Elegant and showy, the Chinese Crested comes in two varieties, hairless and powder puff, which usually appear in the same litter. Hairless dogs only have a crest of silky fur on their heads and a light coat on their feet and the end of their tails. Powder puffs, on the other hand, have soft, long and shiny hair all over their bodies.
Although the Chinese Crested, in both varieties, requires special care to keep its skin and coat in perfect condition, it is a perfect breed of dog for beginners, since its intelligence and docile character make its training a simple task. Of course, in order to adopt this dog it is essential to have time, because it cannot spend long hours alone. Read on and discover in this breed file on our site all about the Chinese Crested Dog
Origin of the Chinese Crested Dog
As with other dog breeds, the history of the Chinese Crested is little known and confusing. It is known that these dogs existed in the 13th century in China and that, traditionally, they were used as ratters on merchant ships. However, the mutation that produces hairless dogs is more common in Central and South America, although it is also thought to come from Africa. Be that as it may, Chinese Crested Dogs were unknown outside their country of origin until the 19th century, when they entered Europe.
It was at the end of the 19th century that Ida Garrett, a fancier breeder of hairless dogs, began promoting the breed in Europe. Today, the Chinese Crested Dog is still a great unknown, although it is becoming increasingly popular among adopters due to its simple care and easy training.
Physical Characteristics of the Chinese Crested Dog
The Chinese Crested is a small and light breed of dog, its body is slightly longer than it is tall and very flexible. The back is horizontal, but the croup is rounded. The chest is deep and the underline is moderately retracted to the level of the belly. As for the hair that this dog has, there are two different varieties: the hairless Chinese crested dog and the powder puff The first of them has a long crest, fur on the legs and the tip of the tail, while the powder has a veil-like coat all over its body.
The head of the Chinese Crested is wedge-shaped and the roof of the skull is slightly rounded. In the hairless variety, as we mentioned, it has a crest of silky fur, in the powder puffs it has the normal fur of that type. The nose is prominent and can be any color. The teeth, on the other hand, may appear misaligned and even some may be missing in the hairless variety, although this is not a trait present in all specimens. The eyes are medium and the darkest color possible, the ears are erect and set low, except in powder puffs, in which floppy ears are allowed.
The tail of the Chinese Crested Dog is long and set high. It is almost straight and does not curve over the back or curl. The dog carries it up straight or to the side when active, while when the dog is at rest, the tail hangs naturally. In the powder puff variety the tail is completely covered with hair. In the hairless variety, the tail has feathery fur, but only on the distal two-thirds. In both types, the tail gradually tapers, being thicker at the base and thinner at the tip.
The hair of the powder puff is double coated and covers the entire body with a characteristic veil-shaped coat. The hairless variety of dogs, however, only have a crest on their heads, hair on their feet and on the end of their tail. The skin is delicately grained and smooth. Both types of Chinese Crested Dogs any color and combination of colors are accepted, so it is not surprising to see Chinese Cresteds white, with black spots, s alt and pepper or earth tones.
To finish with the physical characteristics of the Chinese Crested Dog, the International Cinological Federation (FCI) establishes that the breed standard must have a height at the withers that ranges from 28 to 33 cm in males, and from 23 to 30 cm in females. As for the weight, it is variable and there is no specific one, although it is not recommended that they exceed five and a half kilos.
Chinese Crested Dog Character
The Chinese Crested is characterized as a breed of dog Pleasant, sensitive and very cheerful It tends to be very loyal to its own and remain very attached to a particular person, the one who considers his owner and friend. Likewise, he usually has a personality shy and always alert
Well socialized, the Chinese Crested Dog can get along very well with people, other dogs, and other pets. However, due to its nature, it tends to be shy before new things and situations, so it can be very fearful when it has not been correctly socialized correctly. It is, therefore, very important to socialize the dog from puppyhood, to prevent behavior problems during adulthood and thus achieve a sociable dog, that does not get scared easily or take refuge in us every time it is in front of us. a new experience.
