All About The Chinese Crested
A delightful little toy dog that is highly alert and intelligent, the Chinese Crested is best known as a hairless dog. However, there is another variant, known as the Powderpuff, that has a medium length coat.
Contrary to the name, the breed did not originate in China, but in Africa, where they were called African hairless terriers. Chinese traders bartered for the little dogs and took them aboard their ships where they excelled as rat catchers. In this way the dogs were imported to the Orient where they became popular companion dogs.
These active and affectionate little dogs are perfectly suited to the role of companion. They are however, not always a good choice for young children as they will not tolerate rough treatment. They are also quite frail and may be hurt by a child who does not understand how to handle the dog.
Socialization is extremely important with a Chinese Crested. For starters they tend to be quite shy dogs, and may be either timid or snappy and aggressive if not socialized properly. They are usually tolerant of dogs and non-canine pets that they’ve been raised with, but will need to be socialized with other animals.
These are very bright dogs who are quick to learn and have a particular talent for learning and performing tricks. You’d be well advised, however, to keep training positive and reward-based. Cresteds are very sensitive and can also be stubborn. If you offend them they will just refuse to obey.
Unfortunately, the Chinese Crested suffers from many health issues. In the hairless variety, they are particularly susceptible to skin ailments and the skin must be protected with sunscreen when going outdoors. Both variants also suffer from dental and eye problems as well as a catalog of diseases including, Addison’s Disease, Cherry Eye, Epilepsy, Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eyes), Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, Patellar Luxation, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy.
The grooming needs of these dogs obviously differ between the Hairless and Powderpuff types. For Hairless dogs, the main concern is skin care. In the Powderpuff you’ll need to brush the coat daily, using a soft brush. In addition to this you’ll have to trim the nails regularly, being careful to avoid cutting into the quick.
Because of their small size, Cresteds are well suited to apartment living. They are, however, very active dogs, and need daily walks. Unsurprisingly given their natural playfulness, Cresteds love to play, and enjoy a game of tag or hide-and-seek, whether it is played indoors or out. They also excel at canine shorts and do particularly well at agility.
The easiest way to find good names for your Chinese Crested is to visit an online puppy names, resource, like puppy-names-hq.com. This site has tons of dog names, including 1000s of cute dog names to choose from.
