The origins of the Chinese Crested are unknown. Due to their hairlessness,
many believe that they come from a warm climate such as Mexico or central
Africa. There are two types, the Hairless and the Powder Puff. Their name
comes from the crest of hair on top of the head that reminds one of a Chinese
pigtail. The American Chinese Crested Club was founded in 1979 and the breed
was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991.
They are a merry, loving and friendly dog. They make a good housepet and
companion. Due to lack of hair on the Hairless, owners must take care that
the skin does not become too dry. This merely requires periodical application
of skin cream. This breed is, for obvious reasons, susceptible to extremes
of cold and hot weather.
The head has a slightly rounded skull and is wedge-shaped, narrowing to
the nose. The distance from the top of the head to the eyes is the same
as that from the eyes to the tip of the nose. The eyes are almond-shaped,
dark and set wide apart. The ears are large and erect. Some will lack teeth.
They have a long tail that is carried over the back. The Hairless carries
coat atop the head, fringing the ears, as socks and a plume on the tail.
The skin, which may come in a variety of colors or combination of colors,
is smooth and supple. The Powder Puff's body is covered by an undercoat
topped with a soft, silky outer coat. The outer coat is long, up to 5 inches
in length on the ears, and can come in any color. The Chinese Crested weigh
between five and twelve pounds and stand between nine and thirteen inches
in height.
DeviousAngelEyes@hotmail.com of Arizona writes:
The perfect pet if you have the time and love.
The Chinese Crested is a great dog. I recieved my first one not too
long ago and absolutely love him. He is very smart, as well as handsome,
and has already learned two tricks at only eight weeks of age! He wants
to be by my side almost all the time, but will actually go off by himself
to bask in the sun or chew on one of his many toys. He is very friendly
toward strangers and he survived a five-hour drive in our car coming home
with us from his breeders. (He actually ate, played, slept, and slept some
more.) He has a while before he will be shown in the ring, but I know he
is a winner. These are adorable and intelligent dogs and I would recommend
them to any responsible person.
edmic@nextgen.net.mt of Malta writes:
The perfect companion.
To our best knowledge my husband and I are the first to have imported
a Chinese Crested in Malta. Our climate is wonderful for them as our temperature
is normally warm almost all year-round. Ours has the character of a large
dog in a small, portable package. He has true Crested character. He seeks
attention and is playful. It was very easy to teach him new things and tricks
and within a month he was potty trained. Along with being a wonderful pet
he is a lovely show dog.
jeanna@pacific.net of U.S. writes:
Love of a lifetime.
I just brought my little Hairless girl home a few days ago, after researching
the breed for about a year. I'm not a "dog person" but love other
peoples' dogs immensely. Hubby and I decided to allow a dog into our lives
eventually to add to our ever-growing family of cats, birds, a snake, marmoset,
and a tamarin on the way. The Chinese Crested was the choice because of
its loyalty, size, non-allergenic, noise level, companionship, and rarity.
Nothing I have read could have prepared me for the joy of having her for
a companion. Potty training is difficult, but such a small downfall to all
the pros that come in having one of these dogs. She has to be touching me
all the time, whether awake or asleep. She's boundless in energy and spirit,
and so affectionate and gentle. She's my little shadow. I can't believe
the intelligence of this little girl. I'm so in love, and know I've made
a lifetime choice in this breed. I will never be without a CC Hairless in
my life ... amazing dogs.
emosler@stanford.edu of San Jose, CA writes:
Best companion dog in the world.
The Hairless Chinese Crested is perfect for people with allergies to
dogs. Two of my family members have dog allergies and they have no allergic
reactions to my little girl. Chinese Cresteds are sweet, loyal, affectionate,
and very entertaining. I suffer from depression and anxiety. My little clown
not only calms me down when anxious, but she makes me laugh, even when I
am depressed because she does such sweet and silly things while playing.
I love my dog and she is one of my best friends. I would never own any other
dog breed!
Bijouis@att.net of Palm Desert, CA writes:
Extremely loving, incredibly intelligent, lives to please.
Never in all of our lives have we had as great pleasure, joy and just
plain fun as we have with our Powderpuff Chinese Crested. He is adorable,
extrordinarily loving and intelligent but not too demanding. He's always
ready to play or cuddle when we are, but understands "not now"
when we're too busy to give him the attention he craves at that very moment.
His coat is gorgeous and very easy to care for. He loves to be brushed and
it's fun for all of us, including our Greyhound who usually disapproves
of too much fussing. Our Crested's presence in our life is truly a gift!
m_reese1313@hotmail.com of Pennsylvania writes:
Sweetest and most devilish at the same time.
I have two little sweeties ... both Hairless. They couldn't be more
loved by my husband and me. They get along great but have definite personality
differences. One is always the puppy ... forever happy and cheerful, and
the other is playful but more serious at times. She's the "big sister"
and proves it with her protective nature. They are my children and the love
of my life. I've had several other breeds and I've always been close to
my babies, but these two have made the biggest impact on my life.
dazedooks@aol.com of Salt Lake City, UT writes:
Chinese Cresteds as I see them.
