- Chinese Crested Dog Breed: Everything You Need to Know
Everything You Need to Know About
Chinese Crested Dog Breed
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Table of Contents
Chinese Crested Dog General Information
This exotic-looking companion dog makes for a great pet, and is super friendly to boot. The hairless Chinese Crested Dog is a classic, but you can also find “powderpuffs” with tufts of hair.
As for the Chinese Crested dog’s origins, they actually do not come from China. The Chinese Crested Dog is accepted to have originated from a larger breed of hairless African dog, which was brought to China, and then bred into the miniaturized version.
Considering adopting this dainty little pup? Here’s everything you need to know to take care of this toy breed.
Characteristics of a
Chinese Crested Dog
These are the most common traits of a Chinese Crested Dog:
Temperament
The Chinese Crested Dog is lively, fun, and loving. It’s one of the most companionable breeds around, great for people who can give it lots of care and attention.
This little dog has a tendency to become truly attached to its owner, so you can expect a lot of licking, kisses, and snuggling.
But as loving as they are, they don’t open up to strangers easily. These intelligent dogs are stubborn and needy, and a single dog of this breed can be on both extremes of friendly and suspicious.
You’ll need to be prepared to handle varying moods when living with a Chinese Crested Dog — just as humans have varying moods at times.
Energy Level
This breed’s exercise needs are considered moderate.
Chinese Crested dogs are tough and can be exceptionally good at canine sports, despite not being a big fan of playing around.
Their exercise needs are not too extensive; Taking a short walk in the park or playing for a while in the backyard is usually enough daily activity for this calm breed.
This breed’s exercise needs are considered moderate.
Chinese Crested dogs are tough and can be exceptionally good at canine sports, despite not being a big fan of playing around.
Their exercise needs are not too extensive; Taking a short walk in the park or playing for a while in the backyard is usually enough daily activity for this calm breed.
Size
As a toy dog, the Chinese Crested size is absolutely tiny.
This small size makes them perfect for small apartments and houses. In general, they don’t runaround a lot or take up a lot of space. All they really need is a loving owner with a big heart.
- Weight:
The average Chinese Crested Dog’s weight is between 8 – 12 pounds .
- Weight:
- Height:
The average height for both males and females is 11 – 13 inches (28 – 33 cm).
- Height:
Average Size Chart
Weight
Female
Male
3.5 – 5.5 kg
8 – 12 lbs
3.5 – 5.5 kg
8 – 12 lbs
Height
Female
Male
28 – 33 cm
11 – 13 in
28 – 33 cm
11 – 13 in
Weight
Female
3.5 – 5.5 kg
8 – 12 lbs
Male
3.5 – 5.5 kg
8 – 12 lbs
Height
Female
28 – 33 cm
11 – 13 in
Male
28 – 33 cm
11 – 13 in
Trainability / Intelligence
This athletic dog loves its owner, so training it for competitive sports as a game you can play together makes for great bonding time.
Chinese Crested Dogs also make great therapy dogs once trained properly for the role.
However, always remember to handle them delicately, as this breed is quite sensitive and can be stubborn in learning new things. Harshness won’t go far with them, so patience and positive reinforcement is the only way forward.
Other Pets / Children
- Other pets:
As for other pets, this breed gets along fine with most pet animals but is generally not very social. Your Chinese Crested will need to be prompted to actually mingle, at least initially.
- Other pets:
- Children:
Due to this breed’s sensitive and needy nature, it is best to put this pup in a house with older children. The Chinese Crested temperament is friendly with familiar children, but these small dogs don’t usually respond well to strangers. Avoid leaving them unsupervised with unfamiliar young children.
- Children:
Introduce this breed to any new kids calmly and slowly, and supervise the situation. Once the dog gets used to the children, it will likely become their best friend.
Shedding / Coat
There are varying degrees of shedding between the two different versions of this breed. Naturally, Chinese Crested Dog shedding depends on which type you have: hairless or Powderpuff.
Hairless:
The hairless Chinese Crested Dog doesn’t have much fur on its body and, as such, sheds very little. Its hair is limited to the paws, head, ears, tail, and sometimes on the chest. These hairs grow long, shedding all year round.
Powderpuff:
The Powderpuff Chinese Crested Dog has double-coated fur and sheds seasonally twice per year: during spring and fall. Because this type of Chinese Crested dog has more fur, it will shed more hair around the house.
There are varying degrees of shedding between the two different versions of this breed. Naturally, Chinese Crested Dog shedding depends on which type you have: hairless or Powderpuff.
Hairless:
The hairless Chinese Crested Dog doesn’t have much fur on its body and, as such, sheds very little. Its hair is limited to the paws, head, ears, tail, and sometimes on the chest. These hairs grow long, shedding all year round.
Powderpuff:
The Powderpuff Chinese Crested Dog has double-coated fur and sheds seasonally twice per year: during spring and fall. Because this type of Chinese Crested dog has more fur, it will shed more hair around the house.
Grooming / Care
Your Chinese Crested Dog’s grooming needs will again differ based on whether it’s a Powderpuff or hairless.
The furry Powderpuff will need its coat to be brushed daily while the small hair grows into adult hair. Once its an adult with its full coat, once per week can suffice.
Bathing too much strips the fur coat of essential oils so, wash your Powderpuff regularly but still not as frequently as the hairless dog.
