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Chinese Crested Dog Breed
 | 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. |
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Photo of
Chinese Crested Dog Breed
Hairless Chinese Crested Dog standing |
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Information about
Chinese Crested Dog Breed
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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. The Hairless is the more popular variety, prized for its
unusual appearance. 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. 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); however, many of the dogs seen
in the show ring are actually a "moderate" or "hairy" hairless that is shaved
down. The difference between a very hairy Hairless and a Powderpuff is that the
Hairless has a single coat, 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, and is often mottled. Hairless
Crested often lack a full set of teeth, and this is often used to verify to some
extent that the dog is a true Hairless and not a shaved Powderpuff.
The Powderpuff shares the crest and build of the Hairless, but in addition has a
full coat of long hair. 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 Chinese Crested also is distinguished by its "hare foot," which has longer
toes than the "cat foot" common to most other dogs. The "quick," or vein, runs
deeper into the nails, so care must be taken not to trim the nails too short.
Temperament
Chinese Cresteds are affectionate, energetic, and playful. They are known to be
great family pets, and have endearing personalities. They are known to be great
with respectful children. Some are known "singers," while others are known to
"smile." They are generally happy lap dogs with candid personalities.
Health
The Hairless variety can be susceptible to acne and sunburn. Maintenance of the
skin is similar to maintaining human skin—moisturising cream can keep the skin
from becoming too dry, and in fair-skinned Cresteds, if one lives in a warm
climate where there is a lot of sun (Australia, Spain, and so on) one should
apply sunscreen to the dog's skin. They are prone to poor dentition, such as
missing, crowding, and decaying teeth.
Overall, if one is prepared to give proper maintenance, attention, and care, a
Chinese Crested can, barring accident or illness, live up to fifteen years.
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.
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.[1]
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 and the Chinese Royal Dog.
The Chinese Crested was officially recognized by the UK Kennel Club in 1981 and
by the American Kennel Club in 1991. The USA parent club is the American Chinese
Crested Club.
Famous Chinese Crested dogs
Peek in the 2001 comedy film Cats & Dogs
Sam, the three-time winner of the Sonoma-Marin Fair's World's Ugliest Dog
Contest in Petaluma, California, became a minor Internet celebrity.
Krull in the 2003 film How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Renaldo in 2004 film New York Minute
The Lackey from the 2003 film Good Boy!
The American burlesque entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee (1911-1970) owned a number of
Chinese Cresteds, and helped create a popular awareness of the unusual breed.
Miscellaneous
The Hairless allele is a dominant (and homozygous lethal) trait, while the
Powderpuff allele (the wild type) acts as a simple recessive trait in its
presence. Embryos that receive two copies of the Hairless allele will never
develop into puppies. Thus all Chinese crested carry at least one copy of the
Powderpuff allele.
The Powderpuff trait cannot be bred out because it is carried by all Chinese
Cresteds (even the hairless ones). All Hairless Chinese Crested have the ability
to produce Powderpuff puppies, even when they are bred to another Hairless.
| ~From
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