Whether hairless or “ puff , ” Chinese cresteds are well-disposed small circle click who are fantabulous for apartment spirit , older owners , or anyone who just likes a conversation piece .
If there was ever a dog for whom the phrase " face only a mother could know " is applicable , the Chinese crested is definitely in the running . It ’s unfeigned , there ’s no need to soften words here : The Chinese crest is not a conventionally attractive member of the dog land . But what they might lack in movie - star estimable smell , they make up for in personality , attentiveness , and sheer likability .
The stock in reality comes in two miscellany , a hairless interlingual rendition and one with a longsighted , full coat , referred to as puff . Both the hairless and powderpuff varieties can amount from the same bedding and — away from appearance — are in every way of life the same breed of weenie . The powderpuff trait is a true recessionary cistron , while the hairless cistron has aprenatal lethaleffect in fertilized ovum that feature double hairless genes , stand for all Chinese crested dog bear at least one of the recessive powderpuff genes .
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Appearance
You wo n’t see another dog that has as dramatic a spectrum of possible appearances for one litter of puppy . The powderpuff Chinese cap will sport a twofold pelage of long , fine hairsbreadth that is very indulgent and silken to the touch . When leave uncut , this gives the powderpuff a look very much like a traditional spaniel , though owners will commonly trim back down the pilus around the gun muzzle and face . The coats can get quite long if left unmown , and color can rank from black or blue to yellow or chocolate , with tricolors occurring as well .
Hairless crest pups can still have vary quantity of pelt , depending on how strongly the gene demo itself , with most commonly having pelt around all four feet , the end of the tail , and the crest on the head . Hairless cresteds who have more pilus will often be cut down or shaved down to just these point as well . As it ’s almost the only hair they have , the crest on these hairless dogs lean to be a dramatic elan and , bet on the amount and panache of trim , it can give the wiener a look that falls anywhere between " 1980s metallic element band " and " I ’d wish to mouth to a manager . "
For the non - furry parts of a hairless , their skin is soft and ranges in color from pale peach to melanize . The pelt that does raise on a hairless grows in a silky unmarried coat , while the fur of a puff is in a stocky dual coat , which means the latter willdo slightly better in cold clime .
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Regardless of coat , all Chinese crest hound are " hairfooted , " think of their toes are slightly long than most breeds . This gives them long quick in their nails , so care must be takenduring trimmingto not cut too deeply .
Temperament
Regardless of how much pilus your Chinese cap has , they are all the same on the interior . Chinese crested are marvelous lapdogs , requiring less exercisethan many multiply their sizing , do them excellent companions for seniors andpeople living in apartments . They are friendly , societal dogs , so leaving them alone for too long can take to some detachment anxiety emphasis behaviors , but they get along famously with other dogs and kat , so a multi - pet home would help extenuate those effects .
Chinese crested are brilliant heel who take toobedience trainingfairly well and have shown an aptitude for rally , lure , and agility competition as well . One caveat , however : Formosan crested are notoriously hard to business firm - string , so have a lot of patient repetition anduse positive reinforcementwhen it come to grooming .
Living Needs
These guys make consummate apartment dogs . Chinese cresteds are quiet , neat , and have downhearted requirement for workout , take a leak them idealistic for smaller living spaces . They have a quiet , friendly personality and are more than happy to curl up and sit with their crime syndicate on the couch , which seduce them great for senior and people with mobility payoff .
If you do have a railway yard , Formosan crested will be happy to make use of it as well , but keep in nous nothing about these pawl — specially the hairless varieties — is suit for out-of-door living . These are in - firm lapdog , through and through , which means external time will need to be supervised and limited . Be specially mindful that cold weather condition will be particularly concerning for your hairless Chinese crested , andsome form of sweater or coveringwill be a necessity , rather than a merriment supplement .
Chinese cresteds get along well with other dogs , cats , and minuscule creature , so they ’ll check in well with any multi - pet domicile . If you have ahome with orotund click , check that to supervise your pets , as the pocket-size Chinese crest could get tread down easy .
