Chinese Crested
Group: Toy
Lifespan: 10-12 Years
Pups per Litter: 2-4
Average Weight: 5-12 lbs.
Average Height: 9-13 inches
Exercise/Actvity Level: Low
Temperment with:
Children 
Other Dogs Other Animals 
History
The Chinese Crested originated in Africa and were originally called the African Hairless Terrier. Chinese boats used for trading, stopped in Africa and picked up these dogs and renamed them the Chinese crested. They were used to hunt rats aboard the boats, and from then on were known as this and were distributed throughout the world.
Traits
The Chinese Crested is a happy and energetic breed. They are a companion type dog that is great for families. They get along well with children, and are a one family dog, meaning that they develop a strong bond with one family or one person and it is very difficult for them to re-attach themselves to different people. Their instinct is to be a ratter, which is what they were used for originally so should be monitored around small family pets like hamsters or mice. The Chinese Crested is a dog that loves affection. They thrive on being with their owners at all time, which makes it easy for owners to coddle but these dogs should not be babied as they will grow up extremely dependant on their master.
Appearance
Weighing in at about 5-12 lbs (2.5- 4.8 kgs) and under and averaging 9-13 inches high, the Chinese Crested is a rare breed that comes in 2 coat options, one is the powder puff and the other is the hairless. The most popular is the hairless, with the dog being bald on their whole body except for their head, tail and feet. The coat comes in many colours but is more distinct of the pattern which is spotted, or solid. The powder puff has a double layered coat that is thin yet soft. The body is frail and for the hairless breed, they are much more prone to cold as they have nothing to cover them up with. The Chinese Crested’s eyes are small and dark, and their ears are pricked upward.
Health
The Chinese Crested is prone to skin problems and depending on the temperature must be kept warm or cool. When in the sun the hairless should have sun tan lotion applied to them as they will burn. The Chinese Crested doesn’t have a full set of teeth so chewing on hard toys may cause some to fall out, and as adults they might even lose teeth . It is usually the hairless type that has the tooth loss, where as the powder puff type has a healthy set of teeth. When breeding these dogs, the hairless should not be bred with another hairless as this can be lethal.
Training
The Chinese Crested will need gentle yet constant and firm training. They love to impress their owners and only want to please. They need to be socialized well as puppies to ensure they become stable adults, so be sure to bring your Chinese Crested to environments where there are a lot of people and odd or loud noises so when they’re older, they will become accustomed to these.
Care
The Hairless Chinese Crested is a very low maintenance breed. They should be bathed about once or twice a month and applying lotion to them is a good idea to keep their skin moisturized. The powder puff Chinese Crested is a moderate maintenance breed. They will need to be brushed a few times per week to keep their double layered coat tangle free.
Breed
This breed is categorized in the Toy Group. They will do very well in an apartment as they do not need as much room as a household to run around in. The Chinese Crested will need daily walks to keep them fit. The average lifespan of this dog is about 10-12 years. They have on average 2-4 pups per litter. When obtaining a puppy Chinese Crested, keep in mind that every puppy is different and to research your breed before bringing the baby home!
Reference pages for Information:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/chinesecrested.htm Chinese Crested Breed Information
http://puppydogweb.com/dogs/chinesecrested.htm Chinese Crested Information
http://www.akc.org/breeds/chinese_crested/ Chinese Crested AKC Standards
http://www.crest-care.com Chinese Crested Rescue
http://accc.chinesecrestedclub.info Chinese Crested Club
