Dog Breed

Chinese Crested

Couch PotatoLong-livedFits in your backpackMischievousHypoallergenic
Primary image of Chinese Crested dog breed
Full Name
Chinese Crested
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Life Span
13 - 18 years
Weight
8 - 12 pounds
Description

Chinese Crested may just be the most unique-looking dog in the world; they are playful and loving and bring joy and happiness. Their look says a lot about them - funny, attention seeking, and very social.

They are the ultimate companion dog, as they do not have a huge desire to go out, play rough, fetch, or do other typical "dog like" things we expect in a breed such as a labrador. Their "suave" look translates down into their personality. They are hypoallergenic and do not shed. However, they are prone to sunburns and rashes, so they still need some grooming and maintenance.

The Chinese Crested dog comes in two main varieties, the hairless and powderpuff, but they are unique as they come in hundreds of color combinations. Even the "hairless" variety actually has hair on the head, feet, and tail.

The Chinese Crested is fairly trainable, but they are intelligent and can be independent, so it is essential to have a routine and discipline, or they can learn to take advantage of situations. Because of this "wittiness," they have been given the "mischievous" badge, as they are sometimes too smart and witty for their own good!

Origin
China
Bred For
Accompaning Chinese sailors on the high seas and hunting vermin during and in between times of plague
Attachments
    Family Considerations
    Child Friendly

    Is the Chinese Crested good with children?

    The Chinese Crested is about average in how friendly they are with children. They can be friendly and loving with children, but we recommend that they get early socialization, and are not left alone with children for extended periods.
    Stranger Friendly

    Is the Chinese Crested friendly with strangers?

    The Chinese Crested is not automatically friendly with strangers and we would not recommend for a living situation with frequent guests.
    Dog Friendly

    Is the Chinese Crested friendly with other dogs?

    The Chinese Crested is about average in how friendly they are with other dogs. They can be timid or defensive, but with proper training and socialization can be fine for dog parks and living with other dogs at home.
    Likes to Cuddle

    Does the Chinese Crested like to cuddle?

    The Chinese Crested appreciates affection and that includes kisses and snuggles!
    Playfulness

    Does the Chinese Crested like to play?

    The Chinese Crested is playful both as a puppy and as an adult dog. As they get older they may appreciate their alone time, and may not be in the mood for constant play, but certainly will have plenty of time for play as well.
    Service Dog Ability

    Does the Chinese Crested make a good service dog?

    Historically, the Chinese Crested has never been used as a service dog and really would not be a good fit.
    Overall Ease of Breed
    Ease for Novice

    Is the Chinese Crested good for first-time owners?

    The Chinese Crested is a good breed for first-time owners. A good fit for first-time owners are friendly breeds that are motivated to please their owner. This means they can be trained, and are rarely aggressive and overpowering.
    Training Potential

    How well can the Chinese Crested be trained?

    The Chinese Crested is about average when it comes to training potential. The Chinese Crested can be seen in competitions and can have advanced training, but it would require much dedication and oftentimes professional training.
    Amount of Shedding

    Does the Chinese Crested shed a lot?

    No! The Chinese Crested does not shed very much, and can be an excellent fit for someone who suffers from dog allergies.
    Ease of Grooming

    Is the Chinese Crested easy to groom?

    The Chinese Crested requires an average amount of grooming. Taking your Chinese Crested to the pet salon will make your life easier, but its possible to groom a Chinese Crested on your own as well.
    Exercise Need

    Does the Chinese Crested need a lot of exercise?

    The Chinese Crested is a bit of a couch potato and although some exercise is still healthy, they need very little exercise relative to other dog breeds.
    Personality
    Intelligence

    How smart is the Chinese Crested?

    The Chinese Crested is very smart. Above-average intelligence means they can pick up on cues and signals quickly when it comes to training. But it also means that they need to be challenged mentally, in addition to their standard exercise needs.
    Amount of Barking

    How much does the Chinese Crested bark? Does the Chinese Crested bark too much?

    The Chinese Crested occasionally barks, but only for specific reasons such as when they need something, for protection, etc.
    Guard Dog Ability

    Is the Chinese Crested a good guard dog?

    The Chinese Crested is the opposite of a guard dog!
    Tolerates Being Alone

    Is the Chinese Crested good at staying alone? Is the Chinese Crested independent?

