The Chinese Crested dogs are known for their almost hairless body. It has hair on its legs, head, and tail. But there’s more to this breed than just its appearance.
The
Chinese Crested personality is said to be timid, so it can easily become
the submissive one when in contact with another animal.
They
are not loud barkers, so they cannot become watchdogs. They are great family
dogs though. They need a lot of attention. They thrive on human company.
They
get deeply attached to their masters, so it is a given that they suffer from
separation anxiety.
The
Chinese Crested has two variants namely the hairless and the powderpuff.
The
Chinese Crested Powderpuff dog is not as popular as the hairless but it
is a littermate, without a doubt.
Chinese
Crested dogs are lethargic and move only when they want to but they can jump
surprisingly tall fences and respond well to agility training.
The
Chinese Crested lifespan ranges from 13-15 years.
Overall,
this dog is a must-have if you’re looking for a low-maintenance family dog!
These
are the average toy dog size dogs. The Chinese Crested weight ranges from 5-11
pounds and they stand as tall as 12 inches.
Affection Level: (4/5)
Chinese
Crested dogs are very affectionate. They are aloof to strangers but once they
start loving you, there’s no going back.
Apartment Friendly: (5/5)
Due
to their small size and low exercise needs, they are perfect for city dwellers.
They adjust well to small spaces.
Cold Weather Tolerability: (1/5)
The
Chinese Crested is hairless and thus it does not do well in cold temperatures.
But the plus point here is that you get to buy cute sweaters for them!
Hot Weather Tolerability: (3/5)
Chinese
Crested dogs have sweat glands, which is unheard of. But they cool themselves
down in warm temperatures without panting.
Barking Tendencies: (3/5)
This dog is known for its
inability to bark loudly and this is what makes it perhaps the most loved dog
by apartment residents.
Cat-Friendly: (2/5)
Chinese
Crested dogs get along well with cats. Once the cat accepts this dog, they’re
playmates!
Dog-Friendly: (4/5)
The Chinese Crested dog is
timid. So it can easily be dominated by other dogs. It is not aggressive
though. It bonds immediately with its pack.
Exercise Needs: (2/5)
The
plus point of having this lazy dog is that it has very low exercise needs. A
20-minute walk and if it is not too much to ask of the dog a few games of fetch
should do.
Grooming Needs: (2/5)
The
hairless Chinese Crested is very low maintenance. It requires bathing
regularly. The Chinese Crested powderpuff requires daily brushing to prevent
matting.
Playfulness: (3/5)
This
dog is very playful when it is in a comfortable company. It can be quite active
when it wants to be.
Trainability: (3/5)
Chinese
Cresteds are a little difficult to train. But if you’re at it religiously, you
may get your pooch to listen to you.
Intelligence: (3/5)
This
breed is very intelligent but only a few confirm so. It is quick to pick up
training and can understand human moods very well.
Mouthiness: (4/5)
This
dog suffers from separation anxiety. It is likely to chew things when anxious
or simply when bored, it does a little redecoration, to entertain itself.
Price Group: (4/5)
The
cost for this breed ranges anywhere from $2,200
to $6,000 for
top-line breeds with superior pedigree. The average Chinese
Crested price is $800.
A>About Chinese Crested
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Chinese Crested dogs are very faithful companions.
They love to spend time with their family and they form unbreakable emotional
bonds with their masters.
The Chinese Crested temperament is calm, gentle and
affectionate. It is as happy as a clam when in human company.
The pooch has hair on its feet, head, and tail. It
is hairless and warm and has a fine-boned, graceful body. It is almost like a
miniature pony from a Disney movie especially when it has a long, flowing mane.
There are two types in this breed: The Chinese Crested Powderpuff and the Chinese Crested hairless. The
Powderpuff is has a profuse undercoat that is very soft.
The Hairless Chinese Crested, however, outshines the
Powderpuff. The Powderpuff is a result of spontaneous mutation. It is a
recessive gene, which means, every pack will have a Powderpuff Chinese Crested.
W>Where Did Dogs Came From?
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No, the name is not the place of origin. Chinese
Crested dogs do not come from China. They are believed to have evolved from
Mexican and African hairless dogs, who were then reduced in size by the
Chinese.
This breed is said to have accompanied the Chinese
sailors on the sea in the 1530s. They were used to hunt vermin. By the mid-19th
century, they started to appear in various European paintings.
The Chinese Crested has been previously called the
Chinese Hairless, Chinese Ship Dog, Chinese Royal Hairless and Chinese Edible
dog.
