he or she snags one of them.

Health

The Chinese Crested is considered to be a healthy small breed, but there are some health conditions to be aware of as they may be present in some pups, especially those from poor breeding practices. If you want to have a healthy puppy, you need to make sure you not only work with a reputable breeder, but also inspect your puppy before you take him or her home.

Legg-Calve-Perthe’s Disease is a condition that occurs when there is a lack of blood flow to the head of the femur and it begins to degenerate. You will first notice an issue when your pup stops using his or her leg or when he or she experiences limping. The correction for this condition is surgery.
Dental problems - can appear in any breed, but they are seen in the Chinese Crested. Dental issues can range from a variety of different problems to include peg like teeth, underbites, and more. Most dental problems can be corrected easily.
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca also known as dry eyes. The condition causes your Chinese Crested to experience dry and inflamed eyes that may appear to be red and painful. When there is not enough water production within the eye, the reaction is dryness. Treatment for this condition includes ointment and eyedrops.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy - PRA is an eye disease that causes the degeneration of the retina. This disease is progressive, so it will eventually lead to blindness in your pup. Most dogs who have this condition will lose their sight at night first and then eventually lose their sight altogether. This condition cannot be treated and the end result is complete blindness of your Chinese Crested.

Exercise & Care

The Chinese Crested does need to receive some exercise, but not as much as other. In fact, you should not choose this pup as a running companion because he will not make a good one. While exercise is not as much of a concern, you do need to provide your Chinese Crested with mental stimulation. If your dog does not receive enough mental and physical stimulation, he or she may become destructive within your home.

This breed is considered to be relatively easy to train, but they do have quite the stubborn side and will push you to your limits. It is important to remain calm as you train your Chinese Crested because he or she will not respond well to a harsh hand.