Chinese Crested Dog

Chinese Crested Dog

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The Chinese Crested Dog is a smaller (10-13 lbs) breed of dog known for its unusual appearance and entertaining personality. It is a member of the toy dog group. Two types can be born in the same litter; the Hairless and the Powderpuff.

Appearance: At first glance, the “Hairless” and “Powderpuff” varieties of Chinese Crested Dogs appear to be two different breeds, but hairlessness is a dominant trait within a single breed. The Hairless is the more popular variety, prized for its unusual appearance. 

The Hairless has soft, humanlike skin, as well as tufts of fur on its paws (“socks”) and tail (“plume”) and long, flowing hair on its head (“crest”). In addition to being a dominant gene, the “hairless” gene is lethal when homozygous. All living hairless Cresteds are therefore heterozygous for this trait.

The Hairless variety can vary in amount of body hair. Fur on the muzzle, known as a beard, is not uncommon. A true Hairless often does not have as much furnishings (hair on the head, tail, and paws); however, many of the dogs seen in the show ring are actually a “moderate” or “hairy” hairless that is shaved down. 

The difference between a very hairy Hairless and a Powderpuff is that the Hairless has a single coat, often with hairless parts on the body, while the Powderpuff has a thick double coat. The skin of the Hairless comes in a variety of colors, ranging from a pale flesh to black, and is often mottled. Hairless Crested often lack a full set of teeth, and this is often used to verify to some extent that the dog is a true Hairless and not a shaved Powderpuff.

The Powderpuff shares the crest and build of the Hairless, but in addition has a full coat of long hair. The look of the Powderpuff varies according to how it is groomed. When its fur is completely grown out on its face, it strongly resembles a terrier; however, the Powderpuff is usually shaved around the snout as a standard cut. Its fur is incredibly soft and shedding is minimal. Due to its coat type, both Powderpuff and Hairless are considered good pets for allergy sufferers.

Temperament: Chinese Cresteds are affectionate, energetic, and playful. They are known to be great family pets, and have endearing personalities. They are known to be great with respectful children. Some are known “singers,” while others are known to “smile.” They are generally happy lap dogs with candid personalities.

Health: The Hairless variety can be susceptible to acne and sunburn. Maintenance of the skin is similar to maintaining human skin—moisturising cream can keep the skin from becoming too dry, and in fair-skinned Cresteds, if one lives in a warm climate where there is a lot of sun (Australia, Spain, and so on) one should apply sunscreen to the dog’s skin. They are prone to poor dentition, such as missing, crowding, and decaying teeth.

History: Though possibly associated with China since the 13th century, some believe the Hairless mutation originated in Africa, and others believe it may be a cross of the Chihuahua and Mexican Hairless Dog, which it resembles. Although there is a history of Hairless dogs in most sea ports, European visitors in the 1700s remarked on hairless dogs in Chinese port cities, as well as dog owned by Chinese sailors plying the African trade route. 

Apart from the hairlessness, it is unclear how closely these dogs resemble the modern Chinese Crested. This breed has also been called the Chinese Edible Dog, the Chinese Hairless Dog, the Chinese Ship Dog and the Chinese Royal Dog. The Chinese Crested was officially recognised by the UK Kennel Club in 1981 and by the American Kennel Club in 1991.

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