These hairless dogs have been used as heating pads
because due to the absence of hair on their body, in winters, they become
extremely warm.
They were used to generate warmth and also in areas
of a sprain or some injury. Thus, arose the belief that they have magical
powers.
The time around which they moved to North America is,
unfortunately, unknown. The American
Chinese Crested Club (ACCC) became the parent club for
this breed.
The American Kennel Club recognized this breed in the year 1991.
T>Trainability
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The Chinese Crested is one difficult breed to
housebreak. Crate training is mandatory. It is important that you make your dog
aware of the areas that are off-limits for elimination.
They will eventually get the idea if you are
consistent.
Chinese crested dogs are naturally clean. They are
said to be highly intelligent but they do not fit the generic toy dog
stereotype and thence are sometimes underestimated.
They are not willful, so that’s a plus point. Make
sure that you train your dog consistently. Encourage good manners, reward when
on their best behavior.
Understand that you are training your dog. So it is
important that you need to be easy to understand, clear and firm while doing
so.
Gro>Grooming
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The Chinese Crested dogs come in two types:
Powderpuff and Hairless.
The Powderpuff dogs are available in a variety of
colors. The common Chinese Crested colors are
Blue, Lavender, Apricot or Mahogany.
These can be solid or spotted. The Hairless, on the
other hand, has two colors: pink and black.
Other than being bald, the Chinese Crested hairless
dog has soft and smooth locks on the head, feet, and tail.
The hair on the Chinese Crested dog’s body should be
shaved. This is done to protect the skin.
The Chinese Crested skincare
is not a big hassle, just make sure you are using the right shampoo and
conditioner. Refrain from using sunblock or moisturizers, let the skin remain
natural.
Bathe your Hairless dog frequently. The Powderpuff
Crested, on the other hand, is a handful when it comes to grooming. Its
abundant undercoat will mat, if not brushed regularly.
Brush their teeth at least two-three times a week to
prevent any periodontal diseases from prevailing.
Nail clipping should be done every month or two. If
you are unsure about how to do it, visit the groomers. Dog nails have blood
vessels in them, if you cut too deep, your dog might bleed.
This might make him run away from you the next time
he sees you with a clipper.
Make sure you make your Chinese Crested familiar
with these practices right from an early age. It gets a lot easier with a Chinese Crested puppy.
Commo>Common Diseases
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TARGETING THE BONES
Legg-Calve-Perthes
Disease
This is a disease of small
breeds.
It is a deformity of the
hip joint. It is often confused with hip dysplasia. It causes arthritis and
wearing.
This can be repaired
surgically, the condition gets better with the help of rehabilitation and
followed by therapy.
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
This condition occurs when
the bones begin to have an abnormal formation in the hip and elbow socket. This
leads to arthritis and should be treated as early as possible.
You might have a reason to
worry if your dog is having difficulty in getting up or refuses to go up or
down the stairs.
If the Chinese Crested
dog is overweight then it is prone to this disease much higher than a
normal weight Chinese Crested dogs. In most cases, surgery is opted for
to help the Chinese Crested recover from this unbearable pain.
Patellar
Luxation
Also known
as slipped stifles, Patellar Luxation is very common in dogs.
Patella
means kneecap.
Luxation
means, in common words, the dislocation of a joint. Patellar Luxation is when
the knee joints, often of the hind legs, slides out of position.
The pain
caused by this is crippling. Many dogs, however, endure it and live normal
lives.
TARGETING THE SKIN
Chinese Crested dogs are prone to a lot of skin
diseases such as acne, blackheads, sunburns, and rashes.
This is because of the absence of hair on their bodies.
Their skin is, thus, exposed and open to a lot of damage.
TARGETING THE EYES
Glaucoma
This
condition is very common in Chinese Crested dogs.
Glaucoma
is a disease where pressure builds up inside the eye.
If
not detected and treated early this condition could lead to blindness.
Take
your Chinese Crested to the vet if you notice him squinting, tearing or rubbing
his eyes.
Lens Luxation
When
the lens of the eye gets displaced when the ligament holding it together, gets
displaced.
It
is often treated with surgery or medication, but in most cases, the eye needs
to be removed.
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca
This
is also known as “dry eye’. It is called dry eye because of what it is: an
inflammation and dry eye.
Dry
eye is seen in Chinese Crested dogs who have a deficiency in the water portion
of the tear film in the eye.
Thus,
the eye becomes dry and the membranes are left with oil and mucus only.
