Toy
14 Years
5.4 Kg
Toy Dogs
Alert, Friendly, Lively, Playful, Sweet
The Chinese Crested is a small, active and elegant breed classified under the toy group. It typically weighs between 4.5 to 5.9 kg and stands at just 23 to 33 cm. This small dog comes in two varieties: Hairless and Powderpuff. Both varieties are born in the same litter. The Hairless variety has a soft skin similar to that of a human with clumps of fur on its paws that form “socks”, a plume on the tail and long hair on the head that forms a crest. However, there are true Hairless Chinese Cresteds that do not have as much hair furnishings on the head, tail, and paws. There are also very hairy Hairless that sports a single coat with hairless parts on the body. The skin of the Hairless variety ranges from pale flesh to black. As a complete opposite, the Powderpuff variety has a long, soft coat and the way it looks depend on how it is groomed. When the hair on the muzzle grows and left untrimmed, it closely resembles a terrier, but most owners prefer to shave the hair around the snout as a standard cut. The ears of the Chinese Crested are large and erect except for the Powderpuff where there are drop ears. The highly set tail is long, straight and tapering, carried up when the dog is in motion, falling naturally when the dog is in repose.
IntelligenceAll dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
Exercise NeedsAll dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
Dogs HealthThere are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
Child FriendlyThere are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
ApartmentThere are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
SheddingAll dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
Grooming NeedsAll dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
BarkingBarking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
AloneMajority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
TrainabilityThere are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
Energy LevelsAll dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Dog friendlyBefore you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
There are some who believe that the origin of the Chinese Crested can be traced to the time of the Han Dynasty in China, when larger versions of the breed were used for hunting. However, it is unlikely that this breed originated in China because recent genetic evidence shows that it shares the same ancestral origin with the Mexican hairless dog, Xoloitzcuintli. It is believed however, that the name might have been adopted because this breed was once used on Chinese ships as a rat hunter. It is also widely believed that the Chinese Crested was bred as a companion to people suffering from intellectual disability.
The Chinese Crested dog is alert, friendly, lively, playful and sweet. It is intensely social and can form a quick bond with its owner and the entire family. Although it can be a great companion to people it is familiar with, it is likely to bite strangers unless it is socialised and trained at an early age to get along well with other people and animals. This breed can tolerate hot weather condition but will suffer when exposed to extremely cold temperatures. It does not tolerate being left alone for long periods of time and may suffer separation anxiety, which leads to excessive barking and/or destructive behaviour. It is typically quiet inside the house when the owner is at home.
Training of the Chinese Crested should begin at an early age, preferably during puppyhood – just like any other dog. Socialisation to different situations and places should also begin early in order to raise a stable breed. This agile little breed is a high jumper, a climber, and a very fast runner. It can be trained and can excel in different dog sports including conformation, obedience, and agility. It is an adaptable breed and can live perfectly in any type of dwellings, including small apartments, condominiums, a small suburban home or a large countryside farmhouse.
There is an ongoing popular opinion that the Hairless variety needs to wear sun block or other lotion to combat the sun’s rays. On the contrary, applying any type of sun block lotion or cream will only cause major problems to the dog’s skin. However, the Chinese Crested needs to be bathed once a week because the coat does not get rid of dirt readily. The body hair on Hairless should be shaved to prevent the onset of skin allergies. It has no purpose regarding insulation but would actually trigger skin problems if left unshaved.
There are inherited diseases that are known to affect the Chinese Crested including dental issues (missing teeth), primary lens luxation, progressive retinal atrophy and dry eyes syndrome. It is also prone to develop canine multiple system degeneration which affects the overall movement of the dog which starts between 10-14 weeks of age. This breed is also prone to patellar luxation, allergy and autoimmune diseases. Care should also be taken when giving the dog vaccination shots, cortisone drugs, and topical medicines. Some Chinese Cresteds are allergic to anti-rabies medicines while others suffer severe reactions from topical flea medications. The average lifespan of the Chinese Crested is 12 – 14 years with some living much longer.
The Chinese Crested was developed to be a companion dog and has almost no craving to go outside and run like other breeds so it is not a good jogging companion nor a good biking escort. Exercise requirement is at a minimum. It will get plenty of its exercise needs even inside the house with a game of fetch or an easy walk around the yard. Mental exercise is also important for this dog. Toys and puzzles designed for canines are must haves.
This sociable breed loves to be with every member of the family including children. However, like most breeds, adults should always supervise when the dog and the children are playing together, especially if it involves small children. This dog hurts easily and may become defensive when startled or stepped on. It will do best to a family with children who know how to handle such a delicate breed.
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