Both versions of Chinese Crested Dog can easily get irritations and allergies, so use high-quality sensitive pet shampoo, and towel dry.
Brush their teeth 2 – 3 times per week to prevent tartar buildup, and cut their nails weekly or biweekly if they grow too sharp.
Also, on bathing days, check your dog’s ears for redness or odors indicating an ear infection.
Common Health Issues / Veterinary needs
The Chinese Crested Dog is prone to eye problems like retinal atrophy and glaucoma. It is also affected by Patellar Luxation and can occasionally get epilepsy attacks.
Take your Chinese Crested dog to the vet regularly to keep it in tip-top shape.
Some recommended tests before adopting this breed include an ophthalmologist’s evaluation, a patella evaluation, and a cardiac exam.
Chinese Crested Dog Genetic Health Issues:
- Luxating patella,
- Eye problems
- Epilepsy
Nutrition
The recommended daily feed for Chinese Crested dog is ¼ to 1 cup of high-quality dry dog food, split into two meals per day for an adult dog.
The exact type of dog food you use will depend on the size and age of your pet, but a good-quality food package made specifically for toy or small breeds is ideal.
Make sure to watch your pet’s calorie consumption. Don’t overfeed or give it a lot of treats, as this breed is not very active and can easily get overweight. Overweight dogs are more prone to joint problems, heart problems, and more.
If using treats for training, make sure to use tiny pieces, and give them sparingly.
Avoid giving your dog any table scraps with high-fat content or cooked bones, and ensure any human food you give is safe for dogs.
The recommended daily feed for Chinese Crested dog is ¼ to 1 cup of high-quality dry dog food, split into two meals per day for an adult dog.
The exact type of dog food you use will depend on the size and age of your pet, but a good-quality food package made specifically for toy or small breeds is ideal.
Make sure to watch your pet’s calorie consumption. Don’t overfeed or give it a lot of treats, as this breed is not very active and can easily get overweight. Overweight dogs are more prone to joint problems, heart problems, and more.
If using treats for training, make sure to use tiny pieces, and give them sparingly.
Avoid giving your dog any table scraps with high-fat content or cooked bones, and ensure any human food you give is safe for dogs.
First Time Owner?
This breed can work for novice pet owners who are attentive and careful, and can handle a clingy dog.
Chinese Crested Dogs are perfect for owners who work from home and don’t like to take a lot of walks.
All this makes them seem the perfect dog breed for a busy first-time owner who’s always at home, but they are also tricky to train and require a lot of patience due to stubbornness. So if you are uncertain about fitting this attitude into your life, you’re better off with a more beginner-friendly breed.
Special Needs
• Socialization
Early socialization is essential for a Chinese Crested puppy.
As this breed is not predisposed to be comfortable around strangers, it’s highly recommended to start mixing them with other pets, people, and strange environments like parks from the start. This will allow your dog to get used to strangers and ensure that they become a well-rounded adult once they grow up.
Early socialization is essential for a Chinese Crested puppy.
As this breed is not predisposed to be comfortable around strangers, it’s highly recommended to start mixing them with other pets, people, and strange environments like parks from the start. This will allow your dog to get used to strangers and ensure that they become a well-rounded adult once they grow up.
Try finding a special puppy kindergarten class and enroll your Chinese Crested in it. This will provide your pet a place to socialize with other pets of the same size, as playing with larger dogs is not recommended for a small puppy.
Invite friends and family to visit often (separately — not all at once), and take your dog on strolls with neighbors to get it used to the familiar faces in your life.
Bringing your dog to crowded parks or shops that allow pets is recommended.
Other Things to Consider
• Tendency To Escape
It is easy to mistake these dogs as non-athletic due to their small size, but they are experts at jumping, climbing, and digging to escape any possible enclosure.
Once they get out, they escape fast to avoid recapture.
Due to this athletic and stubborn nature, a strong six-foot fence around the yard is the minimum requirement to keep them safe. Ensure that they won’t be able to dig under this fence.
• Apartments / Small Spaces
As far as space requirements of this breed are concerned, there is not much to worry about even if you live in an apartment.
This pup is a toy breed, and its tiny stature combined with the fact that it doesn’t like to roam around much make it perfect for a variety of living arrangements, no matter the size.
The Chinese Crested Dog is an excellent fit for small house owners and apartment dwellers.
It loves snuggles and cuddles and doesn’t like to play outdoors, making lack of space a non-issue for anyone looking to adopt this toy dog.
Chinese Crested Dog FAQ
How Much Do Chinese Crested Dogs Cost?
On average, these puppies range from $1,000 – $4,000.
As a relatively rare purebred dog, the Chinese Crested dog costs a bit more than your average puppy. You can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 for a Chinese Crested puppy and even higher if the parents are show champions / hold a notable pedigree.
Chinese Crested Dog Pros and Cons
Pros
- Great for apartments
- Low exercise / walking needs
- Can be hairless or fluffy
- Rare and relatively unique
- Highly athletic when trained for agility / sports
Cons
- Stubborn
- Fragile / unsuitable for homes with bigger dogs or small children
- Can be weary of strangers
- Won’t want to run around much outside
- Tends to escape by jumping, digging, squeezing through small spaces, etc
Care Guide