Often
the symptoms can be mistaken for conjunctivitis.
The
treatment for dry eye is done with ointments and eyedrops.
Progressive Retinal
Atrophy (PRA)
This
is a genetic condition but it is also, not curable. This condition results in
complete blindness that is unavoidable. It is highly prone to the Chinese
Crested breed.
Early
symptoms can be seen such as night-blindness and pupil dilation which generally
occur at the age of three.
There
are genetic tests available for it.
TARGETING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Epilepsy
Epilepsy
is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder that is genetically
inherited by Chinese Crested dogs.
Epileptic
seizures can are of three types in dogs:
Reactive seizures – There
are caused by the brain’s reaction to some metabolic problems such as low blood
sugar, toxin or organ failure.
Secondary seizures – They
are a result of brain tumor, damage or trauma.
Primary seizures – If
there are no reasons found for the occurrence of the seizures, they are called
primary seizures or Idiopathic seizures.
TARGETING THE BODY
Thyroid
Thyroid is a health condition in which the Chinese
Crested’s body does not produce the thyroid hormone. This is also called
hyperthyroidism and it is extremely common in this breed.
Symptoms include dry skin and coat, weight gain, hair
loss, prone to other skin diseases, fearfulness, aggression, etc.
Dental Problems:
These arise due to the missing teeth. The Hairless
Chinese Crested dogs have small, peg-like teeth in front, that slope toward the
front of the mouth, causing problems.
The Chinese Crested Powderpuff has the normal toy
breed dentition.
The Chinese Crested hairless breed often loses most of
its teeth by two-three years of age. They can often eat normally. Some hairless
crested require canned food whereas others can eat kibble just like the Chinese
Crested Powderpuff.
Feeding
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Small breeds generally consume lesser food as compared
to large breed dogs. The Chinese Crested breed
does lack a good appetite.
The daily amount of food that is advised is one or two
cups for high-quality dog food. Preferably, dry.
You must measure the food that you give your Chinese Crested to make sure it is in good shape. Do not feed your dog in generous amounts.
After all, the Chinese Crested is a couch potato and
can easily gain weight, if it is fed too much. The Chinese
Crested dog is a toy dog. It is likely to consume smaller
amounts of food. Feed it at specific times in a day. Divide the meals into two
parts. Do not keep the food bowl out at all times.
The quality of food you choose to feed your dog also
matters. The better the quality, the richer it is in nutrition.
Vaccination and Care>Vaccination and Care
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Distemper vaccine
This
severely affects organs such as the spinal cord, respiratory system, brain, and
intestines.
The
common symptoms of having distemper are high fever, lethargy, loss of appetite,
etc.
Parvo
This
disease spreads through the infected dog’s hair or feet. It is fatal.
Usually,
if Chinese Crested dogs are under a year, they are prone to this virus.
Signs
that your dog could have this are bloody diarrhea, depression, vomiting, fever,
etc.
Rabies
This
is a very damaging virus; it deteriorates the brains of all mammals.
Dogs
secrete large amounts of this virus in their saliva and thus, a dog is infected
with rabies when it is bitten by another dog.
Signs that a dog has rabies can be seen in behavioral changes such as restlessness and aggression. They become hypersensitive to touch, light, sound, etc.
Chinese
Crested dogs love children. They are sweet, gentle and playful when in the company
of children.
If
you have small children at home, teach them how to interact with and approach
dogs. They should understand how to touch a dog so as to not instigate it or
encourage rough play.
Children
should never play with a dog when it’s eating food or touch its food bowl. It
is advised that you should not leave your dog unsupervised with your children.
Dogs:
Chinese
Crested dogs are very easygoing with other dogs. They are playful and caring.
They do not possess any aggressive streaks and hence are compatible with other
dogs.
Cats:
Toy
dogs generally get along better with cats. This dog is generally the same size
as an average cat. They are usually docile and placid, which may give the cat
the upper hand.
If
the cat accepts the Chinese Crested, the dog will make a good companion.
Overview
>Overview">
The Chinese Crested dog breed is a placid, calm but
highly affectionate breed. It is a great family dog and gets along well with
other dogs and cats.
Chinese Crested dogs are adored by children; they
make great playmates with this toy dog breed.
It has a small appetite, feeding two cups of
high-quality dog food is enough for them.
The Hairless Chinese Crested does not have high
grooming needs but the Powderpuff does.
They are very lazy and will not move a muscle if
they don’t want to.
[…] Chinese Crested […]