    The Chinese Crested is not very independent and does not do great when left behind for longer than a couple of hours. This is one of the most important things to consider when getting a new dog.
    Home and Environment Considerations
    Good for Apartment Living

    Is the Chinese Crested a good apartment dog?

    The Chinese Crested is an excellent dog breed for an apartment. Some daily exercise is still important, but if they get that then the apartment will be more than enough for them to call home.
    Size

    How big is the Chinese Crested?

    The Chinese Crested is one of the smallest dog breeds- suited well for apartment living and very convenient for travel.
    Tolerates Heat

    How much does the Chinese Crested tolerate hot weather? When is it too hot for a Chinese Crested?

    The Chinese Crested can tolerate hot weather well. They still prefer having some variation and a cool space to sleep, but overall they can do well in warm climates.
    Tolerates Cold

    How much does the Chinese Crested tolerate cold weather? When is it too cold for a Chinese Crested?

    The Chinese Crested does not tolerate cold weather at all, and we would not recommend having a Chinese Crested if you live in a cold weather climate.
    Potential to Run Away

    Does the Chinese Crested try to run away?

    The Chinese Crested does not have a large drive to run away. They can still be distracted and run, so precautions should be taken, but overall they have a less than average urge to run away.
    Physical Characteristics
    General Health

    Is the Chinese Crested a healthy dog? The health of a Chinese Crested should be measured not just by how many years they live, but also by how many health issues they've had. It is important to know which health conditions your breed is prone to- hip problems, eye problems, bloating, and arthritis are all common dog health problems.

    The Chinese Crested is very healthy, but it is still important to feed the Chinese Crested high-quality food and to live a healthy lifestyle.
    Energy Level

    How energetic is the Chinese Crested?

    The Chinese Crested is a bit of a couch potato and that is ok! This can be an excellent thing for anyone in a situation where they don't think they can give their dog high levels of exercise. It is also more convenient for apartment living.
    Amount of Drooling

    How much does the Chinese Crested drool?

    The Chinese Crested does not drool at all.
    Prey Drive

    Does the Chinese Crested have a large prey drive? Does the Chinese Crested like to chase birds, cats, and other small animals?

    The Chinese Crested has some prey drive, so should not be left alone with very small animals such as birds, mice, or gerbils, but with some gradual introduction should be fine living with a cat in the same home.
    Athleticism

    Is the Chinese Crested atheltic?

    The Chinese Crested can have athletic moments, and bursts of speed, but does not have the endurance as other highly athletic dog breeds. They would do great for occasional jogs, but probably not the best for long-distance runs or anything more athletic than that.
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  • Secondary image of Chinese Crested dog breed
  • Secondary image of Chinese Crested dog breed
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Breed Variations

  • Image for the Black variation for dog breed

    Black

  • Image for the White variation for dog breed

    White

  • Image for the Powderpuff variation for dog breed

    Powderpuff

  1. Toy
  2. Ancient
  3. Chinese Crested
The Chinese Crested is a purebred dog that belongs to the Ancient sub group, which falls under the larger Toy dog breed group.
Toy group: Toy dogs are primarily characterized by their very small size. But don't let that fool you- if anything their personality and tenacity is higher than the average dog. In fact, even their protective instincts are above average! In fact, because of that it is crucial they get socialization with children and other dogs from an early age. Perhaps out of all dog groups, the toy dog group is the most difficult to put sub-groups into, since the sub groups also include larger dogs, and fall under other groupings. For example, the Pomeranian is a Toy Spitz dog, but there are also large Spitz dogs such as the Samoyed. Because the toy dog is both small and primarily bred for home companionship, they make excellent additions for a wide range of families. There are also practical benefits with toy dogs- they are great for apartment living, and traveling. Toy dogs are also loyal and love to cuddle, making them the ideal lap dog.
Ancient sub-group: These dogs are unique as they are some of the oldest dogs! Dogs in the ancient world have been documented, both for work, and companionship. Dogs have been recorded to be living alongside humans dating as far back as 12,000 BC, which can be seen from temple paintings. Ancient dogs have been recorded in ancient Mesopotamia, ancient Persia, and ancient Turkey and India. Ancient dogs are generally medium sized, healthy, and well-rounded. They are friendly but somewhat reserved with strangers- all characteristics that sense for a dog that has survived through thousands of years.

Chinese Cresteds for adoption

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