I own two Chinese Cresteds, both of which are hairless. They have a
loving spirit and affectionate personality. If you want a true companion
this is the dog for you. They learn quickly, and because they are so intelligent
they can be trained to go in a litterbox or outside. Another interesting
thing about this dog is that it does not have fur, it has hair. Chinese
Cresteds look a lot like Clydesdale horses to me. They also prance when
they walk, like a pony. They are definitely lap dogs. They LOVE to have
a lot of attention, so if you can't give them the attention, maybe a Chinese
Crested isn't the right dog for you. But if you are looking for a friend
to love and get loved in return, I know a Chinese Crested would be the right
dog for you.
bigd81@bellsouth.net of Louisville, TN writes:
Excellent pet to own.
We got a Hairless Chinese Crested about a year ago. He is very pleasant
to be around and very smart. He doesn't need obedience school because he's
very keen on commands. He's also good for folks who have allergies to pet
hair.
mronemus@peoplepc.com of York, PA writes on 11/24/00:
Attention-craving, smart, sense of humor, adorable nuisance.
I've enjoyed many breeds, but never as much as my Chinese Crested. She is
into everything, steals socks and underwear, never met anyone she didn't
like, and can be found almost anywhere, including the top of the refrigerator.
Physically, the breed must be cared for and attended to, including skin
cream on the hairless. Mine loves to be fussed over and when I get out the
cream, she is ecstatic. They get very cold in winter, and must be provided
with warm spots and sweaters. They are well-known (and deservedly so) for
their "separation anxiety." I take mine to work with me, where
she is an absolute angel. No one believes me when I tell them what a rascal
she is. She makes a liar out of me by lying quietly on her little bed and
greeting everyone with kisses. They are very smart and will quickly learn
almost anything you want to teach. If you use a crate, housebreaking is
surprisingly easy, and once mastered, they are very clean. For someone looking
for an extraordinarily sweet dog with a sense of fun and a big heart, the
Crested is a fine choice. They are especially good for someone with time
to play and snuggle. They are small, portable, quiet and easy to travel
with. I will never be without one again.
Name withheld by request writes on 6/14/00:
The sweethearts of life. The nicest most loyal dogs.
I have two little sweethearts. I love them so much. Whether it is showing
them in competitions or dressing them up for Christmas they are the sweetest
dogs around.
railgod@mtaaomline.net writes on 4/14/00:
I own six little sweethearts. I have a sickness that makes it inpossible
for me to work. So these loveable little dogs keep me company, they are
the best thing since meeting my husband who works out of town a lot so if
you have lots of time and love thease are the dog for you.
Name withheld by request of Scottsdale, AZ writes on 1/22/00:
Affectionate, loyal, intellegent companion.
This is the first Chinese Crested I have had and I couldn't be more pleased
with my selection. This dog is one of the most loyal and affectionate pets
I have ever had. He sleeps with me at night (for warmth!) and will not get
out of bed until I do. He does have a voracious appetite, which makes him
easy to train with treats. He is exceptionally intellegent and learned basic
obediance commands in a snap! He also knows the names of most of his toys
and will fetch them if you ask him to. I do not reccomend this breed however,
if you do not have a lot of time to devot to your pet. They demand plenty
of attention and become nervous if left alone too long. They must also be
socialized at an early age, because they are quite shy. You will never be
bored with this dog though, they are fiesty and playful and love to entertain
their masters!
Name withheld by request of Singapore writes on 12/21/99:
Wonderful companion dogs.
I have a female lavender coloured hairless. She's an absolute wonder when
it comes to companionship. If you like the phrase "You'll never walk
alone.", then the Chinese Crested is the dog for you. As it goes, my
dog follows me everywhere, the moment I step into the house after a long
day at work. She would even sit quietly outside the bathroom when I'm in
there! (My mum told me that) When she's in the mood, she'll bound around
house like a little pony. All in all, a very loyal and devoted dog that's
also graceful and beautiful.
BogusDog@webtv.net from Californnia writes on 12/12/99:
Always a place in my heart.
I bought my first Chinese Crested when I was in High School. I love
the hairless, they love to stay home or go with me , they are really great
little watchdogs and are very smart, they need a person to love them, and
not be left out of family life
gaeadogs@brantleytel.net from Waynesville, GA writes on 10/10/99:
For the right owner, the Chinese Crested is a fun loving and extremely
affectionate companion
The Chinese Crested, if properly bred, is an easy care, low maintenence
breed. This little dog is fun loving and very affectionate. Because they
are not a man-made breed they have relatively few genetic health problems.
In the Crested you have your choice of a fully coated dog,called the powderpuff,
or one with a hairless body, having hair on feet tail and head/neck. There
are variations of hairlessness.The more flashy heavier furnished ones as
usually seen in the show ring today,do have some body hair that has been
removed. The "old time" Hairless crested however does naturally
have the "soft as a baby's bottom" hairless smooth skin , and
minimal furnishings. The hairless have a primitive dentition. Their canines
appear as fine tusks which protrude forward, and they do lose some teeth
as they grow older. The powderpuffs have a normal looking dentition and
do not lose teeth. This breed is not for everyone however. The crested needs
to be socialized or it can become shy and overprotective of it's human companion.Chinese
Cresteds, as some of the other small breeds, can be a challenge to potty
train if not spayed or neutered. Their primitive nature beckons them to
mark territory. I find this to be true with females as well as males.