The Chinese Crested Dog, Unusual and Amazing Why This Breed Is Lucky to Have Survived the Aztecs

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Chinese Crested dog photo
Small Breed X-Small Breed Pyoderma (Skin Infection) Overweight Chinese Crested

Is The Chinese Crested Dog Right For You?

  • 1 The Chinese Crested dog breed has two varieties: Hairless and PowderPuff.
  • 2 The hairless Chinese Crested's skin needs to be treated like human skin.
  • 3 The Chinese Crested dogs are known for their loyal, intelligent, and friendly nature.
  • 4 They are excellent companion dogs and need constant human leadership.

HISTORY

Thought to be a native of Africa, Chinese Cresteds were used on Chinese ships to catch rats. Before they became ratting dogs, they were used by Aztecs to warm their beds at night, and fill their bellies during the day. Once thought to be related to the Mexican Hairless, geneticists have now discovered that these dogs are more closely related to the Basenji, helping to solidify the theory that they are African natives. They were recognized by the AKC in 1991.

Quick Facts

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    Size

    Toy/Small

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    Lifespan

    10-12 years, not a long lived breed

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    Hair Length

    Long

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    Male Height

    12 inches (30cm)

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    Male Weight

    10 pounds or less (4.5kg)

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    Female Height

    12 inches (30cm)

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    Female Weight

    10 pounds or less (4.5kg)

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    Litter Size

    2-4 puppies per litter

Personality

The Chinese Crested is a superb companion that is lively, playful, and great with children. They are very smart and should not be shy if they are socialized early, but can be sensitive to loud noises if they are not used to them. They are good at learning tricks and play well with others, but children should be taught to be gentle with them, as their hairless body does not absorb impact as well as their hairrier counterparts, making them especially prone to injury. .

Color

All colors and patterns are acceptable in the Chinese Crested.

Health Concerns

The mating of hairless with hairless Chinese Crested dogs can result in stillborn puppies. The hairless variety is prone to:

Appearance

There are two different varieties of the Chinese Crested: Hairless and Powderpuff. Their respective titles are fairly self explanatory, though the Hairless still has tufts of hair on their head, legs, and tail. They are both tiny dogs, with thin, wiry frames. Their skin is a sort of mottled color, when it is exposed, and their hair is soft and fluffy. They have pointy ears and a head of hair worthy of an 80โ€™s rock band.

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