Pampered Dog Blog

The Chinese Crested is a charming, alert and intelligent toy breed. They are perhaps best known as a hairless breed, but in fact there are two varieties, the “Hairless”, and the “Powderpuff”, which has a medium length topcoat, over a short and dense undercoat.

The name is somewhat misleading, as the Chinese Crested originated, not in China, but in Africa. These African hairless terriers were a popular item of barter, and Chinese traders took them aboard their ships to control rodents. Once imported to China they quickly gained popularity as companion dogs.

It is easy to understand their popularity, as they are affectionate dogs with bags of character. They are very good with older children who have been taught how to handle dogs. The Crested is very fragile and may bite if handled roughly, so is perhaps not the best choice for a young child.

These active little dogs have a naturally comedic nature. They do however tend to be shy, and quite timid, so socialization is very important. Cresteds that has not been properly socialized are inclined to become snappy and aggressive. In general, they do well with other dogs and non-canine pets, but once again socialization is important.

Training a Chinese Crested is easy if you go about it in the right way. They are intelligent dogs who learn quickly, but are also sensitive to harsh treatment and voice tone. Use positive methods and you’ll win through, try to coerce a Crested and you will get nowhere.

Like many purebred dogs, the Chinese Crested has a number of common health problems. Hairless dogs have very sensitive skin and will need to be protected when outdoors. Dental and eye problems are common in both varieties, and are prone to several other health problems, including Addison’s Disease, Cherry Eye, Epilepsy, Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eyes), Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, Patellar Luxation, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy.

Grooming a Chinese Crested, whether Hairless or Powderpuff, is quite a challenge. In the Hairless variety, the priority is skin care, while in the Powderpuff the fine coat needs daily brushing to keep it looking its best. The nails also require regular trimming and you’ll need to take special care to avoid the quick, which runs deep into the nail in this breed.

If you live in an apartment, this is the perfect companion dog for you. You will however have to ensure that your dog gets regular exercise. Cresteds are active dogs and will need to be walked every day. They also love to play games, whether outdoors or indoors. Given their intelligence and natural quickness, they excel at canine sports like agility, so you may want to join a local club.

If you’re looking for dog names, for your Chinese Crested, I’d recommend Puppy Names HQ, a site with an extensive database of dog names, including thousands of cute dog names.