A Little Bit About The Chinese Crested

Other names the Chinese Crested is known as are:He is easily trained and should do well in obedience
- Chinese Edible Dogwork.
- Chinese Ship DogAppearance
- Chinese HairlessThe Chinese Crested is fine-boned and graceful. He
- Chinese Royal Hairlessstands about 11 to 13 inches tall and weighs 5 to 12
- Pyramid or Giza Hairlesspounds. He is athletic-looking and well muscled. The
- South African Hairlesslegs of a Chinese Crested are straight and strong.
- Turkish HairlessThe Chinese Crested has a copious shock of silky
The "crest" in its name refers to a copious shock ofhair that graces his head. Hair is absent over much of
silky hair that graces the dog's head.the remainder of its body except for tufts of hair on
The Chinese Crested is found everywhere, but hasthe tail and feet.
never reached great popularity. It has often beenThe Powderpuff has a flowing double coat of silky
exhibited in circuses and carnivals as a "freak."hair that covers its entire body. It is seen in any coat
However, this little dog has many assets that gocolor or combination of colors.
unrecognized.Exercise Requirements
There are two types of the Chinese Crested:As with most toy breeds the Chinese Crested needs
- Hairlessa minimal amount of exercise which can be obtained
- With a full coat, which is called the Powderpuffin your backyard.
The Powderpuff is just about identical to the hairlessGrooming
except for the coat. The two are interbred andThe Chinese Crested needs to be kept clean with
shown together. If you breed a hairless to a hairlessfrequent baths using a good shampoo followed by a
or a Powderpuff to a hairless you can end up withmoisturizer like baby oil or baby lotion. This routine is
either type or both types of puppies. Breeding aespecially true for the hairless type.
Powderpuff to a Powderpuff will always produce theThe Powderpuff requires regular brushing and
Powderpuff type puppies.combing. The teeth need cleaning regularly.
Some authors claim the origin of the Chinese CrestedYou will need a good-quality bristle brush and a
is Africa. Others find its origin in Mexico or any ofsafety razor (to shave the face) for the Hairless
several other warm countries. The Chinese Crested isvariety. For the Powderpuff coat you will need a
known to have been carried by trading ships fromgood-quality bristle brush, a wide-toothed comb and
and to many different ports where it was boughtclippers.
and sold. Therefore, its origin is shrouded by seaThe skin of the Hairless type responds well to
tales.frequent oiling by massaging baby oil or Nivea face
The date of origin of the Chinese Crested iscream into the hairless parts. This helps to keep the
considered to be during the thirteenth century.skin on the Chinese Crested Hairless type smooth
Oriental countries concentrated on breedingand nicely moisturized.
miniaturized dogs, so the Chinese Crested ancestorsThe Powderpuff puppy requires frequent brushing
probably include some of these small, hairlesswith a bristle or pin brush particularly when the puppy
mutations.coat changes to the adult coat, at which time daily
The Chinese Crested originally enjoyed a pamperedgrooming may be needed. The coat of a Powderpuff
life with few duties except those associated withChinese Crested should be brushed in layers with the
being a good companion. Very early in thelie of the coat.
development of the Chinese Crested breed it wasAfter bathing, grooming and blow-drying, the face
probably used as a ratter on trading ships and wasshould be shaved using clippers (10 mm blade). Take
even sometimes eaten by human residents of thesea line from the outer corner of the eye to the ear
trading ships (how horribly awful to think of eatingand in a gentle curve from the ear down to the
such a beautiful creature)."Adam's apple." This cut is similar to the face of a
PersonalityPoodle. In the U.S. the Powderpuff face is not
The Chinese Crested is said to be "a nimble andshaved. Finish off the entire body with a
cunning playmate." He is a vigilant and sensitive housewide-toothed comb if desired. The comb will find any
dog. The Chinese Crested is a loving and obedientremaining tangles in the coat. Of note in the Chinese
pet. He socializes well with other pets and is only aCrested is that the dog's nails should be moderately
little cautious of strangers. The Chinese Crested islong.
lively and active, but is rarely seen in agility contests.