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This same advice can be used for children as well . As friendly , playful dogs , they love children of all eld ; however , care must be used with toddlers and smaller tyke , as the Chinese crested ’s small inning can be easy injure if fun receive too boisterous .
Care
This is the one area where the variety of your Chinese crested matters most .
For the powderpuff , groom is straightforward but pertinacious . Brushing daily is the good way to avoid matting and , for the healthiest potential coating , it ’s recommendedto never brush their hair while ironic . A light haze over from a water feeding bottle during brushing will help keep their whisker maze - free and easy to maintain . That away , a bath every monthor so will believably be necessary .
For hairless dogs , brushing is obviously a much smaller concern . But , just like we do , they have skin to keep healthy . Their skincare routine will includesunblock , regular moisturizing , and bathe .
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" When there ’s no tomentum for protection , there ’s no protection from the sun , " says Michelle Beck , DVM , CCRT , CVA - Veterinarian , with theBacklund Animal Clinicin Omaha , Neb. " So it ’s important to address [ Taiwanese cresteds ] a lot like small children , really . Keeping them out of lineal sun in the mid - day , having them out of doors only for short periods at a time . "
Beck says the deficiency of fur can make Chinese cresteds susceptible to skin cancer . She also recommends checking regularly for skin wound and keeping them decent cleaned and moisturized . bathing tub will be a steady ritual , as well .
" Once a week bathing , but really , no more than that , " Beck say . " The more you wash their skin , the more you hit the instinctive oils that act as protectants .
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Ideally , they will also be treat with an acne cream every twosome of months as well , to keep their skin clean . Also , take note thatmany Chinese cresteds have allergies to lanolin . Care should be taken regarding which creams to practice .
Health
Once again , no matter of if your Chinese crested is hairless or powderpuff , they have more or less the same health expectations . Chinese crested are stout dog-iron , with lifespans of 13–18 years . The most common wellness problems as they senesce will be centre problems such aslens luxation , glaucoma , andPRA ( Progressive Retinal Atrophy ) , as well as splay patellas ( where the kneecap slips out of berth ) , andLegg - Perthes disease .
The one area where the powderpuff and hairless diverge is in their oral cavity . Chinese crested have what ’s look up to as a " primitive mouth , " meaning all of their teeth are pointy like cuspid . In the puff dogs , full , healthy dentition is the average . However , in the hairless dog , miss tooth , overcrowded tooth , and a gamey susceptibleness to tooth decay are all uncouth problems . In the light terminus , those issues can each do their part to ensure the Chinese crested does n’t succeed any smasher pageants ; in the prospicient running , remotion can be the last resort . verify tobrush and properly care for your crest ’s teeththroughout the wiener ’s liveliness .
" Humans sweep our teeth , " Beck says . " We floss , we gargle , and we go to the dentist a brace times a year for extra cleaning and care . Dogs only do any of that when we do it for them . "
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Beck recommends brushing your dog ’s tooth two to three multiplication per week .
" There are in spades advantages to monitoring your dog ’s tooth , " she says . " Brushing prevents buildup of plaque , and will avail with gingivitis and overall mouth health . "
History
With a history that run back thousands of yr , the exact origins of the Chinese crested are a bit murky . However , agenetic studyinto the origin of their hairlessness found that it ’s highly unlikely the Chinese crested in reality originate in China . or else , the stock most probably come either from what is now Mexico , where they shared a coarse ancestor with thexoloitzcuintli ( Mexican hairless ) , or they get along from Africa .
At some peak ( again , the timeline is turbid ) , the stock found their agency onto visiting Formosan trading vessels and were brought back to the mainland , where the Chinese immediately began breeding them to be smaller . Chinese sailors began keeping cresteds on their ships as ratters , and finally the name " Chinese crest " stuck .
The breed made their means to the U.S. in the 1880s thanks to the movement of a breeder named Debra Woods and diary keeper diagnose Ida Garrett , who separately advance the strain .
Fun Facts
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