| The Chinese Crested is a small, hairless breed of dog, with small patches of hair on his feet and ears. The Crested has more elongated toes, as opposed to the cat foot common to most other dogs. |
| Height: |
11-13 inches |
| Weight: |
10-13 pounds |
| Color(s): |
Any |
| Coat: |
Powderpuff: double, straight, soft, silky coat, with a short and silky undercoat |
| Description: |
here are two varieties of Chinese Crested: the Hairless and the Powderpuff. Both varieties can be born in the same litter. All Chinese Crested have the Powderpuff trait, which means all Hairless Chinese Crested have the ability to produce Powderpuff puppies, even when bread to another Hairless. |
| Temperament: |
|
| Training: |
|
| Care & Grooming: |
Powderpuffs, or Puffs, require frequent brushing to avoid matting. The Hairless Chinese Crested’s skin can be susceptible to acne, dryness, and sunburn. Hypoallergenic or oil-free moisturizing cream applied every other day or after bathing, can keep his skin from becoming too dry. Many owners apply baby sunscreen to their pets before spending time in strong sun, to avoid sunburn. Some Cresteds have skin allergies to Lanolin, so be cautious when using any products that contain it. Unless the dog is a "true" Hairless, which is one with virtually no hair growth on his non-extremities, trimming and/or shaving is often performed to remove stubble growth. The quicks of Cresteds run deeper into their nails, so care must be taken not to trim the nails too short, to avoid pain and bleeding. Chinese Cresteds should have regular eye exams by a veterinary ophthalmologist. |
| Shedding: |
Very little |
| Health: |
The Crested is not affected by many of the congenital diseases found in toy breeds. However, Cresteds can be prone to patellar luxation, an inherited condition, caused by shallow knee joints (stifles), and resulting in kneecaps that pop out of place. Its onset is often at a young age, and can cause temporary to permanent lameness based on the severity. Allergy and autoimmune diseases has been observed in the breed. Hairless varieties can be prone to poor dentition, which may include missing or crowded teeth, or teeth prone to decay if not cared for property. Most Puffs have few, if any, dental issues. Both varieties of Cresteds may have one of two forms of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), which can eventually lead to blindness. The genetic test, prcd-PRA can test for one of these forms of PRA. |
| Lifespan: |
Well-cared-for Crested can live up to 15+ years |
| Litter Size: |
|
|
|
