The Chinese Crested is a toy dog, fine-boned, elegant and graceful. The country of its origin is, of course, China; it became a recognized breed by the American Kennel Club on 12/6/1990. Interestingly, there are distinct varieties born in the same litter, and there is no way to predict what variety will occur between a particular mating. The Hairless, with which most people are familiar, has varying amounts of long silky hair only on the head (called a crest), tail (called a plume) and feet. Elsewhere on the body, there will only be a very fine down which is almost unnoticeable. The Powderpuff, which is less commonly recognized, is completely covered with long, fine, silky hair. There is also a “Hairy Hairless” which is mostly hairless, but has a mohawk of hair down its back. The breed serves as a loving companion, playful and entertaining. They are lively, happy, and agile; typically well-behaved, neither aggressive nor timid in temperament. The Chinese Crested Dog is certainly a unique and different type of dog that has attracted a specific type of dog lover throughout its history.

History

The Chinese Crested Dog is believed to have originated from the African hairless dog breed. It was then discovered by Chinese sailors and merchants traveling to African ports and used on their ships as ratters, Powder Puffs used as food on ships, Hairless variety used as bedwarmers. When the breed was brought back to China they were bred smaller and with a greater emphasis on temperament, then redistributed in trading ventures as the "Chinese Hairless" or "Chinese Crested".

Another theory is that the Chinese Crested Dog actually developed with the Aztecs by breeding the Mexican Hairless with the Chihuahua. It is believed that the Aztecs actually used these dogs as companion dogs but also as bedwarmers in the cold months. These dogs may have also been used for human consumption at special events in the Aztec calendar. Regardless of the exact lineage the Chinese Crested Dog is certainly a unique and different type of dog that has attracted a specific type of dog lover throughout its history.

Temperament

For a family that wants a loving, funny and very intelligent dog that is relatively easy to care for a Chinese Crested Dog may be just the answer. They are ideal pets for virtually all types of families and individuals provided they have fairly constant contact with humans. They are not a good breed of dog if you have a busy household where people are gone for long periods of time. Bred and developed as a companion dog the Chinese Crested Dog does need lots of time with the family and will resort to negative and problematic behaviors when left alone.

The Chinese Crested Dog is one breed of dog that does bond very strongly to its owners. They will often form a very close bond with one or two people in the family and often this bond is for the life of the dog. Even when these people leave the house the dog will continue to wait for them or to look for them. The Chinese Crested Dog is very difficult to rehome or adopt for this reason and most breeders are highly selective about choosing which families will best suit the breed.

As a very intelligent dog the Chinese Crested Dog requires little in the way of specialized training but will definitely benefit from a puppy obedience class. Some of the breed may be somewhat headstrong and stubborn as puppies, however this is usually more of a phase they go through rather than an actual type of temperament. The Chinese Crested Dog will learn to love climbing up on a lap or on a favorite spot on the couch and just being close.

The Chinese Crested Dog may be timid around new people, sudden noises and other changes in the environment. Taking them out in public, providing lots of socialization as well as allowing them to just play and act as dogs is important

Health Problems

As with all dogs the Chinese Crested Dog has some Health conditions that owners should be aware of. These health conditions can be screened typically when the dogs are very young and can also be largely prevented by testing the potential Breeding pair. The most common health issues include:

• Patellar Luxation-dislocation of the kneecaps, common in all small breeds and some of the larger breeds.
• Legg Calve Perthes Disease-a degeneration of the femur causing joint immobility and pain
• Skin allergies-particularly to wool and lanolin products
• Dental problems-often this breed is born with incomplete teeth both as puppies and adults. Shallow roots on teeth make them to tend to fall out at an early age and also have extreme tartar build up. (this is only with the hairless variety; the powder puffs have normal teeth)

In addition, the hairless variety of Chinese Crested Dog, are very prone to acne like break outs and blackheads on the skin, and also are very prone to sunburn. Applying sunscreen to the dog is essential in the summer months as is having them properly protected from the cold even when outside in the winter months.

Exercise

The Chinese Crested Dog is prone to weight gain if inactive, so finding a way to keep your Chinese Crested Dog active is important. They do enjoy outdoor walks and are good on the leash once properly socialized and acclimatized to being in new environments and places. Since the Hairless has no protection for its skin it is not recommended for walks that involve going through brushes or even heavy grasses as the skin can easily be cut or injured.

