Home / Dog breeds / Chinese Crested
Chinese Crested breed guide
The American Kennel Club says you cannot mistake the Chinese Crested for any other breed, with spotted pink skin, a crest of stiff hair, furry socks and a plumed tail and calls it a frolicsome, ultra-affectionate companion that is truly a breed apart.
The lively, alert toy comes hairless or coated and the coated variety is called the powderpuff.
Temperament
Chinese Cresteds are as fun as they look: playful, loving and alert. They love to spend time with their owner, which makes them good candidates for agility, flyball and obedience and for therapy work.
They have a very sensitive nature and must be trained with gentle methods. They also enjoy lure coursing.
Lifespan
Chinese Cresteds live 13 to 18 years. Responsible breeders screen for inherited eye problems including progressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma and primary lens luxation. Epilepsy occurs occasionally and patellar luxation affects Chinese Cresteds as it does most small breeds.
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease has no DNA test to screen parents but sometimes shows up on X-ray.
Care
The hairless variety needs more care than you might guess, because exposed skin is prone to irritation, allergies and sunburn. Grooming needs care, with skin treatments for the dog's skin type and sunscreen.
Short daily walks and backyard play usually satisfy a Chinese Crested's exercise needs. Outdoor exercise is good for the dog, but it needs sunscreen or protective clothing.
History
Chinese Crested origins go so far back that only educated assumptions are possible. Large hairless dogs from Africa were thought to have been brought to China and bred down in size over generations, since the Chinese were the master miniaturizers of the ancient world.
Chinese trading vessels carried Chinese Cresteds onboard and the dogs became famous as shipboard exterminators, expert at catching disease-bearing rats.
AKC trait ratings
| Trait | AKC rating | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Level | 3 of 5 | Couch Potato to High Energy |
| Trainability Level | 4 of 5 | Self-Willed to Eager to Please |
| Shedding Level | 1 of 5 | No Shedding to Hair Everywhere |
| Barking Level | 3 of 5 | Only To Alert to Very Vocal |
| Adaptability Level | 4 of 5 | Lives For Routine to Highly Adaptable |
| Good With Young Children | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Children |
| Good With Other Dogs | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Other Dogs |
| Watchdog/Protective Nature | 3 of 5 | What's Mine Is Yours to Vigilant |