Chinese Crested Dog Breed Info: Pictures, Personality & Facts

At first glance, everything about the Chinese Crested seems unique and strange. Despite their name, they almost definitely did not originate in China, and despite their classification as a hairless dog, they’re also found in a decidedly fluffy “powderpuff” variation. However, you’ll find a marvelously healthy and mild-mannered dog perfect for relaxed owners and families with older children once you get past these initial confusions.

Breed Overview

Whether you’re curious to know more about this distinctively groomed breed or considering making one a part of your family, this guide is for you. Read on to discover more about the mysterious origins and history of the Chinese Crested and what it’s like to own and care for both the hairless and powderpuff varieties. Along the way, we’ll introduce you to everything you need to know before deciding whether a Chinese Crested is right for you.

Chinese Crested Characteristics

Chinese Crested Puppies

Since they may have larger African hairless dogs as ancestors, canine historians surmise that Chinese breeders miniaturized the Crested much like they did for the Shih Tzu and Pekingese. Whether this is entirely accurate is not as important as what came next, when Chinese trading vessels were first seen carrying these “Chinese Ship Dogs” around the world as companion animals and rat chasers.

As they traveled and traded, the Chinese merchant ships sold Cresteds in global ports of call from Egypt to Turkey and South Africa. There, they were crossbred with local dogs to continue a lineage of hairless mousers. From these port towns, European sailors were introduced to the Chinese Crested during the Age of Exploration, from which we now have records of their eventual adoption in the United States.

In the hairless variety, the Chinese Crested can vary in how much hair covers their muzzle, tail, and paws. Their pale to dark black skin is especially prone to irritation and sunburn and requires considerable preventative effort to keep them happy and healthy.

Powderpuff Cresteds have a long, soft coat that can even resemble that of a common terrier. It's smooth and silky, and this double coat does a fantastic job of protecting the powderpuff from many of the skin irritation problems experienced by the hairless.

Overall, the Chinese Crested is most remarkable in their relatively low incidence of genetic predispositions to disease, making them perhaps the healthiest toy breed in existence. A long lifespan also attests to this, with many Chinese Cresteds living in excess of 15 years.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Chinese Crested 🧠

The Chinese Crested is a go-with-the-flow dog that prizes quiet time over vigorous activity. As an excellent companion animal for anyone who works at home, the Crested loves to spend time near their owners but isn't fond of sporting activities.

They require a gentle hand not just because of their sensitive skin and can easily suffer separation anxiety if left alone for too long. They tend to be a little shadow to their owners and family members, always following in your footsteps until you decide to sit down again. Then, they quickly become a lap dog.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

For some families, the Chinese Crested can enjoy a harmonious relationship of constant companionship without overstimulation. Given their delicate bone structure, small stature, and sensitive skin, they’re not ideal for families with small children.

In families with older children who know how to handle a dog gently, they’ll be incredibly happy and thankful for the extra attention that another person can give them.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets? 🐶 😽

The Chinese Crested can become quite friendly if socialized from a young age but may not take kindly to interactions with more vigorous dog breeds. It’s a funny myth that the best dog companion for a Chinese Crested is another Chinese Crested, but any other small and gentle breed of dog can quickly become a steady companion that will alleviate the Crested’s nervous anxiety when left alone.

Things to Know When Owning a Chinese Crested:

After learning more about the Crested, do you think they might be the right dog for your home and lifestyle? If so, the next step is to learn everything you can about their nutrition, exercise, and considerable grooming requirements. While they are a relaxed breed in many regards, the Crested requires more attention to their coat and hair than almost any purebred dog.

Food & Diet Requirements

Given their diminutive statures, Chinese Crested dogs require small portions of dog food. Anywhere from ¼ to ¾ cup of high-quality dry dog food per day will be enough to keep your Crested happy and healthy. You can divide this up into three meals, spaced evenly throughout the day, to discourage overfeeding and the resulting tummy aches that can occur afterward.

To choose the best dog food for your Crested, first pick a formula based on their age. Puppies, adults, and senior dogs all have different nutrition requirements, and that is doubly true for the Crested. Then, you’ll have to test small portions of the food to ensure your dog tolerates it well.

While generally possessed of a robust digestive system, many Cresteds quickly develop allergies and intolerances that can be difficult to diagnose. If your Crested turns their nose up at food, breaks out in a rash, or seems lethargic after eating, chances are it’s time to try a different formulation.