Chinese Crested Dog Education
Fortunately for Chinese Crested owners, these dogs are intelligent and easy to train. In fact, some trainers say that dog training is little more than a formality with these dogs, since they learn very quickly Despite this, the breed does not excels in dog sports, perhaps because it is not yet very popular with the general public. Regardless, the best method of training the Chinese Crested is positive reinforcement, such as that provided through clicker training. If you still don't know this technique, don't miss our article in which we tell you everything you need to know about the clicker for dogs.
When they are given enough exercise and companionship, and are well-behaved and socialized, Chinese Cresteds do not usually exhibit behavior problems. However, when those factors are insufficient, Chinese Cresteds tend to develop separation anxiety, destructive habits, and garden digging.
These dogs make excellent companion animals for families with older children, couples, and singles. However, they are not good pets for families with young children because they are often injured by rough treatment from children. It is important to note that they are only good pets when they receive constant company, in addition to the normal care that any dog requires. Chinese Cresteds are not good animals for people who spend all day away from home.
Chinese Crested Dog Care
The coat of the powder puff variety should be brushed and combed at least once a day, with a natural bristle brush or metal spikes. In contrast, the little hair that the Chinese Hairless Crested has only needs brushing two or three times a week. Since its fur is so fine, it tends to get tangled easily. When this happens, the most advisable thing is to undo the knots with the help of our own fingers, using special delicacy so as not to hurt the animal. Once your mantle is untangled, we will proceed to comb it with the named brushes. We will bathe the powder puff when it is really dirty, using a natural shampoo with a neutral pH.
As for the Chinese Hairless Crested, as it does not have the protection of its coat, its skin is more exposed to changes temperature, sunlight and other factors that can damage it. To always keep it soft, smooth and without imperfections, it is essential to bathe it every 15 days with a moisturizing neutral pH shampoo. Once a month, after bathing, we can exfoliate your skin and apply a moisturizing product, massaging your entire body. To do this, we can use baby body oil or vegetable oils, always natural. For the comb and the rest of the areas with hair, we will use a brush with natural bristles, once or twice a week.
In both varieties of Chinese Crested it is important to take good care of the teeth and wash them frequently, always using products for dogs and never products for humans.
The Chinese Crested Dog is an active animal that needs a good daily dose of exerciseBecause of its small size, however, it can do much of the exercise indoors. Fetch games (fetch) can be helpful in channeling his energies, but you also need to take him out for a walk twice a day. Games of tug of war are not advisable because the breed tends to have weak teeth.
If you have a hairless Chinese Crested Dog, it's important to apply sunscreen, especially if their skin is white or pink, before exposing it to sunlight to avoid skin burns. However, this does not mean that we should prevent the dog from sunbathing, because this is one of the main sources of vitamin D that the animal has. We simply have to pay special attention to the care of the skin of the Chinese Crested and be aware at all times. And if the weather is cold, you also have to put a coat on it so that its skin does not dry out and it always stays perfect. Also, keep in mind that their skin is fragile and can be injured by branches and hard grass, so it is best to avoid places with weeds and tall vegetation.
Both Chinese Hairless Crested Dogs and Powder Puffs need lots of company. They are dogs that must be accompanied most of the time or they will develop destructive habits and even separation anxiety.
Chinese Crested Dog He alth
The Chinese Crested Dog tends to be he althy and is not as susceptible to hereditary diseases as other dog breeds. However, it has a certain propensity for the following pathologies and conditions:
- Calvé-Perthes-Legg disease
- Patellar luxation
- Early tooth loss
- Skin lesions
- Sunburn
As we discussed in previous sections, to avoid damage to the skin of the Chinese Crested it will be essential to take extreme precautions and use sunscreen before going outside, as well as using moisturizing products and shampoo with a neutral pH. On the other hand, it will be essential to go to the veterinarian periodically to provide the mandatory vaccines and follow the deworming schedule. In the event of any anomaly, you should always go to the specialist to submit the dog to a veterinary examination.