The Chinese Crested Dog does enjoy playing, but care must be taken to avoid accidentally injuring these small dogs; as they are very delicate. They love to spend time with kids and do best with children that understand the unique needs of this small dog. The Chinese Crested Dog can be taught to fetch and retrieve and loves to play games like hide and seek either with favorite toys or with the family. Some refer to them as very “cat-like” in their behavior.

They do get along well with other dogs and will play and interact with dogs, cats and other pets. Again it is more important to monitor any injuries that may occur on the hairless variety as they don't have the natural protection of a protective coat. The Chinese Crested Dog will quickly learn to play and run in the house, often to the delight of the family. They are very agile and can climb similar to a cat often surprising owners with the strange places they manage to climb into. Try to avoid having the Chinese Crested Dog jump either up or down as this can lead to joint problems as the dog matures.

Training

The Chinese Crested Dog is considered a breed that is very easy to train. They are naturally very clean dogs and even as puppies will do their best to avoid messing in the house or in areas where they are kept. Since in very cold or very hot climates going outside to toilet can be a problem, many owners of Chinese Crested Dogs teach these dogs to use litter boxes or even puppy pads.

The Chinese Crested Dog, without socialization and exposure to new places, animals and people, will have a tendency to become frightened and timid. While not a problem barker they can become problems if they are very nervous or bored, so provide lots of socialization as well as things to play with and chew on. They can become destructive with chewing if left alone for too long but exercise, chew toys and lots of human attention can prevent this issue from becoming a problem. Most also suffer from separation anxiety due to their strong attachment to their owners.

The Chinese Crested Dog is an ideal dog for those that want a pet that can do unique and interesting tricks. The Chinese Crested Dog is known to commonly sit up, walk on his or her hind legs, jump through and over objects and climb ladders and other objects with just a bit of coaxing. Since they are very "in tune" with their owners they will do whatever it takes to make the owner happy.

One tendency with these dogs is to really baby them because of their small size and waif like expressions. Too much carrying and coddling can actually cause these dogs distress and increase the likelihood they will have separation anxiety and problem behavior when left alone. They are dogs and need to be given time to just be dogs. Socialization with other small dogs, interactions with cats and other pets and playing with kids and family members is an important part of both training and socialization.

The Chinese Crested Dog loves to dig when outside, so you may wish to train the dog to use a particular digging area, rather than the landscaped areas. Consider hiding a few treats of favorite toys in the area then praising the dog for digging them up. They will quickly learn where there is a good place to dig and where they should not.

Grooming

Grooming the Chinese Crested Dog depends largely on the variety of Chinese Crested Dog. The Hairless variety requires more overall attention although less actual grooming. A grooming comb can be used to keep the hair on the tail, head and feet free from mats and tangles on a daily or every other day basis. The skin of the Hairless Chinese Crested Dog does require care. They require regular bathing 1-3 times per week to prevent acne from forming on the skin. Always use non-allergenic and scent free dog products, never use human products or perfumed products on these dogs as they are prone to allergies. Talk to the breeder about a brand or type of skin care products they recommend for the dog. The hairless Chinese Crested Dog will need moisturizer applied to the skin to prevent drying and flaking. In the summer months a good quality sunscreen should be applied to the skin before the dog is taken outside. In the winter some type of coat or sweater should also be used, even if the dog is simply going outside to toilet as they are very susceptible to chills and colds.

The Powder Puff Chinese Crested Dog will need regular daily or every other day grooming to keep the long, silky hair looking in the best possible condition. The outer coat can be groomed using a wide toothed comb and the heavier, thicker undercoat will need special attention to ensure that mats and tangles are not forming. The Chinese Crested Dog doesn't shed like other dogs but the dead hair that is dropped from the skin will become trapped in the existing live hairs, resulting in mats that become progressively worse. Regular grooming on a daily or alternative day basis will prevent this problem from occurring.

The teeth of the Chinese Crested Dog are very poor, with the hairless variety having the lightest coating of enamel, resulting in tooth decay and early loss. Start regularly brushing the Chinese Crested Dog's teeth as soon as possible, ideally from their puppy stage.