Chinese Crested Dog

The Chinese Crested Dog is a smaller (10-13 lbs) breed of dog known for its unusual appearance and entertaining personality. It is a member of the toy dog group. Two types can be born in the same litter; the Hairless and the Powderpuff.

Appearance

At first glance, the "Hairless" and "Powderpuff" varieties of Chinese Crested Dogs appear to be two different breeds, but hairlessness is a dominant trait within a single breed.[1] The Hairless has soft, humanlike skin, as well as tufts of fur on its paws ("socks") and tail ("plume") and long, flowing hair on its head ("crest"). In addition to being a dominant gene, the "hairless" gene is lethal when homozygous[2]. All living hairless Cresteds are therefore heterozygous for this trait.
The Hairless variety can vary in amount of body hair. Fur on the muzzle, known as a beard, is not uncommon. A true Hairless often does not have as much furnishings (hair on the head, tail, and paws). The difference between a very hairy Hairless and a Powderpuff is that the Hairless has a single coat[3], often with hairless parts on the body, while the Powderpuff has a thick double coat. The skin of the Hairless comes in a variety of colors, ranging from a pale flesh to black. Hairless cresteds often lack a full set of teeth, but this is not considered a fault.[4]

The look of the Powderpuff varies according to how it is groomed. When its fur is completely grown out on its face, it strongly resembles a terrier; however, the Powderpuff is usually shaved around the snout as a standard cut. Its fur is incredibly soft. Due to its coat type, both Powderpuff and Hairless are considered good pets for allergy sufferers.

The amount of bodyhair on the hairless variety varies quite extensively, from the true hairless which has very little or no bodyhair and furnishings, to what is called a hairy hairless, which if left ungroomed can grow a nearly full coat of hair. These hairy hairless are not a mix between powederpuffs and hairless Chinese Cresteds though, but is merely a result of the varying expression of the hairless gene, which the powderpuff does not have at all.

Temperament

Chinese Cresteds tend to be affectionate, energetic and playful. They are considered great family pets, with endearing personalities. Some are known "singers" or "screechers" while others are known to "smile." They are generally happy lap-dogs with candid personalities and usually aren't the grumpy type but some males can become a tad bit aggressive as they age. In addition, Chinese Cresteds do not tend to be a "one-person" dog, spotting one particular member of the family as their "owner" seeing as how many of the Chinese cresteds are happy with anyone. Though most cresteds are like that sometimes they will choose to be attached to certain people. Often, this person is the one who gives the dog the most safe and secure feeling, and the dog would clearly show its affection towards him/her above others in the family.

Grooming

Grooming of the Crested is work for both varieties. The Puffs have a very soft and fine double-coat that requires full brushing every other day to avoid matting. Although a Puff's coat does not continuously grow like that of some other breeds, it can be quite long at full length and some owners choose to put their Puffs into a "pony cut." This lower-maintenance option keeps the body hair and facial hair short, leaving the crest, feathers, and tail plume at full length.

Maintenance of the Hairless variety's skin is similar to maintaining human skin - and as such it can be susceptible to acne, dryness, and sunburn. A Hairless should be bathed at least 2 times per week to avoid acne and other skin conditions(some dogs shower with their owners every day). Hypoallergenic or mildly perfumed moisturizing cream can keep the skin from becoming too dry when applied every other day or after bathing. Burning can occur in regions that lend themselves to strong UV-rays, especially in lighter-skinned dogs. Many owners apply baby sunscreen to their pets before spending time in strong sun.

Unless the dog is a "True" Hairless (one with virtually no hair growth on non-extremities), trimming and/or shaving must be performed to remove stubble growth. Many owners use a clipper for the face and ears and to remove any longer growth that was allowed to occur, and then use a variety of methods to achieve complete hair removal of non-extremities. Commonly used methods include a man's razor and hypoallergenic shaving cream, waxing, and electric razors. Some people have had success with hair removal cream, although one should be sure to apply an amount to a small test area to be sure no adverse reaction occurs.

