Chinese Crested

The Chinese Crested originated in Africa and was brought to China as early as the thirteenth century by Chinese sailors who kept them on ships to trade and chase rats. Because of this, the dogs were distributed to Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, and even as far as Central and South America. By the 1800s they had been documented in Europe, and by the late 1800s, American Ida Garrett had fallen in love with them and popularized the breed.

The Chinese Crested originated in Africa and was brought to China as early as the thirteenth century by Chinese sailors who kept them on ships to trade and chase rats. Because of this, the dogs were distributed to Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, and even as far as Central and South America. By the 1800s they had been documented in Europe, and by the late 1800s, American Ida Garrett had fallen in love with them and popularized the breed.

Some experience with training small breeds is ideal; these dogs are clever and busy. Owners will need to prioritize grooming and or skin health depending on the variety.

Chinese Cresteds do love the outdoors, but they absolutely loathe being cold. Hairless varieties will need a sweater for walks in colder climates. They’re small enough that they can get sufficient exercise inside with a few daily cases of the zoomies and some mental stimulation.

Warmth and a nice spot to curl up in are more important to the Chinese Crested than a lot of roaming space. So long as they have access to the outdoors for potty time and walks, they’ll be happy.

The long coat on a Chinese Crested needs brushing once or twice a week, while the hairless variety will need its tail, socks, and crest to be groomed frequently. Like a fragile newborn baby, their exposed skin needs moisturizer when dry and needs to be protected from the sun. The hairless variety is associated with poor dental health and it’s common for them to be missing teeth.

Small but mighty in brainpower, Chinese Cresteds love training and are capable of learning a great deal of things. They thrive on positive reinforcement and love games, puzzles, and trick training.

Delicate and petite, the Chinese Crested isn’t ideal for a loud, large family. They can do ok with older children or families with no children. They don’t like being left alone for very long.

The cost of a Chinese Crested from a breeder is significantly more than the cost of adopting one from a local shelter or rescue. The adoption fee usually covers additional items such as spaying or neutering, vaccines, and microchipping.