Last Updated on October 27, 2022 by Pets Feed
The Chinese crested dog breed is liked by millions of people not only for its exotic appearance. These dogs are very funny, energetic, they are also credited with supernatural abilities.
The peculiarity of the Chinese Crested dog lies in its exotic appearance. He has a crest on her head (hence the name of the breed). It starts from the forehead and ends at the neck. Along the length of the hair, the tuft can be long, falling to the bottom.
| Breed name | Chinese Crested |
| Country of origin | China |
| Weight | 3 – 6 kg |
| Height (at the withers) | 28 – 33 cm |
| Life expectancy | 14 years |
| Size | Small |
Chinese Crested photos
Chinese Crested dog breed standard
There are two varieties of the Chinese Crested Dog: hairless (with tufts of hair on the head, legs and tail) and “fluffy” – with a double coat of long, soft hair. There are also two body types of this breed: the first is slender, more graceful, the second is heavier, stocky.
The ideal size for adult males is 28-33 cm, for females 23-30 cm. Adult dogs (male and female) weigh 3 – 6 kg.
Distinctive features
- Head: Slightly elongated, elegantly shaped with a rounded crown and a fox-like muzzle, the length of which is equal to the distance between the crown and a smooth transition. With a drooping or standing tuft starting at the level of the nose. With a long, lean neck without dewlap or thickening. Nose lobe of any color.
- Jaws: It is rare that the entire dentition is filled. It’s the norm. In puffs, the “dental photo” is somewhat better, there are individuals with full dentition. Scissor bite. Strong teeth, short or tusk-like fangs.
- Ears: Triangular, rather large, with chic half-cat fringe. The puffs are upright, the others are hanging or standing.
- Eyes: Medium sized with large dark iris covering white. Clear irises or close set eyes are disqualifying faults.
- Torso: Strongly muscular and graceful with a deep chest, reaching down to the elbows. With an upturned belly. The tail is set high, with a nice brush without curvature, tapering towards the end.
- Legs: Tall, slender, straight, looking straight ahead without turning over the “socks”. Under the wrists are covered with chic fringed socks, even in hairless individuals. The elbows are pressed against the body. The muscles of the hind limbs are clearly defined, the hocks are low. The shape of the pads is hare, elongated.
- Coat: Silky like hair. The standard allows all shade variations.
Character and behavior
The main purpose of the chinese crested dog is the friend and companion of man. They fully fulfill their mission. These pets are distinguished by a friendly character, devotion, attachment to the owner and all family members. The Chinese Crested likes to be around people and does not tolerate loneliness.
Aggression is not typical for this breed. However, they are wary of strangers. In the absence of socialization, the chinese crested dog can become too fearful or, conversely, aggressive. So the correct and timely acquaintance of the pet with the outside world is necessary, the formation of character depends on it.
With the children
They play with children with pleasure, but if there is a small child in the family, you should not leave him alone with him. Such a dog, being affectionate and friendly, cannot bite a baby, but a child can inadvertently injure a fragile animal.
With other animals
The Chinese Crested Dog gets along well with other dogs and cats. He does not seek to dominate and does not differ in an outrageous and pugnacious disposition. It is not recommended to keep a large breed dog with this small decorative dog in the same apartment.
Health
Each owner of such a dog should know what problems most often arise with her health and what diseases she is predisposed to:
- Perthes disease – characterized by impaired blood supply to the femoral head, leading to lameness.
- Karatoconjunctivitis – characterized by a decrease in the production of tear fluid, the disappearance of the protective film on the surface of the eye, drying and inflammation of the cornea, as well as inflammation of the conjunctiva.
- Allergy – causes itching, acne, dry skin.
- Difficult childbirth – due to the small size of the dog, it is often necessary to resort to caesarean section during childbirth.
- Dental diseases – often occur due to the small size of the mouth.
- Dislocation of the patella.
- Progressive retinal atrophy – If untreated, it can lead to complete blindness.
- Deafness can be either congenital or acquired.
- Hypothyroidism is an unstable thyroid gland.
- Diabetes.
- Multisystem atrophy – characterized by movement degeneration. This is a very rare disease in which the puppy moves very poorly, as it grows up, the condition worsens and ends in immobility.
Life expectancy
The average lifespan of the Chinese crested dog is 12-14 years.
Basic care
The Chinese Crested dog breed should be combed, especially if you have a variety that has a full coat all over the body. And you need to do it 2-3 times a week. Many owners also take their dogs to a canine groomer. Keep in mind that the hairless type has very sensitive skin and you only have to dress the dog outside, while at home try to maintain an optimal warm air temperature. in winter.
Nails are trimmed 2-3 times a month, always keep ears and eyes clean and bathe your dog 2-3 times a month with a pH-appropriate shampoo. However, it is not necessary to apply sunscreen, moisturizer, etc., because more often than not it only causes skin problems.
Interesting Facts
- One litter may contain both fluffy and hairless varieties of the breed.
- The Chinese crested dog is believed to be one of the hardest to train breeds when it comes to litter box training.
- Since ancient times, owners have used chinese crested dogs as warm heating pads that save them from the cold.
- Indian tribes believe that bald dogs are able to heal people’s mental illnesses, rheumatism, and toothache.
- chinese crested dogs were a symbol of the prosperity and well-being of the Chinese nobles.
Breed origin
One can only guess how ancient this breed is. Some of the found remains of dogs, strongly reminiscent of Chinese crested dogs, are more than 10 thousand years old. There are versions that the ancestors of the “Chinese Crested” were a Chihuahua and a Mexican hairless dog.
For the first time at an exhibition in New York, the breed was presented in 1885. Today, Chinese crested dogs are distributed throughout the world, but they are most popular in the US and the UK.
Interestingly, there are a great many beautiful legends about the origin of these unusual dogs. One of them tells how a miniature fluffy dog, which did not yet belong to people, but was free and wild, met a child dying from a cold in a cold forest. Taking pity on the baby, the selfless fluffy shook off his fur on him – and the wool covered the child like a warm blanket. Then the dog brought the spirits of the forest to the baby. They were shocked by the picture before them and returned the child to their parents. And the caring dog was allowed to leave after the people, because it became the talisman of the rescued child. Since then, Chinese crested live among people and bring them joy.