The Chinese Crested is further distinguished by its "hare foot," (having more elongated toes) as opposed to the "cat foot" common to most other dogs. Because of this 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.

Health

Due to the relative rarity of the Chinese Crested Dog, and generally speaking, this breed has not been ill-bred enough to develop many congenital diseases found in more popular Toy Breeds. There are, however, some lines prone to the conditions below.

Cresteds have what is called a "primitive mouth." This means that most of their teeth are pointy like their canines. Hairless varieties of the Cresteds can be prone to poor dentition when they come from a line that was bred Hairless to Hairless for multiple generations. Poor dentition may include missing or crowded teeth and teeth prone to decay when not properly cared for. Some breeders advise new owners not to give their puppies hard toys to chew on lest the pups lose their teeth. This problem is mostly avoided in lines that do not feature multiple pairings of Hairless to Hairless parents. Most dogs of the Puff variety have few, if any, dental defects.

Eyes can be a major concern within the breed, having at least two forms of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) which can eventually lead to blindness. Breeders concerned about the health of the breed genetically test and annually certify their stock. Many register their stock's certifications with the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF).[5]
As with all other Toy Breeds, the Cresteds can be prone to patellar luxation. This inheritable condition is caused by shallow knee joints (stifles) and results 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. Breeders concerned about the health of the breed have their stock certified free of patellar luxation and registered with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)[6]

Some Crested dogs are prone to allergies, especially if care is not taken with breeding. Dietary allergies seem to be most common in Cresteds fed a diet that is heavily composed of wheat, corn, or soy products.

Many allergic reactions of the skin of Hairless Cresteds are caused by topical products containing lanolin (wool fat) and other sheep wool products. Some other allergies peculiar to Cresteds include Aloe vera gel and strong fragrances contained in skin care products.

The lifespan of a Chinese Crested Dog can be quite impressive. Many well-cared-for and healthily-bred Cresteds live to see 15 years or more.

History

Though possibly associated with China since the 13th century, some believe the Hairless mutation originated in Africa, and others believe it may be a cross of the Chihuahua and Mexican Hairless Dog, which it resembles. It is sometimes said that this breed (among others, such as the Rhodesian Ridgeback) belongs to a different species from most dogs, namely Canis africanus; but it is not firmly established either that such a species exists or that the Chinese Crested originated in Africa. It is also possible that this dog originated from two breeds of dogs, one coming from Africa, one from China. It is now believed that the dog has no correlation or genetic relation to the Mexican Hairless dog. It is more closely related to the Basenji. Recent DNA has established that the dog is of African origin and shares genes with the Basenji. The Peruvian or Mexican hairless has no connection to the Chinese crested. [citation needed]

Although there is an anecdotal history of hairless dogs in many seaports (apart from the hairlessness, it is unclear how closely these dogs resemble the modern Chinese Crested), European visitors in the 1700s remarked in particular on hairless dogs in Chinese port cities, as well as dogs owned by Chinese sailors plying the African trade route. Paintings of the breed (and later, photographs) reached Europe in the 1800s.[7]

Early Chinese Cresteds may have been valued as ratters (ratcatchers), both on ships and in agricultural communities, though such traits are rarely evident in the breed today. The breed has also been called the Chinese Edible Dog, the Chinese Hairless Dog, the Chinese Ship Dog, the Chinese Royal Dog.

The Chinese Crested was officially recognised by the FCI in 1987,in the UK Kennel Club in 1981 and by the American Kennel Club in 1991. The USA parent club is the American Chinese Crested Club.

The winner of the 2007 World's Ugliest Dog Contest held at the Sonoma-Marin county fair in California was a Chinese Crested-Chihuahua mixed breed dog named Elwood.[8] The winner of the 2006 competition was a Chinese Crested named Archie.[9]