Try: Best Food & Water Bowls 

Exercise 🐕

In exchange for the added hours of grooming and skincare that you’ll need to put in to keep a Chinese Crested healthy, you’ll be glad to know that their exercise requirements are minimal. Short daily walks or a few rounds of fetch in the backyard are plenty to satisfy dogs of this breed, but be sure to outfit them with protective clothing or sunscreen while playing outdoors.

Even though they don’t have a strong desire for vigorous playtime, Chinese Cresteds can be surprisingly athletic and agile. You’re most likely to see it when they’ve decided to escape from an enclosure. Once they think that your chasing them is a game, the Chinese Crested can become surprisingly competitive.

Training 🦮

With a personality placed smack in the middle between stubborn and eager to please, the Chinese Crested can be encouraged to respond well to training because of how much it loves spending time with its owner. A competitive streak can further encourage them to enjoy canine sports like flyball, obedience, and agility training, but their sensitive personalities mean that you’ll need to be especially careful to offer positive reinforcement at every turn.

Early-life training is essential to a Chinese Crested’s happiness and willingness to learn later in life and should be attended to by a professional if you’re not entirely comfortable with it. Enroll them in puppy socializing and obedience courses, and you’ll be richly rewarded with a more friendly companion in old age.

Grooming ✂️

While the hairless and powderpuff varieties require regular toenail clipping and teeth brushing, their grooming requirements differ significantly. For hairless Cresteds, maintenance of their bare skin is remarkably similar to taking care of very sensitive human skin. They're susceptible to acne, sunburn, and painful dryness, and you’ll need to keep a close and constant eye on the quality and consistency of your friend’s skin.

Powderpuff Cresteds, on the other hand, require daily brushing of their soft and straight double coats. Weekly baths will help prevent knotting and matting, and you’ll need to be careful to avoid brushing the hair when dry or dirty, as it can cause hair breakage. Many powderpuff owners choose to shave part of their dogs for easier maintenance.

Try one of these to prevent dry skin:

• Dog Safe Shampoos & Considtioners 

• Best Dog Lotions For Dry Skin

• Dog Safe Skin Oils 

Health and Conditions ❤️

As one of the healthiest toy breeds, the Chinese Crested is prone to a much smaller list of health issues than other lapdogs. Still, you may find the following conditions during the course of a Chinese Crested’s life:

Male vs Female

As a smaller and gentler breed, you won't notice many differences between male and female Chinese Crested dogs. Some owners report that females are more prone to weight gain as they age, while males can be more stubborn and likely to escape their enclosures. Both the hairless and powderpuff variations display similar qualities no matter their gender.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Chinese Crested

1. Hairless and Powderpuff Puppies Can Be Born in the Same Litter.

Because the hairlessness of a Chinese Crested is an incomplete dominant genetic trait, individual instances of hair or hairlessness can vary from puppy to puppy, even within a single litter.

This also helps to explain why the amount and location of hair in the hairless variety can vary so much from puppy to puppy. In short, hairlessness is the weakest genetic material available, while the presence of hair can change quickly depending on both the parents and momentary breeding conditions.

2. A Chinese Crested Was the Winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog Competition for Three Years in a Row.

A purebred hairless Chinese Crested dog named Sam was the dubious champion of Petaluma, California’s World’s Ugliest Dog competition from 2003 to 2005. Old, blind, and generally terrifying in appearance, Sam won his owner over $3,000 in his 3-year reign as champ, only ceding the title after passing away in 2005 at the ripe old age of 15 years old. Sam is the only dog to win the title of Ugliest Dog 3 years in a row.

3. Chinese Crested Dogs Have Often Been Featured in Cartoons and films.

Owing to their distinctively strange appearance, the Chinese Crested personality has been displayed in such varying roles as:

• Giuseppe from Marmaduke

• Krull the Warrior King from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

• Romeo from Hotel for Dogs

• Fluffy from 102 Dalmatians

• Peek from Cats & Dogs

• Bobby from The Young and the Restless

Final Thoughts

As an incredibly unique dog with a mysterious history, the Chinese Crested is unlike any other breed alive today. They can live their best lives in households that enjoy peace and quiet rather than rambunctious activity. If you’re looking for a long-lived lap dog that will gladly cuddle on the couch with you all day long, the Chinese Crested fits the bill perfectly.

See also:

• Celebrate Shelter Pets Day

• Ugliest Dog Day: When It Is & How to Celebrate

Featured Image Credit: Eskimokettu, Pixabay